Philippine senators of notable significance

If I were to choose the 12 most outstanding senators of all time, I would select the following; Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tanada, Jose W. Diokno, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Jovito Salonga, Arturo Tolentino, Raul Manglapus, Francisco Rodrigo, Raul Roco, Blas F. Ople, Manuel Quezon, and Sergio Osmeña Sr.

The following former senators became presidents; Quezon, Osmeña, Jose P. Laurel Sr., Manuel A. Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Carlos P. Garcia, Ferdinand Marcos, Joseph Estrada, GMA, and Benigno S. Aquino III. The following presidents never became senators; General Emilio Aguinaldo, Ramon Magsaysay, Corazon Aquino, FVR, and Rodrigo Duterte. Former senators who became vice presidents were Noli de Castro, Teofisto Gungona Jr., GMA, Erap, Doy Laurel, Arturo Tolentino, Fernando Lopez, Emmanuel Pelaez, Carlos P. Garcia and Sergio Osmeña Sr.

The first female senator was Geronima Pecson in 1947, followed by Pacita Madrigal Warns in 1951, Ma. Kalaw Katigbak in 1961, Tecla Ziga in 1963, Eva Kalaw in 1965, Magnolia Antonino in 1967, Helen Benitez in 1967, Letty R. Shahani in 1987, Santanina Rasul in 1987. Other female senators are; GMA in 1992, Nikki Coseteng in 1992, Miriam Defensor Santiago from 1995 to 2016, Loren Legarda in 1998, Tessie A. Oreta in 1998, Loi Ejercito in 2001, Pia Cayetano in 2004, Jamby Madrigal in 2004, Nancy Binay in 2013, Cynthia Villar in 2013, Grace Poe in 2013, Leila de Lima in 2016, Risa Hontiveros in 2016, and Imee Marcos in 2019.

The following became Senate presidents: Manuel L. Quezon in 1916, Manuel A. Roxas in 1945, Jose Avelino in 1946, Mariano Jesus Cuenco in 1949, Quintin Paredes in 1952, Camilo Osias in 1952 and 1953, Eulogio Rodriguez Sr., in 1952 and 1953, Jose Zulueta in 1963, Ferdinand Marcos in 1963, Arturo Tolentino in 1966, Gil Puyat in 1967, Jovito Salonga, in 1967 then 1992 again. Marcos abolished Congress under martial law. In 1992, 1995, and 1998, Neptali Gonzales Sr. became Senate president, followed by Edgardo Angara in 1993, Ernie Maceda in 1996, Marcelo Fernan in 1998, Blas Ople in 1999, and Frank Drilon in 2000, 2001, and 2013. Nene Pimentel was elected Senate president in 2000, followed by Manny Villar in 2006, Johnny Enrile in 2008, Koko Pimentel in 2016, and Tito Sotto in 2018.

Other notable senators are Ninoy Aquino, Marcelo Fernan, Cipriano Primicias Sr., Gil J. Puyat, Edgardo Angara Jr., and Neptali Gonzales. The Cebuano senators in alphabetical order were Alejandro Almendras, Manuel Briones, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Rene Espina, Marcelo Fernan, Ernesto Boy Herrera, Santiago Lucero, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Sergio Osmeña Jr., Sergio Osmeña III, Sonny Osmeña, Vicente Rama, Celestino Rodriguez, Pedro Rodriguez, Filemon Sotto, Vicente Sotto, and Vicente Sotto III.

I hope Governor Gwen Garcia changes her mind and runs for the Senate to become our 18th senator. We will know next month on filing day. Let's keep our fingers crossed.