Former Senator Santanina Tillah Rasul has passed away at 94, Senate President Francis Escudero announced yesterday.
“It is with deep sadness that I join the nation in mourning the passing of former Senator Santanina Tillah Rasul. a trailblazer and the first Muslim woman to serve in the Philippine Senate,” he said in a statement.
“She was a leader who broke the glass ceiling; more importantly, she shattered the glass ceiling for others, ensuring that the paths she tread would remain open for future generations of Filipino women,” Escudero said.
The first Filipina Muslim senator, Rasul served two terms as senator from 1987 to 1992 and 1992 to 1995.
As chairperson of the Committee on Civil Service and Government Recognition and the Committee on Women and Family Relations, Rasul authored several landmark laws including:
• R.A. 6850, Grants civil service eligibility to government employees who have worked in a career civil service position for at least seven years
• R.A. 6949, which declared March 8 as National Women’s Day,
• R.A. 7192, which dismantled gender discrimination, opened the doors of the Philippine Military Academy to women, allocated funds for women in all government agencies, and
• R.A. 7168, which elevated the Philippine Normal College to Philippine Normal University.
Escudero said Rasul’s service to the nation did not end after stint at the Senate.
“She was part of the historic peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as a member of the government panel during the administration of the late former President Fidel V. Ramos and continued with her advocacies with the establishment of the Magbassa Kita Foundation Inc,” he said.
Sen. Robin Padilla, who chairs the Senate committee on cultural communities and Muslim affairs, said Rasul will be remembered as a trailblazer and dedicated public servant whose legacies include landmark laws that upheld the rights of women; educational reforms; and efforts for peace.
“To God we belong, and to God we will return”, he added.
Rasul is survived by her siblings Mirly, Nenita, Almarim, Mct, Ahmed, Jun, Mir, Edsel, Grace, Zorayda and Miramar.
In lieu of flowers, Rasul’s family requested that donations be made to Magbassa Kita Foundation Inc, A/C 10867 001 3628, PNB UP Diliman, QC.
