Jump to content

Loren Legarda: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Biangotz (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Political career: Her photo as a representative is already in the infobox, added 2022 photo of Legarda as a senator
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(759 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Senator of the Philippines since 2022}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Use Philippine English|date=April 2023}}
| image = Loren legarda 10.jpg
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
| caption = Sen. Loren Legarda, photo by Raymond Isaac
| name = Loren Legarda
{{Philippine name|[[Bautista]]|Legarda}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| order =
| office = [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator of the Philippines]]
| image =
Rep. Loren Legarda (18th Congress PH).jpg
| term_start = June 30, 2007
| term_end =
| caption = Official portrait, 2019
| order2 =
| name = Loren Legarda
| office2 = Senate of the Philippines<br/>Senate Majority Floor Leader
| order =
| office = [[President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines]]
| term_start2 = 2001
| term_end2 = 2004
| term_start = July 25, 2022
| preceded2 = [[Francisco Tatad]]
| term_end = May 20, 2024
| succeeded2 = [[Francis Pangilinan]]
| preceded = [[Migz Zubiri]] (acting)
| order3 =
| succeeded = [[Jinggoy Estrada]]
| office3 = Senator of the Philippines
| office1 = [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator of the Philippines]]
| term_start3 = June 30, 1998
| term_start1 = June 30, 2022
| term_end3 = June 30, 2004
| term_end1 =
| birthname = Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda
| term_start2 = June 30, 2007
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|01|28}}
| term_end2 = June 30, 2019
| term_start3 = June 30, 1998
| birth_place = [[Malabon City|Malabon]], [[Metro Manila]], [[Philippines]]
| death_date =
| term_end3 = June 30, 2004
| office4 = [[Majority Floor Leader of the Senate of the Philippines|Senate Majority Leader]]
| death_place =
| nationality = [[Philippines|Filipino]]
| term_start4 = July 23, 2002
| party = [[Nationalist People's Coalition|NPC]] (2007&ndash;present)
| term_end4 = January 12, 2004
| preceded4 = [[Aquilino Pimentel Jr.]]
| otherparty = [[Lakas-CMD]] (1998&ndash;2003) <br> [[Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino|KNP]] (2004)
| spouse =
| succeeded4 = [[Francis Pangilinan]]
| children = 2 sons
| term_start5 = July 23, 2001
| residence = [[Manila]]
| term_end5 = June 3, 2002
| preceded5 = [[Francisco Tatad]]
| alma_mater = [[Assumption College (Philippines)|Assumption College]]<br>[[University of the Philippines]]
| occupation = [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator]]
| succeeded5 = [[Aquilino Pimentel Jr.]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin| Senate positions}}
| profession = [[Journalist]]; [[Environmentalist]]
| office6 = Chair of the [[Philippine Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]
| religion = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]]
| signature =
| term_start6 = May 18, 2017
| term_end6 = June 30, 2019
| website = [http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/ Loren Legarda]<br>[http://www.luntiangpilipinas.com.ph/ Luntiang Pilipinas]
| preceded6 = [[Alan Peter Cayetano]]
| succeeded6 = [[Koko Pimentel]]
| term_start7 = July 26, 2010
| term_end7 = July 22, 2013
| preceded7 = [[Miriam Defensor Santiago]]
| succeeded7 = Miriam Defensor Santiago
| office8 = Chair of the [[Philippine Senate Committee on Finance|Senate Finance Committee]]
| term_start8 = July 25, 2016
| term_end8 = June 30, 2019
| preceded8 = [[Francis Escudero]]
| succeeded8 = [[Sonny Angara]]
| office9 = Chair of the [[Philippine Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change|Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee]]
| term_start9 = July 22, 2013
| term_end9 = July 25, 2016
| predecessor9 = [[Migz Zubiri]]
| successor9 = [[Cynthia Villar]]
| office10 = Chair of the [[Philippine Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change|Senate Climate Change Committee]]
| term_start10 = December 9, 2009
| term_end10 = June 30, 2019
| preceded10 = ''new office''
| succeeded10 = [[Nancy Binay]]
| office11 = Chair of the [[Philippine Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform|Senate Agriculture and Food Committee]]
| term_start11 = February 2, 2009
| term_end11 = July 22, 2013
| preceded11 = [[Edgardo Angara]]
| succeeded11 = [[Francis Pangilinan]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office12 = [[Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines]]
| term_start12 = July 22, 2019
| term_end12 = June 30, 2022
| 1blankname12 = {{nowrap|Speaker}}
| 1namedata12 = [[Alan Peter Cayetano]]<br> [[Lord Allan Velasco]]
| alongside12 = [[18th Congress of the Philippines#Leadership|''several others'']]
| office13 = Member of the [[Philippine House of Representatives]] from [[Antique's at-large congressional district|Antique]]
| term_start13 = June 30, 2019
| term_end13 = June 30, 2022
| predecessor13 = Paolo Everardo Javier
| successor13 = [[Antonio Legarda Jr.]]
| birthname = Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|01|28}}
| birth_place = [[Malabon]], [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]], Philippines
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = [[Filipino]]
| party = [[Nationalist People's Coalition|NPC]] (2005–present)
| otherparty = [[Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino|KNP]] (2004)<br>[[Independent politician#Philippines|Independent]] (2003–2005)<br>[[Lakas–CMD (1991)|Lakas–NUCD]] (1998–2003)
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Antonio Leviste]]|1989|2008|end=annulled}}
| children = 2
| nickname = ''Bai A Labi'' (Honorary Muslim Princess) of the [[Marawi]] Sultanate League;<ref name="senate.gov.ph"/>
''Tukwifi'' (Bright Star) of the [[Mountain Province]] Indigenous Peoples;<ref name="senate.gov.ph"/>
''Bai Matumpis'' (The One Who Takes Care) of the unified congregation of 10 [[Davao (province)|Davao]] indigenous people groups;<ref name="senate.gov.ph"/>
''Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan'' (Shining Sun Rising in Power) of the [[Suludnon]] Indigenous Peoples of [[Panay]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph"/>
| residence = [[Malabon]], [[Metro Manila]]<br>[[Pandan, Antique]]
| alma_mater = [[University of the Philippines Diliman]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[National Defense College of the Philippines]] (MNSA)
| profession = [[Journalist]]
| occupation = [[Politician]]
| allegiance = {{flag|Philippines}}
| branch = [[File:Flag of the Philippine Army.svg|25px]] [[Philippine Army]]
| rank = [[File:PHIL ARMY COL FD-Sh.svg|40px]] [[Colonel]]
| website = [http://www.lorenlegarda.com.ph/ Loren Legarda]<br />[http://www.luntiangpilipinas.com.ph/ Luntiang Pilipinas]
}}
}}


'''Lorna Regina''' "'''Loren'''" '''Bautista Legarda''' (born January 28, 1960) is a Filipina politician, [[environmentalist]], cultural worker, and former journalist who is currently serving as a [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator]] and served as the [[president pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines]] from 2022 to 2024. This also makes her the first woman to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore in the upper chamber's history. Before entering politics, she began her career as a news reporter until becoming a [[news anchor]]. She previously served three terms in the Senate from 1998 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2019. She is the longest-serving female Senator in the history of the Senate, and the only female in the Philippines to top two [[Philippine senatorial elections|senatorial elections]]: [[1998 Philippine Senate election|1998]] and [[2007 Philippine Senate election|2007]]. Legarda was also the [[Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines|House Deputy Speaker]] during her three-year stint as the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|representative]] of [[Legislative district of Antique|Antique]] from 2019 to 2022.
'''Loren Legarda''' is a [[Philippines|Filipino]] broadcast journalist, [[environmentalist]], and [[politician]] of [[Visayans|Visayan]] ancestry, notable as the only female to top [[Philippine general election, 1998|two senatorial elections (1998]] and [[Philippine general elections, 2007|2007)]]. During the [[Philippines general election, 2004|2004 Philippine general election]], she ran for the position of [[Vice-President of the Philippines|Vice-President]] as an [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] with [[Fernando Poe, Jr.]] as running mate.
Legarda ran for [[Vice President of the Philippines|vice president]] in [[2004 Philippine presidential election|2004]] as the running mate of [[Fernando Poe Jr.]], but controversially lost to [[Noli de Castro]], Legarda contested the result on an electoral protest where she also lost.<ref>{{cite news |last=Frialde |first=Mike |date=February 20, 2008 |title=It's final: Loren loses election protest case vs Noli |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2008/02/20/45743/its-final-loren-loses-election-protest-case-vs-noli |newspaper=[[The Philippine Star]] |access-date=February 20, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=P.E.T. Case No. 003 |url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2008/jan2008/pet_003_2008.html |website=lawphil.net |access-date=January 18, 2008}}</ref> She fell short again vying for the same position in [[2010 Philippine presidential election|2010]] as the running mate of [[Manny Villar]].


Legarda is an advocate of [[Climate Change|climate change]] awareness and has numerous achievements in the fields of [[Social change|social development]] and [[human rights]] advocacy along with her work in [[journalism]].<ref name="senate.gov.ph" /> Her legislative work is focused on [[education]], [[indigenous people]] rights, [[culture]], [[women's rights]], [[children's rights]], and the [[Natural environment|environment]]. Some the notable laws she authored and co-authored include the Climate Change Act, Clean Water Act, Renewable Energy Act, Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Domestic Violence Act, [[National Cultural Heritage Act]], [[Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012]], the [[Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act]], and the Universal Healthcare Law. Alongside her legislative work, she has also represented the Philippines to [[UNESCO]] multiple times. In 2018, Legarda became a Commissioner of the newly formed international organization, Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA).<ref name="lorenlegarda.com.ph">{{cite web |title=Statement: Opening Ceremony, Launch of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) |date=October 16, 2018 |url=http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/statement-opening-ceremony-launch-of-the-global-commission-on-adaptation-gca/ |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Loren Legarda}}</ref> She also chaired the [[Climate Vulnerable Forum]], which encompasses 20 climate vulnerable countries.
Legarda is a notable advocate of [[Climate Change|Climate Change Awareness]] and has numerous achievements in the fields of [[social development]] and [[human rights]] advocacy along with her work in [[journalism]]. As a [[journalist]], she has received many awards. In 2008, she was chosen as "[[United Nations]] [[International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]] [[Asia Pacific]] Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation". She was a member of the [[Philippine]] delegation during the [[2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference|2009 Copenhagen Summit]].

