20th-century-filipino-women-politicians

"In my life both public and private, I have said words and done deeds that might not have been popular in some circles. On countless occasions, I have seen good people with clear and honest intentions fall prey to the lure of power and the mud of petty politics. It is in the most trying of times that we can truly separate the statesman from the politician."

"There are positions in politics and in life that people of principle must never compromise, no matter how difficult or dangerous these may be."

"Being consistently in the opposition has never been an issue for me. For as long as all Filipinos benefit from it, and the greater good of the country demands it, I will say it and do it; let history be my witness. If I were to live my life again, I will live is exactly as I did...I will still do it my way."

"Claro M. Recto saw the lack of Philippine nationalism as the reason behind the weak, docile and unassertive policies of our government. This, in turn, resulted in foreign control of the Philippine economy."

"I liked President Garcia's Filipino First Policy. It was a nationalist policy that encouraged our people to inculcate nuch-needed national pride. Indeed, soon after Garcia's election almost all the banks were in the hands of Filipinos."

"I am not a dove nor am I a hawk. I am a Kalaw, a truly Philippine bird."

"All of us victimized by the bombing unanimously held Marcos responsible. But much later, I found our we were wrong in putting all the blame in Marcos. The findings of the military, backed up by a confession made to me by a certain Guevara, proved to me that it was actually the Communist Party operative under orders from Jose Maria Sison who were responsible for that slaughter."

"Freedom in my country today is far from having achieved her goal. The stones of her prison lie at her feet, but her jailers still surround her, bristling with arms that, ironically, democracy's arsenal — America — supplies."

"My struggle today is but my continuing contribution to the faithful struggle of generations of Filipinos who, like your own heroes, laid down their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor at the altar of freedom. It is also may offering to the future vigilance of generations to come."

"It came as a surprise to us in the opposition that Marcos agreed to hold a snap election in 1986. But it was not a cause for celebration yet. I believed that the snap election was a way by which Marcos could flush out the strategy of the opposition."

"The rest is history. Cory and Doy got what they wanted, not through a snap election but through a People Power Revolution. I was a party to that revolution, if only to have Mr. Marcos removed from power. The intrigues around the halls of Malacañang did not cease. An arrangement was allegedly made between Cory and Doy that after two years of Aquino's presidency, she would yield and transfer power to Doy Laurel. However, this did not happen."

"The results of the election were clearly computerized daya. We were cheated, plain and simple. The cheating was massive, even by Marcos standards."

"Behind the scenes, various factions fought for the spoils and for political and economic control. Many people in power took advantage of the word "revolution." They claimed it as a license to do whatever they wanted in replacing many of the old institutions. But it was not supposed to be a question of destroying the old system. It was a question of growth, especially of the rebuilding that comes after the destruction."

"In my political life, I have seen the good and the bad in every person. The character of a person comes out in the toughest situations. In those situations, the values inculcated in one's youth come out as one's principles and character."

"Nostalgia does lend an aura of perfection to history, but we must remember that perfection lies not behind us, but ahead of us. It is not a territory that we shall one day conquer but rather, a city we must one day build."

"Eva Estrada was among the few female students of the Commonwealth era who dared enroll in the University of the Philippines, which was then based in Manila. Her enrollment in UP was a daring feat because back then, Catholic high schools for girls discouraged their graduates from enrolling in UP on the mistaken assumption that UP is a godless institution."

"Truly, hers was a life well-lived. And by her choice, it was well-lived in the service of the Filipino people. On behalf of the Senate of the Philippines, I say thank you to Senator Evangeline Estrada-Kalaw for helping build the Senate as an institution of service to the people and a pillar of democracy. She may have been born in a different era, but the values of integrity, respect for the rule of law, and dedicated service to the people that she believed in and practiced remain as relevant as ever. Tita Eva, we are here to continue your causes."

"Our country wishes to have more of her kind in government – with courage, with fortitude in manning the ramparts against injustice, corruption, violence, greed, and abuse of power."

"In the annals of the University of the Philippines sports and athletics, the only one who defeated the champion sharp shooter Teodoro Kalaw Jr. was the beautiful coed, Corps Sponsor and student leader Eva Estrada. The popular scion Teddy later courted and married the feisty lady who was elected senator in November 1965."