Applause erupts as Miriam Santiago’s casket arrives at chapel

Emotions ran high at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Quezon City when the remains of former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago arrived at the chapel Thursday night.

Upon the arrival of her casket, the former senator was greeted with a round of applause from her supporters, an Unang Balita report by Katrina Son on Friday said.

Her wake has been opened to the public to allow supporters to pay their last respects to the late senator.

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She was in the red dress she wore during the first presidential debate, but it was replaced with a blue dress around early morning.

Among the first to attend the wake was her vice-presidential running mate Senator Bongbong Marcos.

Santiago ran for President in the May 2016 elections.

“Mabuti naman na maramdaman na siya’y isang kasama, hindi lang sa pagkakaibigan kundi sa trabaho pati,” Marcos said in an interview with the reporters.

“Napakalaking karangalan ang ibinigay niya sa akin, ng pagpili niya sa akin na maging vice president niya sa nakaraang halalan,” he added.

Aside from Marcos, former colleagues of the senator also attended the wake, including former Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Jerry Pelayo, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas, Rep. Sonny Belmonte and Sen. Pia Cayetano.

“In a lot of aspects of my life, I asked advice from her,” Cayetano said. 

The senator added: “I’ve known her from the start to be a very loving, a very considerate woman.”

More supporters came to the chapel by dawn, particularly those from the youth sector who have greatly admired the senator when she was still in office.

“Hindi kailanman mapapantayan ng kahit anong yaman sa mundo 'yung naiambag niya sa aming mga kabataan,” one of the youth supporters said.

Santiago, dubbed as “Asia’s Iron Lady,” succumbed to lung cancer on Thursday morning.

She is set to be buried on October 2 at the Loyala Memorial Park in Marikina City where the remains of her son also lie.

source:gmanews