For her environmental work, Legarda has received numerous accolades; she was awarded 2001 UNEP Laureate as declared by the [[United Nations Environment Programme]],<ref name="senate.gov.ph">{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/legarda_loren_bio.asp |title=Senator Loren B. Legarda – Senate of the Philippines |publisher=Senate.gov.ph |date=2015-11-30 |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> a 2008 Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change [[climate change adaptation|Adaptation]] for Asia and the Pacific as declared by the [[United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]],<ref name="senate.gov.ph" /> a ''National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion'' by the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]] in 2017.<ref>"[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/08/30/11/wikileaks-us-impressed-influential-kris-merci WikiLeaks: US impressed with 'influential' Kris, Merci]". [[ABS-CBN News]]. Posted at August 30, 2011 11:25 PM | Updated as of August 31, 2011 2:29 AM</ref> She was declared by the [[United Nations]] as a ''UN Global Champion for Resilience'' in 2015. She was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious [[National Commission for Culture and the Arts|Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts and Culture]].<ref>{{cite web |date=December 22, 2016 |title=Legarda is beacon of art for NCCA |url=https://insidemanila.ph/article/45/legarda-is-beacon-of-art-for-ncca}}</ref> She has been named as [[princess|honorary princess]] and member by numerous [[indigenous people]] communities in the Philippines due to her support for indigenous people's rights since the 1970s. She was honored as a ''Chevalier'' in [[France]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Loren receives French Legion of Honor – Philstar.com |url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/02/20/1554992/loren-receives-french-legion-honor |website=philstar.com}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Senator Loren Legarda named Knight in the French Legion of Honor |url=https://ph.ambafrance.org/Senator-Loren-Legarda-named-Knight-in-the-French-Legion-of-Honor |website=La France aux Philippines et en Micronésie}}</ref> and ''Cavaliere'' in [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Legarda receives Italy's prestigious Order of Merit – Philstar.com |url=http://www.philstar.com/newsmakers/2017/07/27/1721777/legarda-receives-italys-prestigious-order-merit |website=philstar.com}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Loren Legarda was born on January 28, 1960, in [[Malabon]] (then a municipality in [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]]) as Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda, the only daughter of Antonio Cabrera Legarda and Maria Salome Basilia "Bessie" Gella Bautista. Her maternal grandfather was Jose P. Bautista, editor-in-chief of the pre-Martial Law newspaper, ''[[The Manila Times]],''<ref name="Green">[http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=543379&publicationSubCategoryId=70 How Green is Loren's Valley?]. January 24, 2010. [[Ricky Lo]]. ''[[The Philippine Star]]''. Retrieved on February 6, 2010.</ref> while her maternal grandmother was Carmen Gella de Bautista of [[Pandan, Antique]].<ref name="philstar.com">{{cite web |title=Loren Legarda has found a soulmate in Antique |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/modern-living/2019/02/09/1892025/loren-legarda-has-found-soulmate-antique |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Philstar.com}}</ref> Legarda's maternal great-grandfather, Ariston Rendon Gella, was a member of the [[Malolos Congress]] that crafted the Philippine Constitution of the [[First Philippine Republic]].<ref name="philstar.com" /> Her great-great-uncle Vicente Gella was governor of the province while her great-granduncle was mayor of [[Sibalom]].<ref name="philstar.com" /> A brother of her grandfather, Bartolomé Gella, also served as governor of Antique.<ref name="philstar.com" />
Born '''Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda''' on January 28, 1960 in [[Malabon City|Malabon]], Legarda is the only daughter of Antonio Cabrera Legarda of [[San Pablo City|San Pablo]], [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]] and of Bessie Gella Bautista of [[Malabon City|Malabon]]. She and her family have roots in [[Antique (province)|Antique]].<ref name = "Green" /><ref name = "Profiles" >[http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&vi=1696&Itemid=8 Probe Profiles: Loren Legarda]. Probe TV/[[ABS-CBN News]]. [[Cheche Lazaro]]. January 20, 2010. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.</ref><ref name = "ABS-CBN" /> Her maternal grandfather was Jose P. Bautista, editor-in-chief of the pre-Martial Law newspaper, ''[[The Manila Times]]'', and one of the pillars of [[Media of the Philippines|Philippine journalism]]. As a teenager, she appeared as a [[commercial model]] and/or DJ in various television and print ads for Close-up, Pond's cream, Hapee toothpaste, etc.<ref name = "Profiles" /> During her youth, she consistently got honors in school. She was able to become a [[valedictorian]] from the [[Assumption College (Philippines)|Assumption College]], where she spent her early schooling, while she graduated with a [[cum laude]] after attending the [[University of the Philippines]].<ref name = "Profiles" /><ref name = "ABS-CBN" >[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/anc/02/05/10/loren-primed-vice-presidency Loren primed for the vice-presidency]. February 6, 2010. [[ABS-CBN News]]. Retrieved on February 6, 2010.</ref>


As a teenager, she appeared as a [[commercial model|print and television model]].<ref name="Profiles">[http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&vi=1696&Itemid=8 Probe Profiles: Loren Legarda]. Probe TV/[[ABS-CBN News]]. [[Cheche Lazaro]]. January 20, 2010. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.</ref> She attended [[Assumption College San Lorenzo|Assumption College]] from primary to high school,<ref name="ABS-CBN">{{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/anc/02/05/10/loren-primed-vice-presidency|title=Loren primed for the vice-presidency|publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]] News }}</ref> where she was a grade school [[valedictorian]]. She graduated cum laude from the [[University of the Philippines Diliman]] in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications and was President of the UP Broadcast Association.<ref name="Profiles" /> She pursued post-graduate courses on special studies towards professional designation in journalism from the [[University of California, Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/botomo/05/13/09/profile-lorna-regina-loren-bautista-legarda |title=Profile of Lorna Regina "Loren" Bautista Legarda &#124; ABS-CBN News |publisher=News.abs-cbn.com |access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>
==Career==
===RPN 9 and ABS-CBN (1985-1998)===
Legarda began her career in [[journalism]] as a reporter for [[RPN-9]], with notable features on [[Imelda Marcos]]' trip to [[Kenya]] as well as on the [[People Power Revolution]].<ref name = "Profiles" /> During this period, she obtained a master’s degree in National Security Administration from the [[National Defense College of the Philippines]], where she emerged as top-notcher (the NDCP awarded her gold medals for Academic Excellence and Best Thesis) in spite of being the youngest in the class. Later, she would move to the television station [[ABS-CBN]], where Legarda would achieve her best success in her career as a journalist. She became the anchor of the television newscast, ''[[The World Tonight (ABS-CBN)|The World Tonight]]'', and became the host of the [[current affairs]] series, ''The Inside Story''.<ref name = "Profiles" /> One of her most remarkable moments in this era was her rare interview with [[Michael Jackson]], who dedicated the song ''[[Heal the World]]'' to the [[Filipino people]].<ref name = "Green" /> During this period, she received more than thirty major awards, including the Catholic Mass Media Hall of Fame, [[Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas|KBP]] Golden Dove Award, the Gawad [[Cultural Center of the Philippines|CCP]], and the Ten Outstanding Young Men and Women (TOYM) award, among many others.<ref name = "Profiles" /><ref name = "ABS-CBN" />


==Career in journalism==
===Senate, 1st term (1998-2004)===
Legarda began a career in journalism as a reporter for [[Radio Philippines Network|RPN]], during which she covered topics including [[Imelda Marcos]]' trip to [[Kenya]] and the [[People Power Revolution]]. During this period, she obtained a master's degree in National Security Administration from the [[National Defense College of the Philippines]], graduating at the top of the class with gold medals for Academic Excellence and Best Thesis.<ref name="Senate">{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/legarda_loren_bio.asp |title=Senator Loren B. Legarda – Senate of the Philippines |publisher=Senate.gov.ph |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref> Later, she would move to the reopened [[ABS-CBN]]. She became the co-anchor of the television newscast, ''[[The World Tonight (Philippine newscast)|The World Tonight]]'' with [[Angelo Castro, Jr.]], and became the host of the [[current affairs (news format)|current affairs]] series, ''The Inside Story''.<ref name="Profiles" />
After becoming urged by the [[President of the Philippines|Philippine President]] [[Fidel V. Ramos]], Legarda ran for the [[Senate of the Philippines|Senate]] in 1998 under the [[Lakas-NUCD-UMDP]] Party.<ref name = "Profiles" /> She was elected with more than 15 million votes, allowing her to be the highest vote-getter in that year's election. During her tenure, she played crucial roles in the release of several hostages abducted as a result of the [[Insurgency in the Philippines]]. These include the release from captivity of five military and police officers and personnel (including General Victor Obillo of the [[Philippine Army]]) held by the [[Communist Party of the Philippines|CPP]]-[[New Peoples Army|NPA]]-[[National Democratic Front (Philippines)|NDF]] in April 1999, of [[Philippine Army|Army]] [[Major]] Noel Buan in April 2001 from a two-year captivity, and of fellow journalist Arlene dela Cruz from her [[Abu Sayyaf]] abductors in [[Jolo]], [[Sulu Province|Sulu]].


As a journalist, Loren earned the Gawad [[Cultural Center of the Philippines]], Catholic Mass Media Hall of Fame, [[Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas]] Golden Dove Award, Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees (1992), The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Award (1995), and the Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism (1995), among more than 30 awards.<ref name="ABS-CBN" />
During her first six years in the Senate, Legarda authored legislation benefiting [[Women's rights|women's]] and [[children's rights]], such as the following:
* Anti-[[Domestic Violence]] Act - seeks to uphold and protect the basic [[human rights]] of women and their children.
* Anti-[[Child Labor]] law - limits the [[child labor|employment of children]] below 15 years old, restricts the hours of work of working children, expands working children's access to education, social, medical and legal assistance.
* Anti-[[Human trafficking|Trafficking in Persons]] Act -aims to protect victims of [[human trafficking]].


==Political career==
She also authored the following laws:<ref name = "Profiles" />
* Ecological Solid [[Waste Management]] Law - created the National Solid Waste Management Commission, which aims to establish segregation among garbage and wastes.
* Tropical Fabric Law - prescribes the use of Philippine tropical fabrics for official uniforms of government officials and employees and for the purposes, which require the use of fabrics in government offices and functions.


===1998 Senate bid, first term===
Aside from these achievements, she has allowed dozens of former [[child labor]]ers to enroll in school through the "Libro ni Loren Foundation". Her work also included conducting regular medical missions benefiting [[breast cancer]] patients through the "Bessie Legarda Memorial Foundation". Legarda played a crucial role in the 2000-2001 impeachment trial of [[Joseph Estrada]], and her actions eventually helped spark the [[2001 EDSA Revolution]].<ref name = "Profiles" /> She was later chosen to be the Senate's Majority Floor Leader from 2001-2004.<ref name = "Profiles" />
Legarda ran for the [[Senate of the Philippines|Senate]] in 1998 under the [[Lakas-NUCD-UMDP]] Party.<ref name="Profiles" /> She was elected with more than 15 million votes, rendering her the highest number of votes in that year's election and becoming the second woman to top a Philippine senatorial election. Upon Legarda filing her candidacy as senator in late 1997, [[Tina Monzon-Palma]] who came from rival [[TV5 (Philippine TV network)|ABC (now TV5)]] and was the anchor of [[Big News|The Big News]], transferred to [[ABS-CBN]] in order to replace her on The World Tonight at the same time and joining [[Angelo Castro, Jr.]] in order to run the latter for this election. In 1999, the newscast was replaced by Pulso: Aksyon Balita on ABS-CBN and was moved to the [[ABS-CBN News Channel]], where it has aired since.


During her first six years in the Senate, Legarda authored legislation benefiting [[Women's rights|women's]] and [[children's rights]], such as the Anti-[[Domestic Violence]] Act which seeks to uphold and protect the basic [[human rights]] of women and their children, the Anti-[[Child Labor]] law which limits the [[child labor|employment of children]] below 15 years old, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act which aims to protect victims of [[human trafficking]], the Ecological Solid [[Waste Management]] Law which created the National Solid Waste Management Commission, and the Tropical Fabric Law. She also authored the Eid'ul Fitr Holiday Law, Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, and the Philippine Ear Research Institute Act.
===2004 elections and ABC 5 (2004-2007)===
[[Image:Loren Legarda.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Senator Loren Legarda during a 2007 [[Philippine Military Academy]] ceremony.]]
In 2003, Legarda left [[Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats|Lakas-CMD]] (after [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] broke her pledge not to run again for [[President of the Philippines|president]]) and joined the [[Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino|KNP]] coalition of [[Fernando Poe, Jr.]] as an [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] during the [[2004 Philippine general election|2004 elections]].


