Loren Legarda
Juan Miguel Zubiri (acting) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Senator of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senate Majority Leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office July 23, 2002 – January 12, 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Aquilino Pimentel Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Francis Pangilinan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office July 23, 2001 – June 3, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Francisco Tatad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Aquilino Pimentel Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Philippine House of Representatives from Antique | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Paolo Everardo Javier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Antonio Legarda Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda January 28, 1960 Malabon, Rizal, Philippines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | NPC (2005–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | KNP (2004) Independent (2003–2005) Lakas–NUCD (1998–2003) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence(s) | Malabon, Metro Manila Pandan, Antique | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (BA) National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation | Politician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profession | Journalist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | Loren Legarda Luntiang Pilipinas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname(s) | Bai A Labi (Honorary Muslim Princess) of the Marawi Sultanate League;[1]
Tukwifi (Bright Star) of the Mountain Province Indigenous Peoples;[1] Bai Matumpis (The One Who Takes Care) of the unified congregation of 10 Davao indigenous people groups;[1] Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan (Shining Sun Rising in Power) of the Suludnon Indigenous Peoples of Panay[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegiance | Philippines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch/service | Philippine Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | Colonel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lorna Regina "Loren" Bautista Legarda (born January 28, 1960) is a Filipina politician,
Legarda ran for vice president in 2004 as the running mate of Fernando Poe Jr., but controversially lost to Noli de Castro, Legarda contested the result on an electoral protest where she also lost.[2][3] She fell short again vying for the same position in 2010 as the running mate of Manny Villar.
Legarda is an advocate of
For her environmental work, Legarda has received numerous accolades; she was awarded 2001 UNEP Laureate as declared by the
Early life
Loren Legarda was born on January 28, 1960, in Malabon (then a municipality in Rizal) as Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda, the only daughter of Antonio Cabrera Legarda and Maria Salome Basilia "Bessie" Gella Bautista. Her maternal grandfather was Jose P. Bautista, editor-in-chief of the pre-Martial Law newspaper, The Manila Times,[10] while her maternal grandmother was Carmen Gella Bautista of Pandan, Antique.[11] Legarda's maternal great-grandfather, Ariston Rendon Gella, was a member of the Malolos Congress that crafted the Philippine Constitution of the First Philippine Republic.[11] Her great-granduncle Vicente Gella was governor of the province while her great-granduncle was mayor of Sibalom.[11] A brother of her grandfather, Bartolome Gella, also served as governor of Antique.[11]
As a teenager, she appeared as a
Career in journalism
Legarda began a career in journalism as a reporter for
As a journalist, Loren earned the Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines, Catholic Mass Media Hall of Fame, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Golden Dove Award, Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees (1992), The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Award (1995), and the Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism (1995), among more than 30 awards.[13]
Political career
1998 Senate bid, first term
Legarda ran for the
During her first six years in the Senate, Legarda authored legislation benefiting
Legarda was named as one of the "Global Leaders for Tomorrow" by the
2004 vice presidential bid
In 2003, Legarda left
On January 18, 2008, in a 21-page resolution, penned by Senior Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed Legarda's electoral protest against de Castro.[16]
2007 Senate bid, second term
In 2007, Legarda decided to run again for Senate under the banner of the
In 2008, she was chosen as "
2010 vice presidential bid
On July 14, 2009, Legarda expressed her interest to run as president during the 2010 elections.[21] On October 23, 2009, during the launch of her humanitarian program "Lingkod Loren in Luneta",[12] she formally declared her intention to run for vice president in 2010 under Nationalist People's Coalition with the platform of environmentalism.[22] After Francis Escudero, expected to run for president, left the NPC,[23] she decided that it would be best to stick with the Nacionalista Party's presidential candidate, Manny Villar, as a guest-running mate.[12]
Legarda lost her bid for the Philippine vice presidency to
2013 Senate bid, third term
Legarda was reelected during the 2013 elections, garnering the second highest number of votes among the 12 winning senators. During her third term, she focused on much legislative push for various cultural and environmental bills in the Senate. She also chaired the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resource and the Senate Committee on Finance. Legarda reportedly persuaded former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to accept the post she was given as she believed and knew Lopez's strong management and implementing skills in environmental conservation. Legarda was one of only 8 lawmakers who were in favor of Gina Lopez retaining the environment secretary post during her confirmation hearing which ousted Lopez from her position. She was unable to enter her vote of support or dissent on a Senate resolution which sought to condemn the controversial burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016.[28] She was among the 14 senators who filed a resolution urging the Supreme Court to review its ouster decision in regards to the quo warranto petition against Maria Lourdes Sereno.[29] She spearheaded in the Senate the ratification of more than 10 international treaties.
