As the nation prepares for the upcoming elections on Monday, May 12, many netizens are expressing nostalgia for the late former senator and presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago.
With the electoral season heating up, her timeless insights have resurfaced—particularly her remarks during the PiliPinas Debates 2016 hosted by GMA Network, where she shared the three key qualities voters should look for in a national leader.
1. Academic Excellence
Santiago emphasized the importance of academic excellence, which she defined as being highly capable and outstanding in intellectual pursuits. This includes high grades, academic achievements, recognitions, and overall intellectual rigor.
“There should be academic excellence. Dapat naging head of the class, o at least naging honor student, dahil kung hindi naman marunong ‘yon, ano ngayon ang ibibigay niyang dunong sa atin?” she said.
2. Professional Excellence
The second quality she identified was professional excellence. This means demonstrating competence, responsibility, and ethical behavior in one’s chosen field. It is shown through a strong track record, continuous learning, and a commitment to ethical standards.
Professional excellence also involves respectful and effective collaboration with others, integrity in the workplace, and a willingness to do what is right—even when no one is watching.
“Kung naging propesyunal ‘yon, dapat binigyan siya ng mga award ng mga kapwa professional niya dahil sa hanga sila sa kaniya,” she emphasized.
3. Moral Excellence
Lastly—and most importantly—Santiago underscored the value of moral excellence. This refers to being upright, principled, and humane in both private and public actions. It’s about consistently choosing what is right, even under pressure or temptation.
“We should have moral excellence, dapat ang ibinoboto natin walang bahid sa kaniyang record o kung may inimbento man, masyadong hindi kapani-paniwala,” she reiterated.
As voters head to the polls, Santiago’s powerful message serves as a timeless reminder: choose leaders who embody academic, professional, and moral excellence. These are the kinds of leaders who can truly move the nation forward.