Legarda was named as one of the "Global Leaders for Tomorrow" by the [[World Economic Forum]] in Davos, Switzerland in 2000, and was awarded by the [[United Nations Environmental Program]] (UNEP) in Turin, Italy, for her work on the environment in 2001.<ref name="Senate" /> Legarda played a role in the 2000–01 impeachment trial of [[Joseph Estrada]] that sparked the [[Second EDSA Revolution]], voting to examine the envelope containing evidence of alleged corruption of the Estrada administration. She was later chosen to be the Senate's Majority Floor Leader from 2001 to 2004, becoming the first woman to hold the position.<ref name="Profiles" />
On January 18, 2008, in a 21-page resolution, penned by Senior Justice [[Leonardo Quisumbing]], the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines]], acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed Sen. Loren Legarda's electoral protest against [[Noli de Castro]]. 3 reasons supported the judgment: first, the PET approved the recommendation of Hearing Commissioner and former [[Commission on Elections]] (Comelec) Chair retired SC Justice Bernardo P. Pardo that “the pilot-tested revision of ballots or re-tabulation of the certificates of canvass would not affect the winning margin of the protestee in the final canvass of the returns, in addition to the ground of abandonment or withdrawal by reason of Protestant’s candidacy for, election and assumption of the office Senator of the Philippines;” second, Legarda’s failure to pay the P 3.9 million ($ 1 = P 40) revision of ballots (in 124,404 precincts) fee despite court extension under Rule 33 of the PET; and third, [[jurisprudence]] of Defensor Santiago v. Ramos, teaches that Legarda "effectively abandoned or withdrawn her protest when she ran in the Senate, which term coincides with the term of the Vice-Presidency 2004-2010." Meanwhile, [[Noli De Castro]] on television stated: "This is the triumph of truth. The truth that I won fair and square. I thank the Supreme Court for echoing the true voice of the people. From the very beginning I was confident that I received the overwhelming mandate of our people as Vice President." Legarda stated that she will file a motion for reconsideration in due course.<ref>[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=106049 Abs-Cbn Interactive, PET junks Loren's VP electoral protest]</ref><ref>[http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/news/courtnews%20flash/2008/01/01180801.php supremecourt.gov.ph/news, PET Junks Legarda’s Poll Protest against VP De Castro]</ref>


===2004 vice presidential bid===
===Senate, 2nd term and 2010 elections (2007-present)===
{{Main|2004 Philippine presidential election}}
[[Image:Legarda 2008 small.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Legrada during the 45th [[National Defense College of the Philippines|NDCP]] Founding Anniversary in [[San Juan City|San Juan]].]]
[[File:Loren Legarda.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Legarda during a 2007 [[Philippine Military Academy]] ceremony]]
In 2007, Legarda decided to run again for Senate under the banner of the [[Genuine Opposition]] coalition. She won, receiving more than 18 million votes, which allowed her to become the top vote-getter in that election. On January 10, 2008, rumors arose that Legarda would run for president after she topped a survey held during that period.<ref>[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=105345 Abs-CbN Interactive, Erap: I’ll choose myself]</ref> Later that month, she donated 1 million [[Philippine peso|pesos]] for 4-year-old deaf [[Filipino people|Filipino]] Raphael Angelo Provido’s [[cochlear implant]] at the [[Philippine General Hospital]].<ref>[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=107189 www.abs-cbnnews.com, Legarda foots bill for deaf boy’s operation]</ref> She would eventually be instrumental in the release of [[ABS-CBN News]] journalist Ces Drilon from the [[Abu Sayyaf]].<ref name = "Profiles" /> On July 14, 2009, Legarda announced her intention to run as president during the [[Philippine presidential election, 2010|2010 elections]].<ref name="loren">{{cite web |title=Legarda says she's ready to run for president |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090714-215338/Legarda-says-shes-ready-to-run-for-president|publisher=''[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]''|last=Avendaño|first=Christine|date=2009-07-14 |accessdate=2009-07-14}}</ref> On August 15, her bill, the [[Philippine Commission on Women|Magna Carta on Women]] was passed.<ref name = "Profiles" />
In 2003, Legarda left [[Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats|Lakas–CMD]] (after [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] broke her pledge not to run again for [[President of the Philippines|president]]) and joined the [[Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino]] coalition of [[Fernando Poe, Jr.]] as an [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] during the [[2004 Philippine general election|2004 elections]]. She lost the election to [[Noli de Castro]], the running mate of Arroyo, under a narrow margin of 3.9%.
<ref>[http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=496127 Magna Carta of Women signed]. August 15, 2009. ''[[The Philippine Star]]''. Retrieved on January 7, 2010.</ref> Later, on October 23 of that same year, during the launch of her humanitarian program "Lingkod Loren in Luneta", she formally declared her intention to run for vice-president in 2010 under [[Nationalist People's Coalition]] with the platform of [[green politics|environmentalism]].<ref name = "Profiles" /> After her supposed running mate, [[Francis Escudero]], decided quit the elections, she decided that it would be best to stick with the [[Nacionalista Party]]'s presidential candidate, [[Manny Villar]], as a guest-running mate.<ref name = "Profiles" /><ref name="loren-vp">{{cite web |title=Legarda says she will run as veep under NPC in 2010|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/175428/legarda-says-she-will-run-as-veep-under-npc-in-2010|publisher=[[GMA News]]|last=Legaspi|first=Amita|date=2009-10-23 |accessdate=2009-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=(UPDATE 2) Escudero leaves NPC |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/28/09/escudero-leaves-npc |date=2009-10-28}}</ref>


On January 18, 2008, in a 21-page resolution, penned by Senior Justice [[Leonardo Quisumbing]], the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines]], acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed Legarda's electoral protest against de Castro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/24591/palace-backs-fraud-probe |title=Palace backs fraud probe &#124; Inquirer News |publisher=Newsinfo.inquirer.net |date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>
So far in her second term as senator, Legarda has filed the following laws:
*Expanded [[Senior Citizens]] Law - seeks to increase the discount granted to senior citizens to 32% on goods and services, impose stiffer penalties to establishments which refuse to honor senior citizen card, etc.
*[[Climate Change]] Law - builds resilience to the impacts of [[climate change]] through the mainstreaming of climate change in various phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other development tools by all agencies of government.
*Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act - requires lending institutions to allocate at least eight percent of their total loan portfolio to micro and small businesses.
*[[Cheap]]er and Quality Medicines Act - fixes the maximum retail price of certain medicines and increases access of cheaper [[medicines]] in the country.
*Revised Agri-[[Agrarian reform|Agra]] Law - mandates banks to devote 25% of their loanable funds to agriculture and [[agrarian reform]] beneficiaries.


===2007 Senate bid, second term===
==Environmental advocacy==
In 2007, Legarda decided to run again for Senate under the banner of the [[Genuine Opposition]] coalition. She won, receiving more than 18 million votes, which allowed her to become the top vote-getter in that election.<ref name="Profiles" /> In her second term as senator, Legarda authored the Expanded Senior Citizens Law,<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web |title=Legislative Accomplishments Archive |url=http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/category/legislative-accomplishments/ |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Loren Legarda |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403173555/http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/category/legislative-accomplishments/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Climate Change]] Act, Clean Air Act, Renewable Energy Act, the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act, Barangay Kabuhayan Act, the Magna Carta on Women,<ref name="Profiles" /> University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, Bacolor Rehabilitation Council Act, Tourism Act of 2009, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009, Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, and the Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act. The Climate Change Act was lauded by the [[United Nations]] as the 'best in the world'.<ref>{{cite web |title=UN lauds Philippines' climate change laws 'world's best' &#124; Global News |date=May 4, 2012 |url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/35695/un-lauds-philippines%E2%80%99-climate-change-laws-%E2%80%98world%E2%80%99s-best%E2%80%99 |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Globalnation.inquirer.net}}</ref> She co-authored the [[National Cultural Heritage Act]]. Aside from her legislative work, she also established the [[Luntiang Pilipinas]] (Green Philippines) foundation, an organization aimed to aid the Philippines in attaining its United Nations mandate for reforestation, where the target was set by the UN at 2009.<ref name="Profiles" />
With her "[http://www.luntiangpilipinas.com.ph/ Luntiang Pilipinas]" foundation, Legarda has planted over two million trees all over the Philippine archipelago.<ref name = "Profiles" /> The charity also launched its ''10@10: The Ten Million Trees Campaign'', a viral [[tree planting]] campaign with the intention of planting 10 million trees by the year 2011. This campaign aims to contribute to the [[United Nations Environmental Program]], which aims to reach the seven billion-tree mark by 2009. One of her major accomplishments as an environmentalist is the passage of the Climate Change Act in October 2009.<ref name = "Profiles" /> She filed this bill two years ago, through inspiration from the [[Albay]] Declaration, the outcome document of the First National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, as it called for “the passage of a policy prioritizing climate change adaptation in the national agenda”.<ref name = "Green" >[http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=543379&publicationSubCategoryId=70 How Green is Loren's Valley?]. January 24, 2010. [[Ricky Lo]]. ''[[The Philippine Star]]''. Retrieved on [[February 6]], 2010.</ref> Legarda was chosen by [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] as a member of the [[Philippine]] delegation during the [[2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference|2009 Copenhagen Summit]].<ref name = "Green" />


Legarda has achieved numerous awards in her line of work on [[environmentalism]]. These include the "Global Leaders for Tomorrow" awarded by the [[World Economic Forum]] in [[Davos]], [[Switzerland]] and the "Global 500 Roll of Honour" by the [[United Nations Environmental Program]] (UNEP) in 2001. In 2004, she became an Environment Awardee of the Priyadarshni Academy in [[Mumbai]], [[India]]. In 2008, Legarda was appointed as [[United Nations|UN]][[International Strategy for Disaster Reduction|ISDR]] [[Asia Pacific]] Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, and she participated in the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, the [[BBC]] World Debate: ‘Prevent or React’, and the Forum on the Human Impact of Climate Change in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]].<ref name = "Green" /><ref>[http://www.unisdr.org/news/v.php?id=10289 BBC World Debate ‘Prevent or React’]. July 1, 2009. [[BBC]]/[[International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]]. Retrieved on [[February 5]], 2010.</ref>
In 2008, she was chosen as "[[United Nations]] [[International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]] [[Asia Pacific]] Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation",<ref name="Champion">{{cite news|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/133105/un-body-names-legarda-global-champion-for-resilience|title=UN body names Legarda Global Champion for Resilience|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=December 2015 |access-date=December 2, 2015}}</ref> and she participated in the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, the BBC World Debate: ‘Prevent or React’, and the Forum on the Human Impact of Climate Change in Geneva, Switzerland.<ref>[http://www.unisdr.org/news/v.php?id=10289 BBC World Debate ‘Prevent or React’]. July 1, 2009. [[BBC]]/[[International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]]. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.</ref> In October 2009, the Climate Change Act was passed.<ref name="Profiles" /> She filed this bill two years ago, citing inspiration from the Albay Declaration, the outcome document of the First National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, as it called for “the passage of a policy prioritizing climate change adaptation in the national agenda”.<ref name="Green" /> She was a member of the [[Philippine]] delegation during the [[2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference|2009 Copenhagen Summit]].<ref name="Green" /><ref name="Champion" />

