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SENATOR MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Photo by Joseph Vidal on

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Miriam Defensor Santiago

Miriam Palma Defensor Santiago was a Filipino scholar, academic, lawyer, judge, author and politician. Miriam served in all three branches of the Philippine government.

She served in the judicial, executive and legislative. Miriam was born as Miriam Palma Defensor on 15th June 1945 in Iloilo City.

The father of Miriam was Benjamin Defensor who was a local judge and her mother, Dimpna Palma who was a college dean. Miriam was the eldest of seven children in her family.

She got good studies and graduated valedictorian in grade school, high school and undergraduate school. Miriam was named one of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 1997 by The Australian.

Other than working in all three branches of the Philippines, Miriam was also a long-serving Senator of the Republic of the Philippines. She was also an elected judge of the International Criminal Court and the sole woman recipient of the Philippines’ highest national honour the Quezon Service Cross.

Miriam was also given a great honour for working hard to fight off graft in the graft-ridden Philippines government. She tried to vie for the Presidential seat of the Philippines but she never won in any of the elections due to various reasons.

Here are the top 10 Interesting Facts about Miriam Defensor Santiago:

1. Miriam was Born in a Renowned Family and Studied in Top Schools

Miriam Palma Defensor was not born into an ordinary Philippine family. The father of Miriam, Benjamin Defensor was a local judge in their area.

Dimpna Palma, the mother of Miriam was a college dean. She was the eldest child in a family of seven siblings.

Miriam got one of the best education when she grew up. She graduated valedictorian in grade school, high school and undergraduate school.

Miriam also graduated from high school from Iloilo Provincial High School which is currently known as Iloilo National School.

2. She Held Top Positions while in School

Miriam Defensor Santiago Speech at Crowne Plaza. Photo by Dane Alegana on

Miriam Palma Defensor was born a natural leader in a family of leaders. Her leadership began way back when she was in school.

While studying at Iloilo Provincial School, Miriam served as the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) for the students’ publication, ‘The Ilonggo’. After she graduated from the University of the Philippines, Miriam was elected to the Pi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi honour societies.

3. Defensor Studied at Several Universities

Miriam Palma Defensor was a great scholar while she grew up. She studied and earned several degrees from several universities.

After her high school education, Miriam joined the University of Philippines Visayas where she got a degree in political science, magna cum laude. She, later on, joined the University of Philippines College of Law in Diliman where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, cum laude.

Later on, Miriam went to the United States where she earned the Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Other universities that Miriam studied from included Oxford and Harvard law summer schools, Cambridge, The Hague Academy of International Law and the Maryhill School of Theology.

4. Defensor became a Legal Officer to the UN at a Tender Age

Miriam beams as she attends a wedding as a sponsor. Photo by Miriam Defensor Santiago on

Miriam Palma Defensor became more educated at a very tender age. She had several degrees from several universities across the world for ten years.

At a tender age, Miriam Palma Defensor landed a top job with the United Nations. She became a legal officer at the United Nations due to her constitutional and international law knowledge and experience.

5. Miriam was a Long-serving Senator of the Republic of the Philippines

After graduating and getting high educational ranks, Miriam decided to join politics. Miriam served in various departments both locally and internationally before being elected as the Senator.

She was first elected as Senator in the year 1995. Miriam Palma Defensor served as the Senator of the Republic of the Philippines from 1995 to 2001. She was named the long-serving Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

6. She became Skilled in Treaty Negotiations before Resigning

Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Bongbong Marcos in Batac City. Photo by Public Relations and Information Bureau on

Miriam Palma Defensor served in several international organisations. She served in the United Nations as the Legal Officer in the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland.

Miriam was given an assignment to the Conferences and Treaties Section where she became a skilled treaty negotiator and in drafting. However, Miriam resigned from this position after her father developed prostate cancer.

7. Miriam Vied for Presidency and Lost Thrice

Miriam got interested in politics afterwards. She vied for Presidency twice and lost both rounds.

The first time she announced her candidacy was on 19th February 1990 with her running mate being Ramon Magsaysay. She lost this election after getting involved in a grisly accident.

Miriam revealed that this was an attempted assassination as she got badly injured. She was admitted to a hospital in manila and got back to campaigns after two months.

Miriam also lost her Presidency bid for the second time. The third time she vied was in 2016 and lost after the public raised concerns about her health status.

8. Defensor became the First Filipina and Asian Elected as Judge at the ICC

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Photo by Christian Mac Juane on

The success of Miriam Palma Defensor was long-lived during her lifetime. Other than serving as the Senator of the Republic of the Philippines for three terms and vying for Presidency thrice, Miriam also had more achievements.

In 2012, Miriam was elected as a judge to the International Criminal Court. She became the first Filipina and first Asian from a developing country to get this top position at the ICC.

However, she, later on, resigned from her position in the International Criminal Court. She cited chronic fatigue syndrome that led to her resignation.

9. Miriam Suffered from Lung Cancer which she was not Aware of

Miriam Palma Defensor enjoyed good health in her early life until later on. While Miriam was working as a judge at the ICC, she developed a condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

However, this, later on, turned out to be lung cancer which she was diagnosed with by her doctors. Miriam’s doctors from the United States once confirmed that the lung cancer had resolved and was strong for public service.

10. Her Dedication to Serve the People Earned Her Great Praise

Miriam Defensor Santiago with other leaders. Photo by MARCELINO PASCUA on Wikimedia

In her service to the country, Miriam Palma Defensor became a much-renowned person within the Philippines and internationally. Miriam earned great praise for her dedication to the people.

She got the following names; the Dragon Lady, the Platinum Lady, the Incorruptible Lady, the Impregnable Lady, Feisty Senator, The Doctor of All Laws, the Omniscient Woman and most popularly, the Iron Lady of Asia.

There are several traits that Miriam Palma Defensor had while serving the people that the majority of women fear expressing. The perfect work of Miriam will always be recognised in the Philippines and internationally.