THE CHILDHOOD OF THE DRAGON LADY OF ASIA: A FEATURE

source: edikdolotina.blogspot.com

   Miriam Defensor-Santiago - famous all over the world with her courageous advocacy against graft and corruption in Philippine Governance. Like Darna, fighting petty and even hideous crimes, she is much more fueled with fierce and determined to outcome the political struggles. We also grew up knowing the Miriam Dictionary full of her unique and satiric quips and one liners coated with her fiery aura. She was threatened with an assasination but the dragon lady still stands today and was even recognised as the Unsinkable. She is very quintessential. But among these, who is Miriam as a child?

   Miriam was born in 1945 in Iloilo City. She was born the eldest in an humble and educated family and raised with pride for our country. The sense of justice runs in their blood. Her father, Benjamin, was a district trial judge while her mother, Dimpna, is a dean in college.

source: www. rmaf.org.ph

   She was a child prodigy. She studied very well in her elementary days which gained her the Valedictorian in La Paz Elementary School and also of her, high school, Iloilo Provincial National. She earned an all-around medal of excellence. She won many competitions and contest. She outwitted her seniors while being a freshman in Spelling Bee. She was even promoted as editor-in-chief of their high school paper while still being a freshman. She also topped the National College Entrance Examinations for the Western Visayas region.

   She was an avid reader of books who fears of lack of books in the future. Her talent is coupled with her passion for writing.

   She was even an athlete. She joined a provincial swimming competition sponsored by Red Cross and was announced as champion.

   With this, her story still continues. She had her glory days in her beloved university, U.P. Diliman and her adventures in Michigan. There are many more stories about her. her roots made her into the dragon lady we know today. She was not afraid of anything. Even now, she was recently diagnosed of a lung cancer but this cannot stop her for pushing her courageous crusade for her beloved nation.