===2010 vice presidential bid===
[[File:Leandro Loren Campaign.jpg|left|thumb|Legarda and her son, Leandro, during the 2010 election campaign period.]]{{Main|2010 Philippine presidential election}}
On July 14, 2009, Legarda expressed her interest to run as president during the [[2010 Philippine presidential election|2010 elections]].<ref name="loren">{{cite news |last=Avendaño |first=Christine |date=July 14, 2009 |title=Legarda says she's ready to run for president |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090714-215338/Legarda-says-shes-ready-to-run-for-president |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717015126/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090714-215338/Legarda-says-shes-ready-to-run-for-president |archive-date=July 17, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2009 |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]}}</ref> On October 23, 2009, during the launch of her humanitarian program "Lingkod Loren in Luneta",<ref name="Profiles" /> she formally declared her intention to run for vice president in 2010 under [[Nationalist People's Coalition]] with the platform of [[green politics|environmentalism]].<ref name="loren-vp">{{cite web |last=Legaspi |first=Amita |date=October 23, 2009 |title=Legarda says she will run as veep under NPC in 2010 |url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/175428/legarda-says-she-will-run-as-veep-under-npc-in-2010 |access-date=October 24, 2009 |publisher=[[GMA News]]}}</ref> After [[Francis Escudero]], expected to run for president, left the NPC,<ref>{{cite web |date=October 28, 2009 |title=(UPDATE 2) Escudero leaves NPC |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/28/09/escudero-leaves-npc}}</ref> she decided that it would be best to stick with the [[Nacionalista Party]]'s presidential candidate, [[Manny Villar]], as a guest-running mate.<ref name="Profiles" />

Legarda lost her bid for the Philippine vice presidency to [[Jejomar Binay]], placing third in the [[2010 Philippine presidential election]]s. As a result, she continued her term in the Senate. In 2010, Legarda was given chairmanship for the Senate committees on climate change, cultural communities, and foreign affairs.<ref>"[http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=599267&publicationSubCategoryId=63 allies corner Senate committees]". (''[[The Philippine Star]]'') Updated August 3, 2010 12:00 AM.</ref> She would later go to the [[United Nations]] to deposit the Philippines ratification for the [[International Criminal Court]] membership.<ref>"[http://www.gmanews.tv/story/231014/nation/dfa-phl-deposits-instrument-of-ratification-for-intl-crime-court DFA: PHL deposits instrument of ratification for int'l crime court]". [[GMA News]]. August 31, 2011 | 02:52 PM.</ref> As a result of [[Koko Pimentel]]'s win in his case against [[Migz Zubiri]], Legarda requested the Supreme Court to allow them to retrieve documents that they submitted as evidence for her electoral protest against de Castro for the reopening of the investigation of electoral cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections.<ref>"[http://opinion.inquirer.net/9895/fraud-in-2004-presidential-polls Fraud in 2004 presidential polls]". ''[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]''. 10:15 pm | Saturday, August 13, 2011</ref><ref>"[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/41169/return-%E2%80%98proof-of-fraud%E2%80%99-sc-asked Return ‘proof of fraud,’ SC asked]". ''[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]''. 1:11 am | Sunday, August 14, 2011</ref>

===2013 Senate bid, third term===
Legarda was reelected during the 2013 elections, garnering the second highest number of votes among the 12 winning senators. During her third term, she focused on much legislative push for various cultural and environmental bills in the Senate. She also chaired the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resource and the Senate Committee on Finance. Legarda reportedly persuaded former Environment Secretary [[Gina Lopez]] to accept the post she was given as she believed and knew Lopez's strong management and implementing skills in environmental conservation. Legarda was one of only 8 lawmakers who were in favor of Gina Lopez retaining the environment secretary post during her confirmation hearing which ousted Lopez from her position. She was unable to enter her vote of support or dissent on a Senate resolution which sought to condemn the controversial [[Burial of Ferdinand Marcos|burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos]] in the [[Libingan ng mga Bayani]] in November 2016.<ref>{{cite web |date=2016-11-14 |title=Press Release – Senate vote on Marcos burial, Pangilinan explains vote |url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2016/1114_pangilinan1.asp |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Senate.gov.ph}}</ref> She was among the 14 senators who filed a resolution urging the Supreme Court to review its ouster decision in regards to the [[quo warranto petition against Maria Lourdes Sereno]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=14 senators file resolution urging SC to review Sereno ouster |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/202748-14-senators-resolution-sereno-ouster-dangerous |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123928/https://www.rappler.com/nation/202748-14-senators-resolution-sereno-ouster-dangerous |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref> She spearheaded in the Senate the ratification of more than 10 international treaties.

Legarda continued her environmental work. Environmental bills she filed included the Total Logging Ban bill which aimed to ban logging for 25 years; the International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance bill; a bill establishing the Department of Fisheries, Low Carbon Economy bill, Energy Efficiency and Conservation bill, Final Forest Limits bill, National Land Use Act of the Philippines, Expanded NIPAS Act, People's Survival Fund Act, Water Sector Reform bill, and a bill creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development, among others. She also led the investigation on the environmental crisis in [[Boracay]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Groups appeal closure of Boracay |url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/03/groups-appeal-closure-of-boracay/}}</ref>

She was awarded as a ''[[United Nations]] Global Champion for Resilience'' in 2015 due to her advocacy and actions on climate change and environmentalism. In November 2017, she led the Philippine delegation at the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany. She was named the first ever National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion during the event as mandated by an international treaty ratified by the UNFCCC.<ref>{{cite web |last=Uy |first=Jocelyn R. |title=Legarda named climate change adaptation champ |date=November 16, 2017 |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/162610/legarda-named-climate-change-adaptation-champ}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PH leads call for innovative climate finance for vulnerable countries |date=November 15, 2017 |url=https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/188569-philippines-calls-innovative-finance-climate-vulnerable-countries-cop23}}</ref> Legarda became part of a special Philippine delegation to the French Senate to discuss about the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legarda looks forward to stronger PH-France ties on climate change |url=http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/28/legarda-looks-forward-to-stronger-ph-france-ties-on-climate-change/}}</ref> She was named Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la légion d’Honneur (National Order of the French Legion of Order) by the government of France.<ref name=":0" />

She also focused on the enhancement of Philippine culture and the arts. Her legislative work included the National Writing Systems Bill, which aimed to institutionalize [[baybayin]] and other indigenous writing systems as national writing systems and the National Cultural Heritage Act. Legarda pushed for the creation of the Department of Culture and the Arts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legarda beats drum anew for creation of Department of Culture |date=February 8, 2018 |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/642597/legarda-beats-drum-anew-for-creation-of-department-of-culture/story/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2018-11-07 |title=Senators back creation of Department of Culture |publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]] News |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/07/18/senators-back-creation-of-department-of-culture |access-date=2019-10-14 }}</ref> On February 7, 2019, a bill which safeguards the 1,446 Gabaldon school heritage buildings of the country, authored by Legarda, was enacted into law.<ref>{{cite news |date=2019-02-07 |title=Duterte signs law to protect Gabaldon school buildings |publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]] News |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/07/19/duterte-signs-law-to-protect-gabaldon-school-buildings |access-date=2019-10-14 }}</ref> She also spearheaded the return of the Philippines to the [[Venice Biennale|Venice Bienniale]], the most acclaimed art exposition in the world, after 5 decades of Philippine absence in the exhibitions.

Legarda also filed various [[indigenous people]] rights, [[culture]], [[women's rights]], and [[children's rights]] bills. These included the Traditional Property Rights of [[Indigenous People]] bill, Indigenous Community Conserved Areas Act, Magna Carta for the Poor bill, Anti-Hazing Law of 2018, and the Anti-Discrimination Bill. Legarda backed the passage of the [[SOGIE Equality Bill]] in the Senate.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-08-10 |title=Sen. Loren Legarda calls for immediate passage of the SOGIE bill |url=https://preen.inquirer.net/80438/sen-loren-legarda-calls-for-immediate-passage-of-the-sogie-bill |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Preen.inquirer.net}}</ref> She led the Philippine delegation to the [[United Nations]] and urged tougher global actions against cybersex and child trafficking.<ref>{{cite web |title=PH urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking |url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/26/ph-urges-tougher-global-action-on-cybersex-child-trafficking/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Legarda urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking |date=March 26, 2018 |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/647967/legarda-urges-tougher-global-action-on-cybersex-child-trafficking/story/}}</ref> She supported the [[Philippine Drug War]] of President [[Rodrigo Duterte]], but said that she does not support the police killings of innocent citizens.<ref>{{cite web |date=2017-09-21 |title=Loren to Bato: We support PNP's war on drugs, not police killing innocents &#124; &#124; Latest Philippine politics news today |url=https://politics.com.ph/loren-bato-support-pnps-war-drugs-not-police-killing-innocents/ |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Politics.com.ph}}</ref>

Other bills she filed included a bill to mandate the government to use the Gross Happiness Index used by [[Bhutan]], the Freedom of Information bill (FOI) Philippine Innovation Bill, Solo Parent's Welfare bill, War Veterans Reform Bill, Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, Philippine Academic Regalia Act, Domestic Workers Act, and the Election Service Reform bill. She also authored the General Appropriations Act of 2017 and 2018. She co-authored the Philippine Mental Health Law, HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018, [[Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012]], and the [[Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act]]. She also sponsored the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary agreement between the Philippines and [[Indonesia]], which led to its ratification.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sponsorship Speech: Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary |date=May 28, 2019 |url=https://lorenlegarda.com.ph/sponsorship-speech-agreement-between-the-government-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-and-the-government-of-the-republic-of-indonesia-concerning-the-delimitation-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-bound/ |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Loren Legarda}}</ref>

She pursued greater public awareness and public cooperation for the [[National Museum of the Philippines]], [[National Library of the Philippines]], [[Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino]], [[Cultural Center of the Philippines]], the country's own culture and arts commission, indigenous communities in the country, Philippines heritage conservation and restoration, intangible cultural heritage of the country, indigenous Philippine weaving, greater appreciation of Philippine and international art, and support for [[UNESCO]] initiatives, including the possible nomination of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route to the UNESCO World Heritage List. She also supported the restoration of megalithic churches that were destroyed or damaged by the [[2013 Bohol earthquake]] which affected [[Central Visayas]]. The restoration was governed by the National Museum of the Philippines with aid from her office. A number of churches that were affected were in the Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the same year, she led the Philippine delegation group for [[UNESCO]], and was greeted by UNESCO Secretary-General [[Irina Bokova]]. On October 16, 2019, Legarda became a Commissioner of the newly formed international organization, Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA).

Legarda also initiated and pushed for her home province of Antique's hosting of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, the national games of the Philippines. It was the first time Antique hosted the games. The effects on the province was notable as tourists from all over the country flocked Antique's heritages sites, including the Antique Rice Terraces and the weaving centrums of the province.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2017/0418_legarda1.asp |title=Press Release – Legarda, Full Support For 2017 Palarong Pambansa in Antique |publisher=Senate.gov.ph |date=2017-04-18 |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> She led the first ever churchyard [[orchestra]] in her home province of [[Antique]] and the unveiling of the first ever Language Monument in the Philippines.

