Loren: It feels good to be free

February 5, 2015

Sen. Loren Legarda told last Tuesday’s Bulong Pulungan lunch forum at the Sofitel that freedom from further political aspirations has enabled her to truly focus on her work in the Senate, where she will serve till 2019.

“After I lost my political ambition, when I was no longer planning any campaign, I became more focused and passionate in my job,” said Loren, who turned 55 last Jan. 28.

As senator, she wants to focus on nature and culture, believing that culture generates jobs and helps in poverty alleviation and binds a divided nation.

Loren proudly reveals that the “Hibla” textile museum she set up at the National Museum, which showcases indigenous fiber and materials, is attracting many local and foreign visitors.

“If you give our women a handloom, which costs about P5,000 each, you partially solve the country’s unemployment problem,” she believes.

Because of her love of indigenous textiles, Loren finds that when she opens her closet, “I see the entire Philippines!”

Asked her sentiments on the killing of the 44 SAF commandos in Mamasapano, Loren says slowly, “It was a tragedy no one wanted, not the President, not the PNP, not even the MILF.”

“Having studied national security (she is a lieutenant colonel in the reserve force), I can see that, clearly, there was no coordination. And this is admitted by all sides because it was a secret operation. In my opinion, there was a failure of intelligence. But having said that, I do not want to preempt the results of the investigation of the truth commission, the PNP, or the Senate,” she adds.

Loren wants authorities to reassess the sincerity on both parties — the government and the MILF.

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Loren, who is unmarried, says she is unattached and not dating anyone. For now, as she claims, it’s “nature and culture” that light up her life. And she’s glad she’s “free” to do that.

– See more at: http://www.philstar.com/newsmakers/2015/02/05/1420164/wide-awake-city-dreams#sthash.zVtVlIzg.dpuf