Legarda continued her environmental work. Environmental bills she filed included the Total Logging Ban bill which aimed to ban logging for 25 years; the International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance bill; a bill establishing the Department of Fisheries, Low Carbon Economy bill, Energy Efficiency and Conservation bill, Final Forest Limits bill, National Land Use Act of the Philippines, Expanded NIPAS Act, People's Survival Fund Act, Water Sector Reform bill, and a bill creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development, among others. She also led the investigation on the environmental crisis in Boracay.[30]
She was awarded as a United Nations Global Champion for Resilience in 2015 due to her advocacy and actions on climate change and environmentalism. In November 2017, she led the Philippine delegation at the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany. She was named the first ever National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion during the event as mandated by an international treaty ratified by the UNFCCC.[31][32] Legarda became part of a special Philippine delegation to the French Senate to discuss about the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.[33] She was named Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la légion d’Honneur (National Order of the French Legion of Order) by the government of France.[8]
She also focused on the enhancement of Philippine culture and the arts. Her legislative work included the National Writing Systems Bill, which aimed to institutionalize baybayin and other indigenous writing systems as national writing systems and the National Cultural Heritage Act. Legarda pushed for the creation of the Department of Culture and the Arts.[34][35] On February 7, 2019, a bill which safeguards the 1,446 Gabaldon school heritage buildings of the country, authored by Legarda, was enacted into law.[36] She also spearheaded the return of the Philippines to the Venice Bienniale, the most acclaimed art exposition in the world, after 5 decades of Philippine absence in the exhibitions.
Legarda also filed various
Other bills she filed included a bill to mandate the government to use the Gross Happiness Index used by Bhutan, the Freedom of Information bill (FOI) Philippine Innovation Bill, Solo Parent's Welfare bill, War Veterans Reform Bill, Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, Philippine Academic Regalia Act, Domestic Workers Act, and the Election Service Reform bill. She also authored the General Appropriations Act of 2017 and 2018. She co-authored the Philippine Mental Health Law, HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. She also sponsored the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary agreement between the Philippines and Indonesia, which led to its ratification.[41]
She pursued greater public awareness and public cooperation for the
Legarda also initiated and pushed for her home province of Antique's hosting of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, the national games of the Philippines. It was the first time Antique hosted the games. The effects on the province was notable as tourists from all over the country flocked Antique's heritages sites, including the Antique Rice Terraces and the weaving centrums of the province.[42] She led the first ever churchyard orchestra in her home province of Antique and the unveiling of the first ever Language Monument in the Philippines.
2019 House of Representatives bid, first term
On October 18, Legarda announced that she will run as congresswoman of the lone district of Antique in
2022 Senate bid, fourth term
On October 1, 2021, she filed her certificate of candidacy to run for senator.[46] She is running under the Nationalist People's Coalition, and is part of the Reporma-NPC slate, MP3 Alliance slate, and the UniTeam slate.[47][48][49] She won a seat in the 2022 Philippine Senate election, ranking 2nd in the race with 24 million votes, only behind actor Robin Padilla.[50]
She assumed office on June 30, 2022. On July 25, 2022, she was named Senate President pro tempore.[51] Legarda is also the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts.
