Cover image via SAYS Philippines
The three-term Senator, who finished last in the May 9 presidential race, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2014
She showed physical weakness and took a long break from campaigning, making the fewest public appearances among all candidates.
Prior to the May 9 elections, Santiago told CNN Philippines she is "perfectly normal" because of an anti-cancer pill she is taking.
She admitted she occasionally had to take short pauses to catch her breath and her sense of balance was "very precarious" – she would sometimes stumble and fall in the bathroom.
Santiago wrote Senate President Franklin Drilon on May 24 to inform fellow senators that she will be on medical leave until her term ends on June 30. She said she developed anorexia, or the inability to eat, as a side effect of one of her anti-cancer medications, that eventually weakened her body.
She was rushed by ambulance to the Makati Medical Center on May 31 after she contracted pneumonia. She was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) a day after, and was transferred to a regular private room.
Here we compiled the funniest and the most awesome life lessons she taught to Filipinos!
1. When she is happy that she has cancer, because finally there's a 'real' challenge
2. When she taught us about corruption and the easy solution to this:
3. When everyone you know is against you
5. When you know someone is just trying too damn hard to look good
**"You know, if you shut down all the TV cameras, the proceedings will be finished in one week, but people want more than 15 [minutes] of fame."**
(Miriam Santiago on slow impeachment process}
6. When people don't really care about what happened then, and just want to be full of themselves
**"Ang dami-daming pinagsasasabi pero hindi naman nagbabasa. The main problem with some of our politicians is that they are illiterate."**
7. No matter how great you are, it's okay to welcome the feeling of having to impress and being scared and pressured too
8. You should man up for your own mistakes
**"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Saying 'I delegated the authority but did not delegate the responsibility,' or some such words? You should hear yourself talk!"**
(Santiago to PNP Chief Purisima on the Fallen 44 Mamasapano Massacre)