===2019 House of Representatives bid, first term===

On October 18, Legarda announced that she will run as congresswoman of the lone district of Antique in [[Western Visayas]] in the 2019 Philippine elections. Her congressional run went to the court after a local politician argued against her candidacy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loren Legarda running for Antique congresswoman |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/214620-loren-legarda-running-for-congresswoman-antique |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120135838/https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/214620-loren-legarda-running-for-congresswoman-antique |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref> On February 6, 2019, the courts officially allowed Legarda to run for congresswoman of Antique province.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loren Legarda's Antique House bid OK'd |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/02/08/1891766/loren-legardas-antique-house-bid-okd |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Philstar.com}}</ref> Legarda was elected as the new congresswoman and representative of the [[Antique (province)|province and district of Antique]] after the May 2019 elections, where she received a landslide victory against a [[political dynasty]]. She assumed the position on July 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/15/19/halalanresults-loren-legarda-is-new-congresswoman-of-antique |title=#HalalanResults: Loren Legarda is new congresswoman of Antique |publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]] News |date=2019-05-15 |access-date=2019-10-14 }}</ref>

===2022 Senate bid, fourth term===
[[File:Legarda 19th.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Legarda as a senator, {{circa|2022}}]]

On October 1, 2021, she filed her certificate of candidacy to run for senator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mercado |first=Neil Arwin |date=June 21, 2021 |title=Loren Legarda eyeing Senate comeback in 2022 |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1449025/loren-legarda-eyeing-senate-comeback-in-2022 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref> She is running under the [[Nationalist People's Coalition]], and is part of the [[Panfilo Lacson 2022 presidential campaign|Reporma-NPC]] slate, [[Manny Pacquiao 2022 presidential campaign|MP3 Alliance]] slate, and the [[UniTeam Alliance|UniTeam]] slate.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Binay, reelectionists join Pacquiao's Senate slate |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/personalities-joining-pacquiao-senate-slate-2022 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=Rappler |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ager |first=Maila |date=2021-10-15 |title=14 'preferred' senatorial bets under Lacson-Sotto slate named |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1502340/14-preferred-senatorial-bets-under-lacson-sotto-slate-named |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valente |first=Catherine S. |date=March 13, 2022 |title=Robin Padilla now a guest candidate of UniTeam – Sara |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/12/news/robin-padilla-now-a-guest-candidate-of-uniteam-sara/1836018 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=The Manila Times |language=en}}</ref> She won a seat in the [[2022 Philippine Senate election]], ranking 2nd in the race with 24 million votes, only behind actor [[Robin Padilla]].<ref>{{Cite web|title= Newbies, reelectionists, returnees top 2022 senatorial elections|url= https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/5/18/Senator-proclamation-2022-elections.html|access-date= May 18, 2022|archive-date= May 18, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220518170421/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/5/18/Senator-proclamation-2022-elections.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>

She assumed office on June 30, 2022. On July 25, 2022, she was named [[President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines|Senate President pro tempore]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1935922/manila/local-news/zubiri-elected-senate-president-romualdez-as-house-speaker|title=Zubiri elected Senate President, Romualdez as House Speaker|date=July 25, 2022|accessdate=July 25, 2022|work=SunStar|first1=Third Anne|last1=Peralta-Malonzo|first2=Laureen|last2=Mondonedo-Ynot}}</ref> Legarda is also the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts.

==Organizational affiliations<span class="anchor" id="Organizational Affiliations"></span>==
* Commissioner, Global Commission on Adaptation (2018)<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
* Member, Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum Executive Board (2016)
* Co-Chair, Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) Philippines
* Senior Advisor, Ocean Security International (2013)
* Founding Member, Global Advisory Group of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction (2012)
* Founder, Luntiang Pilipinas (1998)
* Founder, Libro ni Loren Foundation (1999)
* Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society

==Accolades==
[[File:UPLB honored Loren (cropped).jpg|right|thumb|Legarda after being awarded by the [[University of the Philippines]], the country's premier educational institution.]]
*1992 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*1995 The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Award<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*1995 Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2000 Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the [[World Economic Forum]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2001 UNEP Laureate by the [[United Nations Environment Programme]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2001 Global 500 Roll of Honor by the [[United Nations Environment Programme]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2004 Awardee for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy in [[Mumbai]], [[India]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lorenlegarda.com.ph/valedictory-speech-of-senator-loren-legarda/ |title=Valedictory Speech of Senator |date=June 4, 2019 |publisher=Loren Legarda |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref>
*2008 Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption for Asia and the Pacific by the [[United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*"Bai a labi" (Honorary Muslim Princess) by the [[Marawi]] Sultanate League<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*"Tukwifi" (Bright Star) by the [[Mountain Province]] Indigenous Peoples<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*"Bai Matumpis" (The One Who Takes Care) by the unified congregation of 10 [[Davao (province)|Davao]] indigenous people groups<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*"Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan" (Shining Sun Rising in Power) by the [[Suludnon]] Indigenous Peoples of [[Panay]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2013 Distinguished Alumna for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the [[University of the Philippines]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2015 Global Champion for Resilience by the [[United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la légion d’Honneur (National Order of the French Legion of Honor)<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*Cavaliere (Knight) of the Italian Order of Merit<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2016 Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts and Culture by the [[National Commission for Culture and the Arts]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2017 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion by the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]]<ref name="senate.gov.ph" />
*2018 Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, ''Honoris Causa'' by the [[University of the Philippines]]<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |title=Milestones |url=http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/milestones/ |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Loren Legarda}}</ref>
*2019 Award of Distinction by the [[European Union]]<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |title=Press Release – Acceptance Message of Senator Loren Legarda |url=https://senate.gov.ph/press_release/2019/0607_legarda2.asp |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Senate.gov.ph}}</ref>
*2023 “Commendatore” to the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic <ref>{{cite news |last1=Casayuran |first1=Mario |title=Legarda, the Italian ''Commendatore'' |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/22/legarda-the-italian-commendatore |publisher=Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation |date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>

Additionally, Legarda has garnered more than 30 awards on the field of [[journalism]] since the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov.ph/photo_release/2017/0923_00.asp |title=Outstanding Lady Senator award |publisher=Senate.gov.ph |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Legarda has residences in [[Malabon]] (her paternal hometown) in [[Metro Manila]] and in [[Pandan, Antique]] (her maternal hometown) in [[Western Visayas]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-10-31 |title=Frequent flights, projects show Loren no 'stranger' to Antique: lawyer |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/31/18/frequent-flights-projects-show-loren-no-stranger-to-antique-lawyer |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=ABS-CBN News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comelec allows Loren Legarda to run for Antique congresswoman |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/222924-comelec-allows-loren-legarda-run-antique-representative |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180323/https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/222924-comelec-allows-loren-legarda-run-antique-representative |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Consuelo |first=Annabel |date=2018-10-08 |title=Legarda camp to answer Antique residency issue &#124; Philippine News Agency |url=http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1050355 |access-date=2019-10-14 |publisher=Pna.gov.ph}}</ref>
Legarda has two sons, Lorenzo and Leandro Leviste.<ref name="Profiles"/>


In 1989, Legarda married former [[Batangas]] Governor [[Antonio Leviste]]. Their marriage produced two sons: Lorenzo "Lanz" Leviste and Leandro "Lean" Leviste, founder and president of Solar Philippines, a manufacturer and producer of renewable energy technologies.<ref name="Profiles" /> Legarda and Leviste separated in 2003 and their marriage was annulled in 2008.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> On May 4, 2022, her son, Lorenzo, disowned her through an open letter in response to her decision to run as a guest candidate under the Marcos-Duterte senatorial slate in the 2022 elections. Lorenzo, who had been living in the United States since he was 18 years old, stated that he was "absolutely disgusted" by her, and condemned her for joining Marcos' slate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=[OPINION] An open letter of grief from Loren Legarda's son |url=https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-open-letter-grief-loren-legarda-son/ |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref> Her younger son, Leandro, would later publish his own letter in support of Legarda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leviste |first=Leandro Legarda |title=Why I am so proud of my mom |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2022/05/06/2179205/why-i-am-so-proud-my-mom |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>
Legarda has [[Karay-a]] and [[Spanish settlement in the Philippines|Spanish]] lineage and speaks several languages fluently, including [[Philippine English|English]], [[Hiligaynon language|Ilonggo]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], and her native [[Kinaray-a language|Kinaray-a]].


She is a [[Colonel]] in the [[Philippine Air Force]] Reserve Corps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2018/0308_legarda2.asp |title=Press Release – Legarda Promoted to Colonel |publisher=Senate.gov.ph |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> The Marawi [[Sultanate]] League bestowed the honorary title of "Bai Alabi" ("Princess") on her.<ref name="Green" /><ref>[http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240466/golden-girl-loren-legarda Golden Girl Loren Legarda]. January 27, 2010. Martinez-Belen, Cristina. ''[[The Manila Bulletin]]''. retrieved on February 6, 2010.</ref> The people of [[Mountain Province]] in the Cordillera Mountains gave her the name, "Tukwifi" (Bright Star). Ten indigenous groups in the [[Davao Region]] bestowed her the title of "Bai Matumpis", which means "the one who takes care". The indigenous people of [[Panay]] in the [[Visayas]] declared her a “daughter of Panay-Bukidnon” and bestowed her the name, "Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan" (Shining Sun Rising in Power). She is known to be very fond of traditional Philippine textiles,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/ph-exhibit-of-textile-collection-of-hero-seen/ |title=PH exhibit of textile collection of hero seen |date=December 30, 2014 |publisher=Loren Legarda |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> and has started the usage trend of such textiles in the halls of Congress.<ref name="ReferenceD">{{cite web|url=http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/the-fabric-of-our-history/ |title=The fabric of our history |date=February 18, 2015 |publisher=Loren Legarda |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> Legarda is also an organic eater, growing the vegetables, fruits, and grains that she eats at her backyard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://politics.com.ph/gulay-is-life-legarda-embraces-vegan-lifestyle/ |title=Gulay is life! Legarda embraces vegan lifestyle &#124; &#124; Latest Philippine politics news today |publisher=Politics.com.ph |date=2019-01-02 |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://business.inquirer.net/209086/just-like-al-gore-loren-wants-to-go-meatless-for-environment |title=Just like Al Gore, Loren wants to go meatless for environment | website= Inquirer Business |date=April 2, 2016 |access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref>
Legarda is currently a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in the [[Philippine Air Force]] Reserve Corps. She is highly respected by the [[Moro people|Moro]] since the [[Maranao]] [[Sultanate]] League bestowed her the honorary title of "Bai Alabi", or "[[Princess]]".<ref name = "Green" /><ref>[http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240466/golden-girl-loren-legarda Golden Girl Loren Legarda]. January 27, 2010. Martinez-Belen, Cristina. ''[[The Manila Bulletin]]''. retrieved on February 6, 2010.</ref>


Legarda is an environmentalist. She established the [[Luntiang Pilipinas]] (Green Philippines) foundation.<ref name="Profiles" /> In December 2017, Legarda and director Brillante Mendoza partnered again for a documentary regarding the environment. The series, entitled, "Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines," began airing in ANC on December 8. It was the first ever documentary series focused on the protected areas of the Philippines. The series features the [[Camotes Islands|Camotes Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve]], [[El Nido, Palawan|El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area]], [[Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park]] (UNESCO World Heritage Site), [[Sagay Marine Reserve]], [[Mounts Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape]], [[Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Coron Island]], [[Mount Hamiguitan]] (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and [[Lake Sebu]], which is part of the Allah Valley Protected Landscape. The series also features the [[Banaue Rice Terraces]], which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the [[Verde Island Passage]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Loren and Brillante again – Philstar.com |url=http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2017/12/07/1766051/loren-and-brillante-again |website=philstar.com}}</ref>
==Filmography==

