Drawing from her vast experience as a journalist for 20 years and a decade as a public servant, Loren authored and sponsored vital pieces of legislation geared towards environmental protection, promotion of entrepreneurship, protection of the rights of women and children, overseas workers and domestic laborers, providing better health services to the public, social justice, national unity and inculcating the value of nationalism and love of country. Her dedication as a legislator brought forth the passage of many significant laws including the following: the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act (RA 9509), the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (RA 9501), the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9262), the Philippine Ear Research Institute Act( RA 9245), the Philippine Tropical Fabric Law (RA 9242), the Anti-Child Labor Law (RA 9231), the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208), the Eid'l Fitr Holiday Law (RA 9177), and the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), among many others.

Luntiang Pilipinas is born

In 1998, Loren founded Luntiang Pilipinas to promote public awareness on the environment and to enjoin multi-sectoral participation in addressing environmental problems. It has since established hundreds of forest parks with more than two million trees nationwide.

For her unfaltering crusade for the environment, Loren was given recognition in the year 2000 by the World Economic Forum, which named her one of the Global Leaders for Tomorrow. She was also awarded by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in 2001 as a UNEP Laureate. Loren's name has been included in the Global 500 Roll of Honor for being in the frontline of global environmental action. In 2004, she became an Awardee for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy in Mumbai, India.

Aware of the declining state of the Philippine environment and its harmful effects to the health and security of Filipinos, Loren delivered privilege speeches in the Senate, entitled "CPR For Mother Earth" and "An Agenda for Climate Change Adaptation" as part of her information campaign on environmental protection. Her speeches, converted into lectures, are now being distributed to public schools nationwide to stir the youth into action and contribute in caring for the environment. She likewise moved for the creation of the Senate Oversight Committee on Climate Change to help monitor and consolidate the government's efforts towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. These initiatives and her firm resolve to bring the issue of climate change and disaster risk reduction to the forefront of policymaking led to her appointment as United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Asia Pacific.

Libro as foundation

Loren also established the Libro ni Loren Foundation, Inc. to help improve the literacy level in the country's poorest provinces.

She founded the Bessie Legarda Memorial Foundation, Inc. to provide medical assistance to indigent breast cancer victims and serve as support group to their families. She organized the Livelihood Opportunities to Raise Entrepreneurship Nationwide (LOREN) which provided capital for women entrepreneurs.

Loren also earned praise for her tireless effort in bringing warring factions to negotiate peace talks. She played a crucial role in the safe and expeditious release of military and police officers and men who were held captive by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and fellow journalists who were held captive in Sulu. For her outstanding work for the cause of Muslims, Loren was bestowed the title of Bai a labi (Honorary Muslim Princess) by the Marawi Sultanate league.

TOYM awardee

As a journalist, Loren earned prestigious awards such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees (1992), The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Award (1993), and the Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism (1995) for her sterling record as a journalist for more than two decades.

An achiever all her life, Loren completed her primary and secondary schooling at the Assumption Convent with honors. She obtained a degree in broadcast communications and graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines. While working as a broadcast journalist, Loren pursued her post-graduate studies at the National Defense College of the Philippines where she obtained a degree in National Security Administration and graduated at the top of her class. Loren is now a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Family of newsmen

She was born to a family of newsmen, educators, physicians and public servants. Her paternal great grandfather Potenciano Cabrera was the first Mayor of San Pablo City, Laguna while her maternal great granduncle Vicente Gella was a Governor of Antique. Kapitan Moy Guevara, her maternal great granduncle, was the founder of the shoe industry of Marikina. Her grandfather, Jose P. Bautista, was a pillar of Philippine journalism.

Loren is the oldest and only girl in the family of three children of Antonio Cabrera Legarda and Bessie Gella Bautista. Loren is single with two sons.

Most recognized climate advocate

Senator Loren Legarda is one of the world's most recognized, and influential environmental advocates. Her tireless efforts to protect the earth, and all its inhabitants, have earned her an international reputation, both as a woman committed to a better future, and as a statesperson who makes a significant difference on the world stage.

In the Philippines, Loren is the youngest woman ever elected to the Philippine Senate, and the first woman elected Senate Majority Leader in 2001. She is considered a favorite to become president of the Philippines in 2010.

Prior to becoming a public official, Loren was well known as the award-winning anchor and producer of two of the Philippines' most popular and respected news programs. As her television career advanced, however, she found herself interested, more and more, in finding solutions to the problems she was reporting on.

Two million trees

In 1998, she began her environmental advocacy by founding Luntiang Pilipinas, a foundation to promote environmental awareness and positive change. This was the jump off point for what has now been a decade of international activism. Since that time, Loren's foundation has been responsible for thousands of forest parks and the planting of over 2 million trees. She has delivered papers at fora around the world, convened UN committees on disaster planning, as it relates to climate change, and has advised governments on sustainable development. She authored the creation of a Senate Committee on Climate Change, a promising and groundbreaking initiative.

Along the way, Loren has picked up honors and accolades. She was named one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, received the United Nations Environmental Program Award and the Award for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy of India in 2004. Loren was named to the Global 500 Roll of Honor for her actions on behalf of environmental causes, and was even granted the titleBai a labi - Honorary Muslim princes - by the Marawi Sultanate league (but you can call her "Loren") for helping the cause of the Muslim minorities in the Philippines.

Voice of poor people

As a Senator, Loren has championed environmental causes, but has also been the voice of the poor and underprivileged. She has authored legislation to fight spousal and child abuse, stop child labor and combat human trafficking. Another of her foundations, Libro ni Loren provides scholarships to children-in-need, such as child laborers, street children, orphans and children with disabilities.

Loren also received a degree from the National Defense College, and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Armed Forces reserve. A tough negotiator, she has secured the release of a number of military and civilian hostages, from rebel guerillas, and helped broker a peace settlement among warring factions.

With more than 18 million votes, Loren is the first woman to top the Senate race twice and is consistently considered one the most trusted Filipino leaders.

At the World Stage