List of female senators of the Philippines explained

See main article: List of Senators of the Philippines. This is a list of women senators of the Philippines. It is a guide to identify the women in the Philippines who have served as senators in the Senate of the Philippines, as distinct from the existing whole list of Philippine senators.

Since 1947, there have been 23 Filipino women senators in Philippine history. In the ongoing 19th Congress, there are 7 incumbent female senators.

History

The first female senator elected in the Philippines was Geronima Pecson, who reaped the third largest number of votes during the Philippine senatorial elections of 1947. During her senatorial term, Pecson headed the Senate Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Health and Public Welfare, and the Joint Congressional Committee on Education.[1]

Eva Estrada-Kalaw was the first woman to be re-elected as senator.

Nikki Coseteng was the youngest senator during the 9th and 10th Congress. She was first elected in 1992 and then re-elected in 1995.

Loren Legarda is the first Filipino woman senator to top the Senate race twice in 1998 and 2007. She also became the first Filipino woman to become Majority Floor Leader of the Senate. She was also the youngest senator during the 11th Congress.

Pia Cayetano is the youngest woman elected senator in Philippine history at the age of 38. She was elected in 2004, then re-elected in 2010. She returned to the Senate in 2019.

Loi Ejercito Estrada became the first First Spouse (to Joseph Ejercito Estrada) to be elected in the Senate. She served from 2001 to 2007 after her husband's removal from the presidency in 2001.

Leticia Ramos-Shahani became the first Filipino woman to become President pro tempore of the Senate in 1993.

Santanina Rasul is the first Filipina Muslim senator.

Tecla San Andres Ziga was the first woman in the Philippines to top the bar examinations for law degree graduates. She was elected as a senator in 1963.[2]

Miriam Defensor Santiago was the first Filipino and first Asian from a developing country to be elected as a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on December 12, 2011.[3] She later resigned the post due to suspected ME/CFS, which turned out to be lung cancer.[4] [5]

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the first female senator who was elected as Vice President (1998–2001) and later installed to the presidency (2001–2010).

Risa Hontiveros is the Philippines' first socialist woman senator, representing the Akbayan party.

Female senators

denotes incumbent senator

SenatorFull nameElectionYears in serviceCongressPrior political experienceParty
1Magnolia Rodriguez Welborn-Antonino19671967–19726th, 7thNone
2Maria Teresa Aquino Aquino-Oreta19981998–200411th
12th
Representative, Malabon-Navotas's lone district (1987–1998)
3Helena Zoila Tirona Benitez19671967–19726th, 7th
4Maria Lourdes Nancy Sombillo Binay Angeles2013
2019
2013–present16th, 17th
18th, 19th
Personal assistant to Vice President Jejomar Binay (2010–2013)
5Pilar Juliana Schramm Cayetano2004
2010
2019
2004–2016
2019–present
13th, 14th
15th, 16th
18th, 19th
Representative, Taguig's Lone district (2016–2019)
6Anna Dominique Marquez-Lim Coseteng1992
1995
1992–20019th
10th
11th
Representative, Quezon City's 3rd district (1987–1992)
7Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima20162016–202217th, 18thSecretary of Justice (2010–2015)
8Miriam Palma Defensor-Santiago1995
2004
2010
1995–2001
2004–2016
10th
11th
13th
14th
15th
16th
Secretary of Agrarian Reform (1989–1990)
9Luisa Fernandez Pimentel-Ejercito20012001–200712th, 13thFirst Lady of the Philippines (1998–2001) (to 2004)
10Eva Reynada Estrada-Kalaw1965
1971
1965–19726th, 7th
11Ana Theresia Navarro Hontiveros-Baraquel2016
2022
2016–present17th, 18th, 19thRepresentative, Akbayan (2004–2010)
12Maria Villanueva Kalaw-Katigbak19611961–19675th, 6thNone
13Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda1998
2007
2013
2022
1998–2004,
2007–2019,
2022–present
11th, 12th, 14th, 15th,
16th, 17th, 19th
Representative, Antique's Lone district (2019–2022) (to 2003)
(2004)
(2nd/3rd/4th terms)
14Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo1992
1995
1992–19989th, 10thUndersecretary of Trade and Industry (1989–1992)
15Maria Ana Consuelo Abad Santos Madrigal-Valade20042004–201013th
14th
Presidential Adviser for Children's Affairs (1999–2001) (to 2007)
PDP–Laban (to 2009)
16Maria Paz Paterno Madrigal-Warns19551955–19613rd, 4thSecretary of Social Welfare and Development (1953–1955)
17Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios Romualdez Marcos20192019–present18th, 19thRepresentative, Ilocos Norte's 2nd district (1998–2007)
Governor of Ilocos Norte (2010–2019)
18Geronima Palisoc Tomelden Pecson19471947–19531st, 2ndAssistant Executive Secretary to President Manuel Roxas
19Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe Llamanzares2013
2019
2013–present16th, 17th,
18th, 19th
Chair, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (2010–2012)
20Leticia Valdez Ramos-Shahani1987
1992
1987–19988th, 9th, 10thUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs (1981–1986) (to 1992)
21Santanina Centi Tillah Rasul1987
1992
1987–19958th, 9thCommissioner for Muslim and Other Ethnic Minorities (1978–1987) (to 1992)
22Cynthia Ampaya Aguilar Villar 2013
2019
2013-present16th, 17th,
18th, 19th
Representative, Las Piñas's lone district (2001–2010)
23Tecla San Andres-Ziga19631963–19695th, 6thSecretary of Social Welfare and Development (1962–1963)

Timeline of female senators

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Per Congress

ElectionElectedCongress Session Composition
19461st Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19473rd–4th
19492nd Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19513rd–4th
19533rd Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19553rd–4th
19574th Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19593rd–4th
19615th Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19633rd–4th
19656th Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19673rd–4th
19697th Congress of the Philippines1st–2nd
19713rd–4th
19878th Congress of the Philippines
19929th Congress of the Philippines
199510th Congress of the Philippines
199811th Congress of the Philippines
200112th Congress of the Philippines
200413th Congress of the Philippines
200714th Congress of the Philippines
201015th Congress of the Philippines
201316th Congress of the Philippines
201617th Congress of the Philippines
201918th Congress of the Philippines
202219th Congress of the Philippines

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senators Profile - Geronima T. Pecson. www.senate.gov.ph. July 26, 2019.
  2. Web site: Senators Profile - Tecla San Andres Ziga . www.senate.gov.ph . July 26, 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053915/http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/tecla_ziga.htm . March 4, 2016 .
  3. Web site: Press Release - Revilla: Press statement on Senator Santiago's election as ICC judge. Senate.gov.ph. October 2, 2016.
  4. Web site: It's final: Miriam steps down as ICC judge. October 2, 2016.
  5. Web site: Miriam Santiago: I have lung cancer. October 2, 2016.