Thank youย –ย a never ending thank you.
I was at the Department of Tourism when I heard the news. I didnโt know how to react at first, but because of the millennial that I am, I posted on Facebook: Stupid is Forever.
โWe are doomedโ, I thought. Everything was going apeshit and though youโve lost the presidential race, many of us were still wishing that you wouldย regain your health and be back as fierce as ever. When you provided your resignation as Senator, I was actually relieved.
You deserved a break; you deserved to rest. We let you down; the Filipinos let you down.
With less than 4 million people rallying behind you during the elections, that wasnโt enough to push you toย the presidency. We tried, though.
โSenator Miriam Defensor Santiago died peacefully today at 8:52am. Details of the interment will be announced later. We ask for prayers as her family goes through this difficult timeโ. I had to read it 5 times before I couldย understand the message. I didnโt want to believe it and I know all the Miriam supporters understand how it feels like to lose you.
Weโve lost more than a Senator. Weโve lost a woman who tirelessly served the country and loved us through all the things weโve been through.
Tirelessly, more than 1,000 bills passed and even through cancer, you were still attending hearings and special projects.
So people ask, why do people love you? I wanted to answer the bills that you sponsored and authored like the Reproductive Health Act, Magna Carta of Women, Cybercrime Law, Anti-Bullying Law and Climate Change Act just to name a few.
I saw the praises that the Senators posted since your passing and all of them had nothing bad to say. The Filipinos all hadย good things to say about you, which made me ask – so why didnโt you guys vote for her? Maybe I was grieving, I was mad. Mad at those people who can only see this now – now that youโre gone.
We didnโt deserve you; we didnโt deserve to be served by a soul who never turned her back on her country. So, in behalf of the country, we are sorry.
Now, you can rest and find peace. Peace that we will forever be looking forward to… para sa bayan.