Currently a Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the representative of the district of Antique, Loren Legarda aims to end the year hopeful after she filed her certificate of candidacy for the senatorial race in the upcoming 2022 national elections.
In this Legarda’s exclusive interview with The Bureau Strategic Counsel, the senatorial candidate tells more about the shift of her old routine into the new normal, her advocacies in life, and the campaigns she plans to pursue should she be re-elected as a Philippine Senator.
Can you guide us through a typical day in the life of “Loren Legarda?”
“I always wake up early in the morning. These days, I do morning radio interviews, sometimes even before I take my breakfast. Then, I review my schedule for the day and pending tasks from the previous day. I have always worked hard even when I was young, very disciplined, and I’m a multi-tasker.
After my interviews, I record messages for events or join live virtually in some. Included in my call lists for the day are focal persons for my projects, both in and outside Antique, especially those related to my priority advocacies on education, livelihood, climate, health, culture, among others. In between appointments, I make it a point to rest, meditate and breathe, and commune with nature as well as spend time with my loved ones.
On weekends, I wear my farmer hat. I harvest vegetables and flowers. I fix things around the house. I think of other practical applications of my advocacies and laws in everyday life – such as recycling bottles and turning them into lamps. Or, using magazine pages for small bags, turning wooden palettes into tables. The list goes on. Spending time with nature teaches me a lot of things.”
How did you respond to the abrupt changes brought about by COVID-19?
“My life, work, and plans for the country’s future revolve around principles of good governance, sustainability, climate change adaptation, circular economy, gender equality, disaster preparedness, and a strong national identity.
I consider myself a perennial learner; always eager to learn from people I meet from all walks of life. I am also a farmer, a culture bearer, and a plantita at heart.
The pandemic has compelled us to stay in our homes and has given us more time to learn new things. But even before COVID-19, I have surrounded my home with plants, turning it into a mini urban forest, and I have grown my own food. It was a blessing to our household especially when we were all forced to go on lockdown.
I am not a techie person but I had to learn about gadgets and apps and Zoom calls. I definitely went beyond my comfort zone. We all had to adapt. I am happy that now I am able to record my own videos and voice overs, and even join Zoom meets and do FB Live! It’s a whole new online world that I am discovering!
When patient zero in the Philippines was made known during the early months of 2020, I immediately instructed my staff to go home and work from home. I advised them to create a home office and be ready to work online using reliable phones, laptops, and the internet, which were all essential during the lockdown.
I would like to think that I am prescient when it comes to these matters, and thankfully, I was able to apply these even to the management of my Office.”
What’s the driving force behind your passion for pushing for the Philippines to be “Guest of Honor” in Frankfurt Book Fair 2025?
“The Frankfurt Book Fair was first brought to my attention years ago by Karina Bolasco, Director of the Ateneo University Press. She noted that having a country pavilion in the Frankfurt Book Fair would be worthwhile. It is a good opportunity for the Philippines to showcase the works of our writers.
I did not think twice in giving my full support for our participation in the Fair when it was presented to me for budget allocation. In my capacity as then Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance from 2015 to 2019, I was able to provide funds for the Frankfurt Book Fair and, indeed, we have sustained our annual presence at the Fair.
We are now vying and bidding to become Guest of Honor in 2025, an honor that is much aspired for. To become the “Guest of Honor”or GOH is a major feat that would greatly benefit our Filipino publishers, writers, and knowledge creators, as the Philippines would be the highlight of the Fair. GOH status allows the country to showcase different facets of its culture and arts, its values and traditions. The earliest possible year to become the Guest of Honor is in 2025.
We need to work now to be a GOH country in 2025. We need to be visible and make our presence stronger and felt. The Frankfurt Book Fair, which is held annually in Frankfurt, Germany is the largest international trade fair for the book publishing industry.”
What pushed you to run for the Senate in the upcoming 2022 polls? If elected, what campaigns/laws are you pushing for?
“I know the pathway towards a green pandemic recovery and I know I can help achieve this. In my 23 years of public service as a legislator, all the laws that I have crafted have benefited our kababayan, especially now, from the Magna Carta for Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises, the PESO Law, to the Free College Education Law and its funding, Free Wi-fi Law, down to the livelihood and healthcare assistance being given to our vulnerable sectors, including weaving communities and indigent individuals.
The fruits of my work gives me fulfilment. There will always be challenges. But, for as long as we persevere and we think outside the box, we can help steer our country to greatness. For me, there is no such thing as a task that cannot be done. I always challenge myself to always find a way to accomplish each task.”
For those who dream of pursuing the path of journalism, what advice can you give? On the other hand, what can you say for those who dream of following the same path as yours—to work in the government?
“My work and responsibilities as a journalist and public servant are not easy. But one just needs to have a vision combined with good work ethic, passion and determination. I wish to quote what I had once said in another interview.
We should not be scared to fail and fall, and make mistakes, because we are human after all, and that there is wisdom in learning from those mistakes.
Yes, I have fallen, many times over, endured scars but gained wisdom. When I was in my junior year at the UP Mass Communications, I literally fell on the floor during one of our broadcast performances but I immediately got up and continued.
To my surprise, our professor, Orly Mercado, gave me a flat 1. He told me “It’s not so much how you perform but how fast you get up when you stumble.” So, I fell but I did not fail. I did not attain many of my dreams in life but I am grateful for what I have now.”
"Dream big, be ready to fall, but let not fear take you down to fail."
– Loren Legarda