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
She is also the presenter of ''Dayaw'', a 6-part series about Philippine heritage and culture. The show has been given a continuous series annually. In January 2018, the fourth season of ''Dayaw'' premiered in ANC, while a separate show dedicated to Filipino cuisine and raw ingredients is being planned for a later showing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release – Loren, Brillante Reunite for 1st Protected Areas Documentary Series |url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2017/1205_legarda2.asp |website=www.senate.gov.ph}}</ref> In February 2018, Legarda and the NCCA launched the ''Buhay na Buhay'' television series which focused on eight living sub-cultures of Filipino culture.<ref>{{cite web |title=New NCCA TV Series Buhay na Buhay Guides Viewers Towards a Deeper Knowledge on and Appreciation for Filipino Culture |url=http://www.artplus.ph/features/new-ncca-tv-series-buhay-na-buhay-guides-viewers-towards-a-deeper-knowledge-on-and-appreciation-for-filipino-culture |website=Art+ Magazine Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 16, 2018 |title=Loren Legarda's three options |website=[[Tempo (newspaper)|Tempo]] |url=http://tempo.com.ph/2018/02/16/loren-legardas-three-options/}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center"
! Year
! Film / Television
! Role
! Network
|-
|1975-86 || ''Discorama'' || DJ / Presenter|| [[GMA Network]]
|-
|1980-86 || ''Who Knows That?'' || Host / Presenter || [[GMA Network]]
|-
|1985 || ''Manila Envelope'' || Host / Presenter ||
|-
|1986-98 || ''[[The World Tonight (ABS-CBN)|The World Tonight]]'' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[ABS-CBN]]
|-
|1986-90 || ''Pep Talk'' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[ABS-CBN]]
|-
|1990-98 || ''The Inside Story'' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[ABS-CBN]]
|-
|2000 || ''[[Markova: Comfort Gay]]''<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1145703/ Loren Legarda]. [[IMDb]].</ref> || ||
|-
|2001-03 || ''Kabalikat: Loren Legarda'' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[ABS-CBN]]
|-
|2003 || ''Sa mata ng balita: 50 taong pamamahayag sa telebisyon'' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[ABS-CBN]]
|-
|2003-04 || ''Tara Tena '' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[ABS-CBN]]
|-
|2004-07 || ''Real Stories: Kasama si Loren'' || Newscaster / Presenter || [[Associated Broadcasting Company|ABC 5]]
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.luntiangpilipinas.com.ph/ Luntiang Pilipinas]


{{s-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-par|ph-upr}}
{{succession box |
{{succession box
before= [[Francisco Tatad]] |
title= [[Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines]] |
| before= [[Francisco Tatad]]
| title= [[Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines]]
years= 2001–2004 |
| years= 2001–2002
after= [[Francis Pangilinan]]
| after= [[Aquilino Pimentel Jr.]]
}}
}}
{{succession box
{{s-end}}
| before= [[Aquilino Pimentel Jr.]]
| title= [[Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines]]
| years= 2002–2004
| after= [[Francis Pangilinan]]
}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Migz Zubiri]]<br><small>(Acting)</small>}}
{{s-ttl | title= [[President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines]] |years= 2022–present}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jinggoy Estrada]]}}
{{s-par|ph-lwr}}
{{s-bef| before= Paolo Everardo Javier}}
{{s-ttl| title= [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|Representative]], [[Legislative district of Antique#Lone District|Lone District]] of [[Antique (province)|Antique]]| years= 2019–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Antonio Agapito Legarda Jr.}}
{{S-end}}

{{Candidates in the Philippine presidential election, 2010}}
{{Candidates in the Philippine presidential election, 2004}}
{{PhilSenMajority}}
{{PhilSenMajority}}
{{Philippine Senate presidents pro tempore}}
{{template group
{{navboxes
|title = Senatorial history of Loren Legarda
|title = Senatorial history of Loren Legarda
|list=
|list=
{{15th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{11th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{14th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{12th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{12th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{14th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{15th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{16th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{17th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
{{19th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
}}
}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME =Legarda, Loren
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =January 28, 1960
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Malabon City|Malabon]], [[Metro Manila]], [[Philippines]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legarda, Loren}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legarda, Loren}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Female military personnel]]
[[Category:Karay-a people]]
[[Category:Filipino activists]]
[[Category:Filipino environmentalists]]
[[Category:Filipino environmentalists]]
[[Category:Filipino female models]]
[[Category:Filipino feminists]]
[[Category:Filipino human rights activists]]
[[Category:Filipino human rights activists]]
[[Category:Filipino journalists]]
[[Category:Women human rights activists]]
[[Category:Filipino people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:Filipino women journalists]]
[[Category:Filipino women activists]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Filipino television personalities]]
[[Category:Filipino television news anchors]]
[[Category:Filipino women in politics]]
[[Category:Lakas–CMD (1991) politicians]]
[[Category:Green thinkers]]
[[Category:Filipino LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Majority leaders of the Senate of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Majority leaders of the Senate of the Philippines]]
[[Category:People from Antique]]
[[Category:Nationalist People's Coalition politicians]]
[[Category:People from Batangas]]
[[Category:People from Batangas]]
[[Category:People from Laguna (province)]]
[[Category:People from Malabon]]
[[Category:People from Malabon City]]
[[Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2010 Philippine vice-presidential election]]
[[Category:People from Manila]]
[[Category:Philippine Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2004 Philippine vice-presidential election]]
[[Category:Princesses]]
[[Category:Senators of the 11th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 12th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 14th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 15th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 16th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 17th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:University of the Philippines alumni]]
[[Category:University of the Philippines alumni]]
[[Category:Tagalog people]]
[[Category:ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs people]]
[[Category:Visayan people]]
[[Category:RPN News and Public Affairs people]]
[[Category:Nationalist People's Coalition politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Filipino women politicians]]
[[Category:Lakas – Christian Muslim Democrats politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Filipino politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Filipino women politicians]]

[[Category:21st-century Filipino politicians]]
[[es:Loren Legarda]]
[[Category:Women members of the Senate of the Philippines]]
[[nl:Loren Legarda]]
[[Category:Women television journalists]]
[[pl:Loren Legarda]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Antique (province)]]
[[tl:Loren Legarda]]
[[Category:Deputy speakers of the House of Representatives of the Philippines]]
[[war:Loren Legarda]]
[[Category:Senators of the 19th Congress of the Philippines]]

Latest revision as of 07:53, 2 December 2024

Loren Legarda
Official portrait, 2019
President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
In office
July 25, 2022 – May 20, 2024
Preceded byMigz Zubiri (acting)
Succeeded byJinggoy Estrada
Senator of the Philippines
Assumed office
June 30, 2022
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2019
In office
June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2004
Senate Majority Leader
In office
July 23, 2002 – January 12, 2004
Preceded byAquilino Pimentel Jr.
Succeeded byFrancis Pangilinan
In office
July 23, 2001 – June 3, 2002
Preceded byFrancisco Tatad
Succeeded byAquilino Pimentel Jr.
Senate positions
Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
In office
May 18, 2017 – June 30, 2019
Preceded byAlan Peter Cayetano
Succeeded byKoko Pimentel
In office
July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013
Preceded byMiriam Defensor Santiago
Succeeded byMiriam Defensor Santiago
Chair of the Senate Finance Committee
In office
July 25, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Preceded byFrancis Escudero
Succeeded bySonny Angara
Chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
In office
July 22, 2013 – July 25, 2016
Preceded byMigz Zubiri
Succeeded byCynthia Villar
Chair of the Senate Climate Change Committee
In office
December 9, 2009 – June 30, 2019
Preceded bynew office
Succeeded byNancy Binay
Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee
In office
February 2, 2009 – July 22, 2013
Preceded byEdgardo Angara
Succeeded byFrancis Pangilinan
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office
July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Serving with several others
SpeakerAlan Peter Cayetano
Lord Allan Velasco
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Antique
In office
June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byPaolo Everardo Javier
Succeeded byAntonio Legarda Jr.
Personal details
Born
Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda

(1960-01-28) January 28, 1960 (age 64)
Malabon, Rizal, Philippines
Political partyNPC (2005–present)
Other political
affiliations
KNP (2004)
Independent (2003–2005)
Lakas–NUCD (1998–2003)
Spouse
(m. 1989; ann. 2008)
Children2
Residence(s)Malabon, Metro Manila
Pandan, Antique
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (BA)
National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionJournalist
WebsiteLoren Legarda
Luntiang Pilipinas
Nickname(s)Bai A Labi (Honorary Muslim Princess) of the Marawi Sultanate League;[1]

Tukwifi (Bright Star) of the Mountain Province Indigenous Peoples;[1] Bai Matumpis (The One Who Takes Care) of the unified congregation of 10 Davao indigenous people groups;[1]

Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan (Shining Sun Rising in Power) of the Suludnon Indigenous Peoples of Panay[1]
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/service Philippine Army
Rank Colonel

Lorna Regina "Loren" Bautista Legarda (born January 28, 1960) is a Filipina politician, environmentalist, cultural worker, and former journalist who is currently serving as a Senator and served as the president pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines from 2022 to 2024. This also makes her the first woman to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore in the upper chamber's history. Before entering politics, she began her career as a news reporter until becoming a news anchor. She previously served three terms in the Senate from 1998 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2019. She is the longest-serving female Senator in the history of the Senate, and the only female in the Philippines to top two senatorial elections: 1998 and 2007. Legarda was also the House Deputy Speaker during her three-year stint as the representative of Antique from 2019 to 2022.

Legarda ran for vice president in 2004 as the running mate of Fernando Poe Jr., but controversially lost to Noli de Castro, Legarda contested the result on an electoral protest where she also lost.[2][3] She fell short again vying for the same position in 2010 as the running mate of Manny Villar.

Legarda is an advocate of climate change awareness and has numerous achievements in the fields of social development and human rights advocacy along with her work in journalism.[1] Her legislative work is focused on education, indigenous people rights, culture, women's rights, children's rights, and the environment. Some the notable laws she authored and co-authored include the Climate Change Act, Clean Water Act, Renewable Energy Act, Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Domestic Violence Act, National Cultural Heritage Act, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, and the Universal Healthcare Law. Alongside her legislative work, she has also represented the Philippines to UNESCO multiple times. In 2018, Legarda became a Commissioner of the newly formed international organization, Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA).[4] She also chaired the Climate Vulnerable Forum, which encompasses 20 climate vulnerable countries.