Organizational affiliations
- Commissioner, Global Commission on Adaptation (2018)[1]
- Member, Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum Executive Board (2016)
- Co-Chair, Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) Philippines
- Senior Advisor, Ocean Security International (2013)
- Founding Member, Global Advisory Group of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction (2012)
- Founder, Luntiang Pilipinas (1998)
- Founder, Libro ni Loren Foundation (1999)
- Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society
Accolades
- 1992 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees[1]
- 1995 The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Award[1]
- 1995 Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism[1]
- 2000 Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum[1]
- 2001 UNEP Laureate by the United Nations Environment Programme[1]
- 2001 Global 500 Roll of Honor by the United Nations Environment Programme[1]
- 2004 Awardee for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy in Mumbai, India[52]
- 2008 Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption for Asia and the Pacific by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction[1]
- "Bai a labi" (Honorary Muslim Princess) by the Marawi Sultanate League[1]
- "Tukwifi" (Bright Star) by the Mountain Province Indigenous Peoples[1]
- "Bai Matumpis" (The One Who Takes Care) by the unified congregation of 10 Davao indigenous people groups[1]
- "Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan" (Shining Sun Rising in Power) by the Suludnon Indigenous Peoples of Panay[1]
- 2013 Distinguished Alumna for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the University of the Philippines[1]
- 2015 Global Champion for Resilience by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction[1]
- Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la légion d’Honneur (National Order of the French Legion of Honor)[1]
- Cavaliere (Knight) of the Italian Order of Merit[1]
- 2016 Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts and Culture by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts[1]
- 2017 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change[1]
- 2018 Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa by the University of the Philippines[53]
- 2019 Award of Distinction by the European Union[54]
- 2023 “Commendatore” to the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic [55]
Additionally, Legarda has garnered more than 30 awards on the field of journalism since the 1980s.[56]
Personal life
Legarda has residences in Malabon (her paternal hometown) in Metro Manila and in Pandan, Antique (her maternal hometown) in Western Visayas.[57][58][59]
In 1989, Legarda married former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste. Their marriage produced two sons: Lorenzo "Lanz" Leviste and Leandro "Lean" Leviste, founder and president of Solar Philippines, a manufacturer and producer of renewable energy technologies.[12] Legarda and Leviste separated in 2003 and their marriage was annulled in 2008.[53] On May 4, 2022, her son, Lorenzo, disowned her through an open letter in response to her decision to run as a guest candidate under the Marcos-Duterte senatorial slate in the 2022 elections. Lorenzo, who had been living in the United States since he was 18 years old, stated that he was "absolutely disgusted" by her, and condemned her for joining Marcos' slate.[60] Her younger son, Leandro, would later publish his own letter in support of Legarda.[61]
She is a
Legarda is an environmentalist. She established the
She is also the presenter of Dayaw, a 6-part series about Philippine heritage and culture. The show has been given a continuous series annually. In January 2018, the fourth season of Dayaw premiered in ANC, while a separate show dedicated to Filipino cuisine and raw ingredients is being planned for a later showing.[69] In February 2018, Legarda and the NCCA launched the Buhay na Buhay television series which focused on eight living sub-cultures of Filipino culture.[70][71]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Senator Loren B. Legarda – Senate of the Philippines". Senate.gov.ph. November 30, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ Frialde, Mike (February 20, 2008). "It's final: Loren loses election protest case vs Noli". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "P.E.T. Case No. 003". lawphil.net. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- ^ "Statement: Opening Ceremony, Launch of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA)". Loren Legarda. October 16, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ABS-CBN News. Posted at August 30, 2011 11:25 PM | Updated as of August 31, 2011 2:29 AM
- ^ "Legarda is beacon of art for NCCA". December 22, 2016.
- ^ "Loren receives French Legion of Honor – Philstar.com". philstar.com.
- ^ a b "Senator Loren Legarda named Knight in the French Legion of Honor". La France aux Philippines et en Micronésie.
- ^ "Legarda receives Italy's prestigious Order of Merit – Philstar.com". philstar.com.
- ^ a b c d How Green is Loren's Valley?. January 24, 2010. Ricky Lo. The Philippine Star. Retrieved on February 6, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Loren Legarda has found a soulmate in Antique". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ ABS-CBN News. Cheche Lazaro. January 20, 2010. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.
- ^ a b "Loren primed for the vice-presidency". ABS-CBN Corporation News.
- ^ "Profile of Lorna Regina "Loren" Bautista Legarda | ABS-CBN News". News.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "Senator Loren B. Legarda – Senate of the Philippines". Senate.gov.ph. November 30, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Palace backs fraud probe | Inquirer News". Newsinfo.inquirer.net. July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Legislative Accomplishments Archive". Loren Legarda. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "UN lauds Philippines' climate change laws 'world's best' | Global News". Globalnation.inquirer.net. May 4, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "UN body names Legarda Global Champion for Resilience". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.
- ^ Avendaño, Christine (July 14, 2009). "Legarda says she's ready to run for president". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
- GMA News. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
- ^ "(UPDATE 2) Escudero leaves NPC". October 28, 2009.
