Senator Loren Legarda is not just a legislator; she is a movement. Known for her relentless service to the Filipino people, Legarda has carved a legacy rooted in compassion, action, and results. For Panay Island, especially Antique—her beloved home province—she has become a symbol of hope, meaningful progress, and direct service to the people.
Legarda’s national journey began in the world of journalism. She emerged as a respected broadcast journalist in the 1980s, earning various awards, including the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), the Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS), and the Benigno Aquino Jr. Award for Journalism. But beyond headlines and studio lights, she connected with grassroots communities, listening and learning. That deep engagement became her compass when she entered public service.
In 1998, she made history by topping the Senate race, and again in 2007—the only woman to ever do so. As the first female Majority Leader of the Senate, her leadership became a force for inclusive legislation, always with the marginalized at heart. She then served as Senate President Pro Tempore during the First and Second Regular Sessions of the 19th Congress.
In Panay, Legarda’s fingerprints are all over cultural revitalization and local empowerment. She has championed the preservation of Panay-Bukidnon traditions, supported weaving communities, and uplifted local artisans. For her, culture is not just heritage but livelihood. Her pioneering work led to the creation of the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino textile gallery and its global traveling exhibits, bringing Antique and Panay to international stages like Madrid, Tokyo, and New York.
She has also strengthened indigenous education and cultural preservation through the Schools of Living Traditions and supported cultural villages across Antique and nearby provinces. In 2016, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts awarded her the Dangal ng Haraya for her outstanding contributions to arts and heritage.
Legarda’s leadership extends to climate and environmental protection—issues close to the heart of Antiqueños, who are often at the frontlines of typhoons and environmental threats. Legarda has been at the forefront of climate and disaster resilience policy due to her authorship and sponsorship of landmark environmental legislation, including the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (2000), the Climate Change Act (2009), the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (2010), and the People’s Survival Fund Act (2012).
In the 19th Congress, she led the passage of RA No. 11995, or the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) and continues to push for the Blue Economy Bill—policies that are crucial for the island provinces of Panay, which rely heavily on agriculture and marine biodiversity.
She’s not only working locally. As a senator with a strong international presence, Legarda has brought global solutions home. She was instrumental in the Philippines’ ratification of the Paris Agreement and serves as the UNDRR Global Champion for Resilience and a member of the Global Commission on Adaptation. Her global advocacy translates directly to local safety, sustainability, and livelihoods.
On the economic front, Senator Legarda has always believed in empowering the base. She championed the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act, Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, and One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act—all geared toward ensuring even the smallest entrepreneurs in Panay have access to training, capital, and markets. Through national events like the National Arts and Crafts Fair, she has given Antiqueño and Panay artisans a powerful platform to thrive.
Education, too, has been a pillar of her work. She championed free tertiary education as a co-author and co-sponsor of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and fought for financial support systems via the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST). As a Commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2), she continues to push reforms that will reach even the most remote barangays.
Finally, in the realm of peace and governance, she co-authored the Bangsamoro Organic Law and currently serves as co-chair of the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, which reflects her commitment to national unity and inclusive progress. For her, peace is development, and development must be for all.
Whether through legislation or hands-on programs, Senator Loren Legarda has always returned to where her heart lies—with the people. Her enduring legacy in Panay Island is more than infrastructure or policy; it is empowerment. From the mountain villages of Antique to the coastal towns of Aklan and Iloilo, her work continues to shape lives, celebrate culture, and protect the environment.
Her vision remains clear: a self-reliant, resilient, and proud Filipino nation—starting from the islands she calls home.
