Co-sponsorship Speech of Senator Loren Legarda on P.S. Res. No. 1223 or Resolution Honoring Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Co-sponsorship Speech of Senator Loren Legarda
P.S. Res. No. 1223 or Resolution Honoring Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile
26 November 2024

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues:

How many people can claim to have lived over a century—not merely counting the years, but dedicating every moment to the cause of public service and shaping the very course of a nation?

A century of a life lived in both the currents of history and the calm of reflection—through wars and rebuilding, crises and triumphs, and the shifting tides of our collective story. Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s service to this nation is as expansive as the archipelago we call home. As a lawyer, legislator, and statesman, he embodied the resilience of the Filipino spirit. From the intricacies of fiscal reform to the bold assertions of sovereignty, his legacy is that of an extraordinary mind committed to the welfare of the people.

In this very chamber, his leadership elevated the Senate to a space of principled and enlightened discourse. I recall with pride our shared work on Republic Act No. 10174 or the People’s Survival Fund Act, a landmark legislation addressing the threat of climate change—with him as the principal author and I as the principal sponsor during my tenure as Chair of the then stand-alone Committee on Climate Change. Together, we advanced a crucial step for climate resilience, a cause we have devoted much of our lives to, ensuring that the Filipino people, especially the most vulnerable, remain at the forefront of our efforts to protect and sustain our nation’s future.

Yet, dear colleagues, Manong Johnny’s story is far more than the sum of his accomplishments. It is the story of a man who dared to weather the storms of criticism and the tempests of change. He has shown that true strength lies not in unyielding rigidity, but in the ability to stand upright again and again, no matter how fierce the gale.

As we honor him today, let us be reminded that the measure of our service is not in the number of years we serve but in the depth of our contributions. Having been in the Senate since 1998, I have seen how public service demands focus and dedication to something greater than oneself—pouring ourselves fully into the work, listening to the struggles of our people, connecting with their hopes, and responding to their needs with urgency and determination. Leadership, after all, is about purpose, not tenure; impact, not recognition.

And this, I believe, is how we truly honor former Senate President Enrile—for he is not just a man who has lived a century, he is a man who has made a century count.

Thank you.