Senator Loren Legarda

Sen. Loren Legarda, a strong vice presidential contender, marks a milestone, her 50th birthday, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. Her only wish she said is for her and her family to be safe always and to have good health, and for the upliftment from poverty of the Filipino people.

In celebration of her special day, Loren will hold a jobs fair in San Pablo City, her dad’s hometown. They will also do tree-planting under her Luntiang Pilipinas Foundation. Aside from this, they will also conduct a medical mission for breast cancer awareness under the Bessie Legarda Memorial Foundation and give free haircuts under Libreng Gupit. All this will be held on Jan. 30.

Senator Loren is in tandem with Sen. Manny Villar who is eyeing the presidency. Sen. Villar is the Nacionalista Party’s standard bearer.

Loren, who is the oldest and only girl among the three children of Antonio Cabrera Legarda and the late Bessie Gella Bautista, has for the last 30 years dedicated herself as a journalist and public servant. She has devoted her work to ensure that the future generations of Filipinos will live in enabling environments where our natural resources are used in ways that are sustainable and equitable; where social justice, human rights, peace and cultural diversity are priorities; and where opportunities for quality education and decent employment to all hard-working citizens free them from poverty.

As the only female senator who has topped the senate race twice and the only woman to become majority leader, Senator Legarda has been chiefly responsible for the passage of the following laws: The Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act (RA 9509), the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (RA 9501), the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9262), the Philippine Ear Research Institute Act( RA 9245), the Philippine Tropical Fabric Law (RA 9242), the Anti-Child Labor Law (RA 9231), the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208), the Eid’ul Fitr Holiday Law (RA 9177),  the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) and Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729), among many others.

As a crusader for the environment and its sustainable development, in 2000, Loren was named one of the Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum. The following year, she was named a UNEP Laureate by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). She has been included in the Global 500 Roll of Honor for being at the frontlines of global environmental action. In 2004, she became an Awardee for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy in Mumbai, India.

In the Philippine Senate, she moved for the creation of the Senate Oversight Committee on Climate Change to help monitor and consolidate the government’s efforts towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. These initiatives and her firm resolve to bring the issue of climate change and disaster risk reduction to the forefront of policymaking led to her appointment as United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Asia Pacific.

Loren has also contributed to peace efforts. She played a crucial role in the safe and expeditious release of military and police officers and men who were held captive by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and fellow journalists who were held captive in Sulu. For her outstanding work for the cause of Muslims, Loren was bestowed the title of Bai a labi (Honorary Muslim Princess) by the Marawi Sultanate league.

Loren also established the Libro ni Loren Foundation, Inc. to help improve the literacy level in the country’s poorest provinces. She founded the Bessie Legarda Memorial Foundation, Inc. to provide medical assistance to indigent breast cancer victims and serve as support group to their families. She organized the Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Entrepreneurship Nationwide (LOREN) which provided capital for women entrepreneurs.

As a journalist, Loren earned prestigious awards such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees (1992), The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Award (1993), and the Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism (1995) for her sterling record as a journalist for more than two decades.

Loren completed her primary and secondary schooling at the Assumption Convent with honors. She obtained a degree in broadcast communications and graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines. While working as a broadcast journalist, Loren pursued her post-graduate studies at the National Defense College of the Philippines where she obtained a degree in National Security Administration and graduated at the top of her class.

Loren is now a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of lieutenant colonel. She was born to a family of newsmen, educators, physicians and public servants. Her paternal great grandfather Potenciano Cabrera was the first Mayor of San Pablo City, Laguna while her maternal great granduncle Vicente Gella was a Governor of Antique. Kapitan Moy Guevara, her maternal great granduncle, was the founder of the shoe industry of Marikina. Her grandfather, Jose P. Bautista, was a pillar of Philippine journalism.

Today, Loren continues on her path of distinction and excellence. Now on her second term as senator, Loren chairs the Committee on Agriculture, the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization, Committee on Health and Demography, and the Committee on Climate Change and the Oversight Committee on Climate Change.

Happy birthday, Sen. Loren and may all your dreams come true!

* * *
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Jan. 28 also go to Ms. Josie Trinidad-Lichauco, Atty. Oscar Orbos, Jacob Dionisio of ABS-CBN, US-based actor Bernardo Bernardo, Susan Paredes, Tina Maristela-Ocampo, Rogelio “JB” Bangsil Jr., Ric Jumasa, Buddy Tan, Sandy Javier, Manuel Silva, Regina Yui-Dee, Nelson Rosario, Elnor Castillo, Jules Lopez, Miguel D.C. Alegre, Helen Banaria of New Jersey, USA, Deeda Tanopo, and my sister, New York-based Ching M. Schriener. Happy wedding anniversary to Oliver and Jane Buenaflor; and Oscar and Sally Maliuanag.