- ^ "allies corner Senate committees". (The Philippine Star) Updated August 3, 2010 12:00 AM.
- GMA News. August 31, 2011 | 02:52 PM.
- ^ "Fraud in 2004 presidential polls". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 10:15 pm | Saturday, August 13, 2011
- ^ "Return ‘proof of fraud,’ SC asked". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 1:11 am | Sunday, August 14, 2011
- ^ "Press Release – Senate vote on Marcos burial, Pangilinan explains vote". Senate.gov.ph. November 14, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "14 senators file resolution urging SC to review Sereno ouster". Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
- ^ "Groups appeal closure of Boracay".
- ^ Uy, Jocelyn R. (November 16, 2017). "Legarda named climate change adaptation champ".
- ^ "PH leads call for innovative climate finance for vulnerable countries". November 15, 2017.
- ^ "Legarda looks forward to stronger PH-France ties on climate change".
- ^ "Legarda beats drum anew for creation of Department of Culture". February 8, 2018.
- ^ "Senators back creation of Department of Culture". ABS-CBN Corporation News. November 7, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Duterte signs law to protect Gabaldon school buildings". ABS-CBN Corporation News. February 7, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Sen. Loren Legarda calls for immediate passage of the SOGIE bill". Preen.inquirer.net. August 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "PH urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking".
- ^ "Legarda urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking". March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Loren to Bato: We support PNP's war on drugs, not police killing innocents | | Latest Philippine politics news today". Politics.com.ph. September 21, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Sponsorship Speech: Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary". Loren Legarda. May 28, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Press Release – Legarda, Full Support For 2017 Palarong Pambansa in Antique". Senate.gov.ph. April 18, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Loren Legarda running for Antique congresswoman". Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ^ "Loren Legarda's Antique House bid OK'd". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "#HalalanResults: Loren Legarda is new congresswoman of Antique". ABS-CBN Corporation News. May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (June 21, 2021). "Loren Legarda eyeing Senate comeback in 2022". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Binay, reelectionists join Pacquiao's Senate slate". Rappler. October 15, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ Ager, Maila (October 15, 2021). "14 'preferred' senatorial bets under Lacson-Sotto slate named". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ Valente, Catherine S. (March 13, 2022). "Robin Padilla now a guest candidate of UniTeam – Sara". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ^ "Newbies, reelectionists, returnees top 2022 senatorial elections". Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne; Mondonedo-Ynot, Laureen (July 25, 2022). "Zubiri elected Senate President, Romualdez as House Speaker". SunStar. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- ^ "Valedictory Speech of Senator". Loren Legarda. June 4, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "Milestones". Loren Legarda. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Press Release – Acceptance Message of Senator Loren Legarda". Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ Casayuran, Mario (March 22, 2023). "Legarda, the Italian Commendatore". Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation.
- ^ "Outstanding Lady Senator award". Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Frequent flights, projects show Loren no 'stranger' to Antique: lawyer". ABS-CBN News. October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Comelec allows Loren Legarda to run for Antique congresswoman". Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- ^ Consuelo, Annabel (October 8, 2018). "Legarda camp to answer Antique residency issue | Philippine News Agency". Pna.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "[OPINION] An open letter of grief from Loren Legarda's son". RAPPLER. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Leviste, Leandro Legarda. "Why I am so proud of my mom". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "Press Release – Legarda Promoted to Colonel". Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- The Manila Bulletin. retrieved on February 6, 2010.
- ^ "PH exhibit of textile collection of hero seen". Loren Legarda. December 30, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "The fabric of our history". Loren Legarda. February 18, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Gulay is life! Legarda embraces vegan lifestyle | | Latest Philippine politics news today". Politics.com.ph. January 2, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Just like Al Gore, Loren wants to go meatless for environment". Inquirer Business. April 2, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Loren and Brillante again – Philstar.com". philstar.com.
- ^ "Press Release – Loren, Brillante Reunite for 1st Protected Areas Documentary Series". www.senate.gov.ph.
- ^ "New NCCA TV Series Buhay na Buhay Guides Viewers Towards a Deeper Knowledge on and Appreciation for Filipino Culture". Art+ Magazine Online.
- ^ "Loren Legarda's three options". Tempo. February 16, 2018.
External links
- Media related to Loren Legarda at Wikimedia Commons
- Luntiang Pilipinas