Miriam Santiago vows to elevate discourse in last presidential debate

Patty Pasion

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Miriam Santiago vows to elevate discourse in last presidential debate

JJR

She says presidential candidates should focus on discussing where to get funding for their promises

MANILA, Philippines – After missing the second presidential debate in March, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said she will attend on Sunday, April 23, the 3rd and last debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The presidential candidate skipped the Cebu leg of the debate series because she had to partipate in a foreign clinical trial of a new anti-cancer drug. She has also been off the campaign trail for almost a month. 

But Santiago confirmed to reporters on Monday, April 18, that she will surely attend the last leg of the debate. 

With her attendance, she wishes that there would be no more mudslinging like what happened in the last debate. (READ: Miriam’s absence big loss in Cebu debate – Bongbong Marcos

“I would like to raise it to a higher level, hindi ‘yung siraan nang siraan ng mga kandidato. Gusto ko sana ‘yung discussion ng ating domestic issues with international policies,” she said in a brief interview after delivering a commencement speech at the Bulacan State University (BSU).

(I don’t want it to revolve around mudslinging between candidates. I want a discussion of our domestic issues together with international policies.)

Santiago was the guest speaker at the public university’s graduation rites on Monday morning. She criticized in her speech the level of discussion between presidential candidates in the past debates.

“Ang maririnig mo lang ay lagyan ng tulay d’yan, magbibigay ako ng kalsada, libre ang state education. Ang malaking tanong, saan tayo kukuha ng pera? Di naman nila tinutukoy ‘yun,” she told a crowd of more than a hundred graduates.  

(What you hear from them is build a bridge there, I’ll provide roads, free state education. But the big question is, where do we get the money?)

“The presidential debate should focus on where should we get the money to start up,” she stressed. 

Healthier Santiago

The feisty lady senator who had some trouble campaigning because of her health condition is now visibly healthier and more energetic than how she was in her previous school visits. And unlike in her past sorties, Santiago is now granting chance interviews to the media.

At the Bulacan State University, she did not miss the chance to deliver her pick-up lines – always the most-awaited part of her speeches.

  • May band aid ka ba? Nagasgas kasi ang tuhod ko when I fell for you,” she quipped. (Do you have a band aid? I scratched my leg when I fell for you.) 
  • “Kung math question ako, sa 1 + 1 na lang, para masagot mo ako agad.” (If I were a math question, I want to be 1+1, so that you can easily answer me.)  
  • “Balita ko magaling ka raw sa (I heard you are good in)Algebra. Can you replace my X without asking Y?”  
REUNITED. Presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago along with her Vice Presidential candidate Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. at Bulacan State University on Monday, April 18, 2016. Photo by Jasmin Dulay/Rappler

Santiago’s visit to BSU is only the 6th time she went out since the campaign period started. Her running mate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr joined her but did not speak before the students. 

The two have been more visible to the public eye recently, holding university tours at the University of the Philippines in Iloilo and the Saint Louis University in Baguio last week. – Rappler.com

Can’t get enough of Miriam Santiago’s pick-up lines? Read these:

 

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Patty Pasion

Patty leads the Rappler+ membership program. She used to be a Rappler multimedia reporter who covered politics, labor, and development issues of vulnerable sectors.