Loren Legarda on her passions, remarrying, Al Gore, P-Noy, Binay & GMA

On the sidelines of the whole-day First Indigenous Peoples Cultural Summit organized by Senator Loren Legarda in the National Museum on Oct. 13, I was able to get an exclusive interview for the STAR amid the colorful ceremonies and various speeches.

Indigenous peoples in different, colorful and exotic costumes like the Kalinga, T’boli, Panay Bukidnon or Kalibulongan Talaingod tribes attended, along with various foreign diplomats, government leaders like Department of Environment & Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, legislators, NGOs and civic leaders like Maribel Ongpin and Maritess M. Pineda. Excerpts from the interview:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Congratulations, I heard your son Lean was accepted at both Yale University and Oxford University?

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA: Yes, Lean chose Yale, I am very proud of him. He’s very focused, passionate and disciplined. He’s studying political science. Lean is vice president of the Yale freshmen student council, won first place in the Yale freshmen debate, is assistant secretary-general of the model United Nations of Yale and is part of the Yale scholars program.

You’re already focused on environmental issues, disaster risk prevention, the welfare of kids and women, and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Why add the cause of indigenous peoples?

There are 15 million indigenous peoples out of our over 100 million population in the Philippines. I care about them, because they’re marginalized and the most vulnerable also to climate change. They and their traditions are who we are as a people.

Are the Filipino Muslims included among these indigenous peoples?

Yes, the Maranaws and others.

How many IP groups or tribes are there in the country?

Senator Loren Legarda: “I care the indigenous people because they’re marginalized and the most vulnerable also to climate change.”

There are 110 ethno-linguistic groups nationwide. I have decided to champion their cause, because they are among the poorest of the poor and the most marginalized. I champion their cause not only to hear their voice, but also to promote their culture and traditions, the heart and soul of the indigenous peoples.

President Noynoy Aquino seems determined to uncover the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 election which the late Fernando Poe, Jr. and you lost to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Noli de Castro. Your reaction to these new investigations?

Huwag na iyon (Let’s skip that). Wilson… Let’s focus na lang on my various advocacies like the welfare of our disadvantaged indigenous peoples, disaster risk prevention, etc.

But you’ve asserted in the past that you were cheated in that election?

It’s the truth. It was painful, but I’ve moved on. I really want to focus more on things that build, not on things that destroy.

So you still assert that you and FPJ were cheated?

That’s the truth. We were cheated, but we cannot turn back the hands of time. I believe history will eventually give us justice… Let’s discuss instead the indigenous peoples and what we can do to help them.

Senator Loren Legarda and Congresswoman Nur-ana Sahidulla join the T’boli, Subanen, Panay Bukidnon, Ata Manobo and people of the Upper Kalinga region in Dinadaktur, a community dance and music piece.

Is President Noynoy supportive of your projects for the indigenous peoples?

I hope so.

Your reaction to the recent floods in Roxas Boulevard and Central Luzon?

A lot of recent tragic natural disasters were caused or worsened by deforestation, the combined surface run-off, the non-implementation of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Also, there should have been updated dam control reports.

What do you mean by non-implementation? How?

Only 20 percent of local government units (LGUs) throughout the Philippines have implemented this act. Most cities and municipalities do not dredge their canals and esteros.

How do you assess your former political rival Jojo Binay as vice president?

Jojo is working very hard. He is a very hardworking public servant who knows very well local governance.

How about your former election rival Mar Roxas, what can you say about his 2010 election strategy of having focused attacks on your vice presidential candidacy when it was Binay who eventually benefitted and not him?

Really, I don’t want to talk about politics. The only politics I want to talk about is advocacy politics — how we can improve the lives of women, children, indigenous peoples, how to promote arts and culture, the environment, disaster risk reduction, nature, planting trees.

Okay, let’s go to another topic. How’s your love life?

(Laughs) Love life? Paano ba ito (What is this)? I wish I had something interesting to tell you about my love life… but I am full of love, passion for my advocacies and love for our country.

A B’laan woman does the finishing touches to the traditional bongsla.

What about romantic love?

I am romancing with nature. (Laughs)

Has your marriage been annulled?