For her environmental work, Legarda has received numerous accolades; she was awarded 2001 UNEP Laureate as declared by the United Nations Environment Programme,[1] a 2008 Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia and the Pacific as declared by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,[1] a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2017.[5] She was declared by the United Nations as a UN Global Champion for Resilience in 2015. She was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts and Culture.[6] She has been named as honorary princess and member by numerous indigenous people communities in the Philippines due to her support for indigenous people's rights since the 1970s. She was honored as a Chevalier in France[7][8] and Cavaliere in Italy.[9]

Early life

[edit]

Loren Legarda was born on January 28, 1960, in Malabon (then a municipality in Rizal) as Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda, the only daughter of Antonio Cabrera Legarda and Maria Salome Basilia "Bessie" Gella Bautista. Her maternal grandfather was Jose P. Bautista, editor-in-chief of the pre-Martial Law newspaper, The Manila Times,[10] while her maternal grandmother was Carmen Gella de Bautista of Pandan, Antique.[11] Legarda's maternal great-grandfather, Ariston Rendon Gella, was a member of the Malolos Congress that crafted the Philippine Constitution of the First Philippine Republic.[11] Her great-great-uncle Vicente Gella was governor of the province while her great-granduncle was mayor of Sibalom.[11] A brother of her grandfather, Bartolomé Gella, also served as governor of Antique.[11]

As a teenager, she appeared as a print and television model.[12] She attended Assumption College from primary to high school,[13] where she was a grade school valedictorian. She graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications and was President of the UP Broadcast Association.[12] She pursued post-graduate courses on special studies towards professional designation in journalism from the University of California, Los Angeles.[14]

Career in journalism

[edit]

Legarda began a career in journalism as a reporter for RPN, during which she covered topics including Imelda Marcos' trip to Kenya and the People Power Revolution. During this period, she obtained a master's degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, graduating at the top of the class with gold medals for Academic Excellence and Best Thesis.[15] Later, she would move to the reopened ABS-CBN. She became the co-anchor of the television newscast, The World Tonight with Angelo Castro, Jr., and became the host of the current affairs series, The Inside Story.[12]

As a journalist, Loren earned the Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines, Catholic Mass Media Hall of Fame, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Golden Dove Award, Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees (1992), The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Award (1995), and the Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism (1995), among more than 30 awards.[13]

Political career

[edit]

1998 Senate bid, first term

[edit]

Legarda ran for the Senate in 1998 under the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP Party.[12] She was elected with more than 15 million votes, rendering her the highest number of votes in that year's election and becoming the second woman to top a Philippine senatorial election. Upon Legarda filing her candidacy as senator in late 1997, Tina Monzon-Palma who came from rival ABC (now TV5) and was the anchor of The Big News, transferred to ABS-CBN in order to replace her on The World Tonight at the same time and joining Angelo Castro, Jr. in order to run the latter for this election. In 1999, the newscast was replaced by Pulso: Aksyon Balita on ABS-CBN and was moved to the ABS-CBN News Channel, where it has aired since.

During her first six years in the Senate, Legarda authored legislation benefiting women's and children's rights, such as the Anti-Domestic Violence Act which seeks to uphold and protect the basic human rights of women and their children, the Anti-Child Labor law which limits the employment of children below 15 years old, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act which aims to protect victims of human trafficking, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law which created the National Solid Waste Management Commission, and the Tropical Fabric Law. She also authored the Eid'ul Fitr Holiday Law, Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, and the Philippine Ear Research Institute Act.

Legarda was named as one of the "Global Leaders for Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 2000, and was awarded by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in Turin, Italy, for her work on the environment in 2001.[15] Legarda played a role in the 2000–01 impeachment trial of Joseph Estrada that sparked the Second EDSA Revolution, voting to examine the envelope containing evidence of alleged corruption of the Estrada administration. She was later chosen to be the Senate's Majority Floor Leader from 2001 to 2004, becoming the first woman to hold the position.[12]

2004 vice presidential bid

[edit]
Legarda during a 2007 Philippine Military Academy ceremony

In 2003, Legarda left Lakas–CMD (after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo broke her pledge not to run again for president) and joined the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino coalition of Fernando Poe, Jr. as an Independent during the 2004 elections. She lost the election to Noli de Castro, the running mate of Arroyo, under a narrow margin of 3.9%.

On January 18, 2008, in a 21-page resolution, penned by Senior Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed Legarda's electoral protest against de Castro.[16]

2007 Senate bid, second term

[edit]

In 2007, Legarda decided to run again for Senate under the banner of the Genuine Opposition coalition. She won, receiving more than 18 million votes, which allowed her to become the top vote-getter in that election.[12] In her second term as senator, Legarda authored the Expanded Senior Citizens Law,[17] the Climate Change Act, Clean Air Act, Renewable Energy Act, the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act, Barangay Kabuhayan Act, the Magna Carta on Women,[12] University of the Philippines Charter of 2008, Bacolor Rehabilitation Council Act, Tourism Act of 2009, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009, Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, and the Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act. The Climate Change Act was lauded by the United Nations as the 'best in the world'.[18] She co-authored the National Cultural Heritage Act. Aside from her legislative work, she also established the Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines) foundation, an organization aimed to aid the Philippines in attaining its United Nations mandate for reforestation, where the target was set by the UN at 2009.[12]

In 2008, she was chosen as "United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Asia Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation",[19] and she participated in the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, the BBC World Debate: ‘Prevent or React’, and the Forum on the Human Impact of Climate Change in Geneva, Switzerland.[20] In October 2009, the Climate Change Act was passed.[12] She filed this bill two years ago, citing inspiration from the Albay Declaration, the outcome document of the First National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, as it called for “the passage of a policy prioritizing climate change adaptation in the national agenda”.[10] She was a member of the Philippine delegation during the 2009 Copenhagen Summit.[10][19]

2010 vice presidential bid

[edit]
Legarda and her son, Leandro, during the 2010 election campaign period.

On July 14, 2009, Legarda expressed her interest to run as president during the 2010 elections.[21] On October 23, 2009, during the launch of her humanitarian program "Lingkod Loren in Luneta",[12] she formally declared her intention to run for vice president in 2010 under Nationalist People's Coalition with the platform of environmentalism.[22] After Francis Escudero, expected to run for president, left the NPC,[23] she decided that it would be best to stick with the Nacionalista Party's presidential candidate, Manny Villar, as a guest-running mate.[12]

Legarda lost her bid for the Philippine vice presidency to Jejomar Binay, placing third in the 2010 Philippine presidential elections. As a result, she continued her term in the Senate. In 2010, Legarda was given chairmanship for the Senate committees on climate change, cultural communities, and foreign affairs.[24] She would later go to the United Nations to deposit the Philippines ratification for the International Criminal Court membership.[25] As a result of Koko Pimentel's win in his case against Migz Zubiri, Legarda requested the Supreme Court to allow them to retrieve documents that they submitted as evidence for her electoral protest against de Castro for the reopening of the investigation of electoral cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections.[26][27]

2013 Senate bid, third term

[edit]

Legarda was reelected during the 2013 elections, garnering the second highest number of votes among the 12 winning senators. During her third term, she focused on much legislative push for various cultural and environmental bills in the Senate. She also chaired the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resource and the Senate Committee on Finance. Legarda reportedly persuaded former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to accept the post she was given as she believed and knew Lopez's strong management and implementing skills in environmental conservation. Legarda was one of only 8 lawmakers who were in favor of Gina Lopez retaining the environment secretary post during her confirmation hearing which ousted Lopez from her position. She was unable to enter her vote of support or dissent on a Senate resolution which sought to condemn the controversial burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016.[28] She was among the 14 senators who filed a resolution urging the Supreme Court to review its ouster decision in regards to the quo warranto petition against Maria Lourdes Sereno.[29] She spearheaded in the Senate the ratification of more than 10 international treaties.

Legarda continued her environmental work. Environmental bills she filed included the Total Logging Ban bill which aimed to ban logging for 25 years; the International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance bill; a bill establishing the Department of Fisheries, Low Carbon Economy bill, Energy Efficiency and Conservation bill, Final Forest Limits bill, National Land Use Act of the Philippines, Expanded NIPAS Act, People's Survival Fund Act, Water Sector Reform bill, and a bill creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development, among others. She also led the investigation on the environmental crisis in Boracay.[30]

She was awarded as a United Nations Global Champion for Resilience in 2015 due to her advocacy and actions on climate change and environmentalism. In November 2017, she led the Philippine delegation at the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany. She was named the first ever National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champion during the event as mandated by an international treaty ratified by the UNFCCC.[31][32] Legarda became part of a special Philippine delegation to the French Senate to discuss about the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.[33] She was named Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la légion d’Honneur (National Order of the French Legion of Order) by the government of France.[8]

She also focused on the enhancement of Philippine culture and the arts. Her legislative work included the National Writing Systems Bill, which aimed to institutionalize baybayin and other indigenous writing systems as national writing systems and the National Cultural Heritage Act. Legarda pushed for the creation of the Department of Culture and the Arts.[34][35] On February 7, 2019, a bill which safeguards the 1,446 Gabaldon school heritage buildings of the country, authored by Legarda, was enacted into law.[36] She also spearheaded the return of the Philippines to the Venice Bienniale, the most acclaimed art exposition in the world, after 5 decades of Philippine absence in the exhibitions.

Legarda also filed various indigenous people rights, culture, women's rights, and children's rights bills. These included the Traditional Property Rights of Indigenous People bill, Indigenous Community Conserved Areas Act, Magna Carta for the Poor bill, Anti-Hazing Law of 2018, and the Anti-Discrimination Bill. Legarda backed the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Senate.[37] She led the Philippine delegation to the United Nations and urged tougher global actions against cybersex and child trafficking.[38][39] She supported the Philippine Drug War of President Rodrigo Duterte, but said that she does not support the police killings of innocent citizens.[40]

Other bills she filed included a bill to mandate the government to use the Gross Happiness Index used by Bhutan, the Freedom of Information bill (FOI) Philippine Innovation Bill, Solo Parent's Welfare bill, War Veterans Reform Bill, Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, Philippine Academic Regalia Act, Domestic Workers Act, and the Election Service Reform bill. She also authored the General Appropriations Act of 2017 and 2018. She co-authored the Philippine Mental Health Law, HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. She also sponsored the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary agreement between the Philippines and Indonesia, which led to its ratification.[41]

She pursued greater public awareness and public cooperation for the National Museum of the Philippines, National Library of the Philippines, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, Cultural Center of the Philippines, the country's own culture and arts commission, indigenous communities in the country, Philippines heritage conservation and restoration, intangible cultural heritage of the country, indigenous Philippine weaving, greater appreciation of Philippine and international art, and support for UNESCO initiatives, including the possible nomination of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route to the UNESCO World Heritage List. She also supported the restoration of megalithic churches that were destroyed or damaged by the 2013 Bohol earthquake which affected Central Visayas. The restoration was governed by the National Museum of the Philippines with aid from her office. A number of churches that were affected were in the Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the same year, she led the Philippine delegation group for UNESCO, and was greeted by UNESCO Secretary-General Irina Bokova. On October 16, 2019, Legarda became a Commissioner of the newly formed international organization, Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA).

Legarda also initiated and pushed for her home province of Antique's hosting of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, the national games of the Philippines. It was the first time Antique hosted the games. The effects on the province was notable as tourists from all over the country flocked Antique's heritages sites, including the Antique Rice Terraces and the weaving centrums of the province.[42] She led the first ever churchyard orchestra in her home province of Antique and the unveiling of the first ever Language Monument in the Philippines.