Yes, I am legally annulled. We are both the same, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and I, in fact she said we are both single by judicial decree. (Laughs)

You are now legally single. The country’s most eligible single guy is President Noynoy. Could you possibly ever be a couple?

Ay Diyos ko… ang corny ng istorya mo (My God… your story is corny)! Three years kong colleague iyan sa Senado (we were colleagues in the Senate), we are friends. I will just be supportive of him and his policies for the welfare of our people.

Any news about East Timor’s bachelor President Jose Ramos-Horta and you?

I invited the East Timor ambassador to join the First Indigenous Peoples Summit, he was here, so were the diplomats of Spain, Italy, the International Labor Organization (ILO), etc.

Have you received any message from him?

I have not talked to him or met him in a very long time.

What about the romance tsismis (rumor) before about the divorced former US Vice-President Al Gore and you, especially when you were there at his speech in SMX?

Si Al Gore, wala iyon, pure tsismis lang ‘yon (About Al Gore, there’s nothing to it, that was pure gossip). He doesn’t even know my name.

DENR Secretary Paje told me you seem to be looking more beautiful nowadays. What are your beauty secrets?

Nothing really, maybe because God has been blessing my work, my various advocacies.

Really, for the benefit of the readers, any physical regimen or beauty secrets?

The lady Senator dances the Kuglong of the Ata Manobo and the Gangsa of the Cordillera.

Once in a while I do yoga. I have to go back to my regular exercise regimen at the gym which I stopped six months ago, due to my elbow tendonitis which is now okay.

I hear you drink lots of water daily?

Oh, my God, several liters of alkaline water per day, and at least a cup with vegetables, plus I eat brown rice.

Since you’re annulled, you’re now legally free to remarry?

Yes, I am legally free to remarry, but that’s not within my 10-point agenda. (Laughs)

What is your ideal kind of guy — what qualities?

Somebody who is monogamous… brilliant, compassionate, caring, and generous.

After having survived two marriages, what is your advice to women in general on choosing their husbands?

Listen to your mother. Mothers know best.

Is this advice based on your personal experiences? You didn’t listen to your mother?

Well, I was stubborn and I paid for it.

What are your plans for the 2013 election?

I am running for re-election and I hope Filipinos will vote for me again.

I hope you don’t mind, what are your reactions to the possible bias of many people in our Philippine society about women like you who are perceived to very ambitious?

That doesn’t bother me, because I prefer to focus on the positive. I want to make lives better, the environment healthier and greener, to help make living more sustainable. Those are my main concerns.

What are your views on ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?

I wish her good health, speedy recovery, and peace of mind. All that we can do for her is to pray.

Your reaction to President Noy Aquino saying his government will prosecute GMA and her husband for their alleged crimes like election fraud and corruption?

Well, justice must take its course.

Why are women achievers like you, Sharon Cuneta, Kris Aquino and Vilma Santos unlucky with men? Sharon and Vilma had failed first marriages, Kris twice like you.

Senator Loren Legarda with Federico Caballero, Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan 2000 awardee

No, we’re not unlucky with men, it’s just that circumstances didn’t work out with those men… Don’t forget the importance of supporting our indigenous peoples in your column ha, huwag puro (not always talking about) love life or politics.

Okay, any other final thoughts on our 15 million indigenous peoples?

Our indigenous peoples have shaped our story as a Filipino people — our music, arts and dance, our native knowledge and skills, our deeply-held beliefs, our creativity, our sustainable ways of living with our physical environment and most important, our self-worth.

Despite their overwhelming contributions, we have admittedly underwhelmed them as opportunities, services and share in decision-making that are embodied in the Indigenous Peoples Rights law have yet to be fully accorded. Our actions and inaction have placed lives on the line, despoiled their lands, threatened their culture and deprived them of their rights. How sincerely will we address these issues that affect our indigenous peoples’ very survival?

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Ooops! Apologies for my typographical error in last week’s column referring to Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva’s dad as “the late” Hector “Tata” Villanueva, when this three-term ex-mayor is still healthy. His cousin Atty. Ipe Remollo texted: “The ex-mayor’s comment on typo error — I look at it positively as it would mean I would have a longer life!”

Senator Loren Legarda presents copies of her books on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction to German Technical Cooperation principal advisor Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss.

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