2019 House of Representatives bid, first term

[edit]

On October 18, Legarda announced that she will run as congresswoman of the lone district of Antique in Western Visayas in the 2019 Philippine elections. Her congressional run went to the court after a local politician argued against her candidacy.[43] On February 6, 2019, the courts officially allowed Legarda to run for congresswoman of Antique province.[44] Legarda was elected as the new congresswoman and representative of the province and district of Antique after the May 2019 elections, where she received a landslide victory against a political dynasty. She assumed the position on July 1, 2019.[45]

2022 Senate bid, fourth term

[edit]
Portrait of Legarda as a senator, c. 2022

On October 1, 2021, she filed her certificate of candidacy to run for senator.[46] She is running under the Nationalist People's Coalition, and is part of the Reporma-NPC slate, MP3 Alliance slate, and the UniTeam slate.[47][48][49] She won a seat in the 2022 Philippine Senate election, ranking 2nd in the race with 24 million votes, only behind actor Robin Padilla.[50]

She assumed office on June 30, 2022. On July 25, 2022, she was named Senate President pro tempore.[51] Legarda is also the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts.

Organizational affiliations

[edit]
  • Commissioner, Global Commission on Adaptation (2018)[1]
  • Member, Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum Executive Board (2016)
  • Co-Chair, Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) Philippines
  • Senior Advisor, Ocean Security International (2013)
  • Founding Member, Global Advisory Group of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction (2012)
  • Founder, Luntiang Pilipinas (1998)
  • Founder, Libro ni Loren Foundation (1999)
  • Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society

Accolades

[edit]
Legarda after being awarded by the University of the Philippines, the country's premier educational institution.

Additionally, Legarda has garnered more than 30 awards on the field of journalism since the 1980s.[56]

Personal life

[edit]

Legarda has residences in Malabon (her paternal hometown) in Metro Manila and in Pandan, Antique (her maternal hometown) in Western Visayas.[57][58][59]

In 1989, Legarda married former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste. Their marriage produced two sons: Lorenzo "Lanz" Leviste and Leandro "Lean" Leviste, founder and president of Solar Philippines, a manufacturer and producer of renewable energy technologies.[12] Legarda and Leviste separated in 2003 and their marriage was annulled in 2008.[53] On May 4, 2022, her son, Lorenzo, disowned her through an open letter in response to her decision to run as a guest candidate under the Marcos-Duterte senatorial slate in the 2022 elections. Lorenzo, who had been living in the United States since he was 18 years old, stated that he was "absolutely disgusted" by her, and condemned her for joining Marcos' slate.[60] Her younger son, Leandro, would later publish his own letter in support of Legarda.[61]

She is a Colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve Corps.[62] The Marawi Sultanate League bestowed the honorary title of "Bai Alabi" ("Princess") on her.[10][63] The people of Mountain Province in the Cordillera Mountains gave her the name, "Tukwifi" (Bright Star). Ten indigenous groups in the Davao Region bestowed her the title of "Bai Matumpis", which means "the one who takes care". The indigenous people of Panay in the Visayas declared her a “daughter of Panay-Bukidnon” and bestowed her the name, "Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan" (Shining Sun Rising in Power). She is known to be very fond of traditional Philippine textiles,[64] and has started the usage trend of such textiles in the halls of Congress.[65] Legarda is also an organic eater, growing the vegetables, fruits, and grains that she eats at her backyard.[66][67]

Legarda is an environmentalist. She established the Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines) foundation.[12] In December 2017, Legarda and director Brillante Mendoza partnered again for a documentary regarding the environment. The series, entitled, "Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines," began airing in ANC on December 8. It was the first ever documentary series focused on the protected areas of the Philippines. The series features the Camotes Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Sagay Marine Reserve, Mounts Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape, Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Coron Island, Mount Hamiguitan (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Lake Sebu, which is part of the Allah Valley Protected Landscape. The series also features the Banaue Rice Terraces, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Verde Island Passage.[68]

She is also the presenter of Dayaw, a 6-part series about Philippine heritage and culture. The show has been given a continuous series annually. In January 2018, the fourth season of Dayaw premiered in ANC, while a separate show dedicated to Filipino cuisine and raw ingredients is being planned for a later showing.[69] In February 2018, Legarda and the NCCA launched the Buhay na Buhay television series which focused on eight living sub-cultures of Filipino culture.[70][71]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Senator Loren B. Legarda – Senate of the Philippines". Senate.gov.ph. November 30, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  2. ^ Frialde, Mike (February 20, 2008). "It's final: Loren loses election protest case vs Noli". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
  3. ^ "P.E.T. Case No. 003". lawphil.net. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  4. ^ "Statement: Opening Ceremony, Launch of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA)". Loren Legarda. October 16, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  5. ^ "WikiLeaks: US impressed with 'influential' Kris, Merci". ABS-CBN News. Posted at August 30, 2011 11:25 PM | Updated as of August 31, 2011 2:29 AM
  6. ^ "Legarda is beacon of art for NCCA". December 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "Loren receives French Legion of Honor – Philstar.com". philstar.com.
  8. ^ a b "Senator Loren Legarda named Knight in the French Legion of Honor". La France aux Philippines et en Micronésie.
  9. ^ "Legarda receives Italy's prestigious Order of Merit – Philstar.com". philstar.com.
  10. ^ a b c d How Green is Loren's Valley?. January 24, 2010. Ricky Lo. The Philippine Star. Retrieved on February 6, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d "Loren Legarda has found a soulmate in Antique". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Probe Profiles: Loren Legarda. Probe TV/ABS-CBN News. Cheche Lazaro. January 20, 2010. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Loren primed for the vice-presidency". ABS-CBN Corporation News.
  14. ^ "Profile of Lorna Regina "Loren" Bautista Legarda | ABS-CBN News". News.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Senator Loren B. Legarda – Senate of the Philippines". Senate.gov.ph. November 30, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  16. ^ "Palace backs fraud probe | Inquirer News". Newsinfo.inquirer.net. July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  17. ^ "Legislative Accomplishments Archive". Loren Legarda. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  18. ^ "UN lauds Philippines' climate change laws 'world's best' | Global News". Globalnation.inquirer.net. May 4, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "UN body names Legarda Global Champion for Resilience". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  20. ^ BBC World Debate ‘Prevent or React’. July 1, 2009. BBC/International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Retrieved on February 5, 2010.
  21. ^ Avendaño, Christine (July 14, 2009). "Legarda says she's ready to run for president". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  22. ^ Legaspi, Amita (October 23, 2009). "Legarda says she will run as veep under NPC in 2010". GMA News. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  23. ^ "(UPDATE 2) Escudero leaves NPC". October 28, 2009.
  24. ^ "allies corner Senate committees". (The Philippine Star) Updated August 3, 2010 12:00 AM.
  25. ^ "DFA: PHL deposits instrument of ratification for int'l crime court". GMA News. August 31, 2011 | 02:52 PM.
  26. ^ "Fraud in 2004 presidential polls". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 10:15 pm | Saturday, August 13, 2011
  27. ^ "Return ‘proof of fraud,’ SC asked". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 1:11 am | Sunday, August 14, 2011
  28. ^ "Press Release – Senate vote on Marcos burial, Pangilinan explains vote". Senate.gov.ph. November 14, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  29. ^ "14 senators file resolution urging SC to review Sereno ouster". Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  30. ^ "Groups appeal closure of Boracay".
  31. ^ Uy, Jocelyn R. (November 16, 2017). "Legarda named climate change adaptation champ".
  32. ^ "PH leads call for innovative climate finance for vulnerable countries". November 15, 2017.
  33. ^ "Legarda looks forward to stronger PH-France ties on climate change".
  34. ^ "Legarda beats drum anew for creation of Department of Culture". February 8, 2018.
  35. ^ "Senators back creation of Department of Culture". ABS-CBN Corporation News. November 7, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  36. ^ "Duterte signs law to protect Gabaldon school buildings". ABS-CBN Corporation News. February 7, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  37. ^ "Sen. Loren Legarda calls for immediate passage of the SOGIE bill". Preen.inquirer.net. August 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  38. ^ "PH urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking".
  39. ^ "Legarda urges tougher global action on cybersex child trafficking". March 26, 2018.
  40. ^ "Loren to Bato: We support PNP's war on drugs, not police killing innocents | | Latest Philippine politics news today". Politics.com.ph. September 21, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  41. ^ "Sponsorship Speech: Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary". Loren Legarda. May 28, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  42. ^ "Press Release – Legarda, Full Support For 2017 Palarong Pambansa in Antique". Senate.gov.ph. April 18, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  43. ^ "Loren Legarda running for Antique congresswoman". Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  44. ^ "Loren Legarda's Antique House bid OK'd". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  45. ^ "#HalalanResults: Loren Legarda is new congresswoman of Antique". ABS-CBN Corporation News. May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  46. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (June 21, 2021). "Loren Legarda eyeing Senate comeback in 2022". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  47. ^ "Binay, reelectionists join Pacquiao's Senate slate". Rappler. October 15, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  48. ^ Ager, Maila (October 15, 2021). "14 'preferred' senatorial bets under Lacson-Sotto slate named". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  49. ^ Valente, Catherine S. (March 13, 2022). "Robin Padilla now a guest candidate of UniTeam – Sara". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  50. ^ "Newbies, reelectionists, returnees top 2022 senatorial elections". Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  51. ^ Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne; Mondonedo-Ynot, Laureen (July 25, 2022). "Zubiri elected Senate President, Romualdez as House Speaker". SunStar. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  52. ^ "Valedictory Speech of Senator". Loren Legarda. June 4, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  53. ^ a b "Milestones". Loren Legarda. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  54. ^ "Press Release – Acceptance Message of Senator Loren Legarda". Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  55. ^ Casayuran, Mario (March 22, 2023). "Legarda, the Italian Commendatore". Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation.
  56. ^ "Outstanding Lady Senator award". Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  57. ^ "Frequent flights, projects show Loren no 'stranger' to Antique: lawyer". ABS-CBN News. October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  58. ^ "Comelec allows Loren Legarda to run for Antique congresswoman". Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  59. ^ Consuelo, Annabel (October 8, 2018). "Legarda camp to answer Antique residency issue | Philippine News Agency". Pna.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  60. ^ "[OPINION] An open letter of grief from Loren Legarda's son". RAPPLER. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  61. ^ Leviste, Leandro Legarda. "Why I am so proud of my mom". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  62. ^ "Press Release – Legarda Promoted to Colonel". Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  63. ^ Golden Girl Loren Legarda. January 27, 2010. Martinez-Belen, Cristina. The Manila Bulletin. retrieved on February 6, 2010.
  64. ^ "PH exhibit of textile collection of hero seen". Loren Legarda. December 30, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  65. ^ "The fabric of our history". Loren Legarda. February 18, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  66. ^ "Gulay is life! Legarda embraces vegan lifestyle | | Latest Philippine politics news today". Politics.com.ph. January 2, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  67. ^ "Just like Al Gore, Loren wants to go meatless for environment". Inquirer Business. April 2, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  68. ^ "Loren and Brillante again – Philstar.com". philstar.com.
  69. ^ "Press Release – Loren, Brillante Reunite for 1st Protected Areas Documentary Series". www.senate.gov.ph.
  70. ^ "New NCCA TV Series Buhay na Buhay Guides Viewers Towards a Deeper Knowledge on and Appreciation for Filipino Culture". Art+ Magazine Online.
  71. ^ "Loren Legarda's three options". Tempo. February 16, 2018.
[edit]
Senate of the Philippines
Preceded by Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines
2001–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines
2002–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Migz Zubiri
(Acting)
President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
2022–present
Succeeded by
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Paolo Everardo Javier
Representative, Lone District of Antique
2019–2022
Succeeded by
Antonio Agapito Legarda Jr.