Senator Loren Legarda is the only female senator who topped the Senate race twice, with more than 15 million and 18.4 million votes in 1998 and 2007, respectively.

The only woman to become Senate majority leader, Loren is chiefly responsible for the passage of the following laws which she authored and co-authored: the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 (RA 9994); the Barangay Kabuhayan Act (RA 9509); the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (RA 9501); the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act (RA 10000); the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA 9262); the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710); the Anti-Child Labor Law (RA 9231); the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) and its expanded version (RA 10364); the Philippine Ear Research Institute Act (RA 9245); the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009 (RA 9709); the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Act of 2009 (RA 9711); the Philippine Tropical Fabric Law (RA 9242); the Eid’ul Fitr Holiday Law (RA 9177); the Tourism Act of 2009 (RA 9593); the Clean Air Act (RA 8749); the Environmental Awareness Education Act (RA 9512); the Renewable Energy Act (RA 9513); the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003); the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121); the Climate Change Act (RA 9729) and its amendatory law (RA 10174), which provides for the creation of the People’s Survival Fund, the Kasambahay Law (RA 10361), the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (RA 10533) and the Universal Healthcare Act (RA 10606), among many vital pieces of legislation.

Loren has also contributed to peace efforts. 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 journalists who were held captive in Sulu.

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. Her grandfather, Jose P. Bautista, was a pillar of Philippine journalism, editor-in-chief of pre-war Manila times.

Loren was born in Malabon and was raised by an Ilocana yaya whom she fondly calls nanay. She is the eldest and only girl in the family of three children of Antonio Cabrera Legarda and Bessie Gella Bautista.

At her own initiative, Loren has spearheaded an information and education campaign on the science of climate change, its impact on our everyday lives and how Filipinos can avert and adapt to the changing climate. These short films include “Ulan sa Tag-Araw: Isang Dokyu-drama Ukol sa Pagbabago ng Klima” (Rains in the Summer: A Documentary Drama on Climate Change), children’s animation movie “Ligtas Likas”, “Buhos” (Downpour), “Philippine Marine Biodiversity”, and “Antique: Coral Restoration Program”.

Loren collaborated with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in the documentary “Now is the Time”, which calls on leaders and decision-makers to strive for disaster-resilient development.

Through the greening program she founded, Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines), which has planted two million trees in more than 500 hectares across the Philippines, Senator Legarda continues to enjoin the participation of stakeholders in pursuing this environmental advocacy.

For her contribution in protecting the environment and pushing for climate change adaptation policies, the University of the Philippines (UP) chose Loren as its 2013 Distinguished Alumna for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation. She was named among the Global Leaders for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum; a Laureate and among the Global 500 Roll of Honor of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and recognized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) as a Hero of Resilience in 2012.

She is a Global Champion for Resilience of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), a National Adaptation Plan Champion of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a Commissioner of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA), the Women Political Leaders (WPL) Global Ambassador for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change and the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Ambassador for Parliaments.

Sen. Legarda places special interest in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of women, youth, and children. Her legislative efforts resulted in the passage of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Child Labor Law, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its expanded version, the Expanded Anti- Trafficking in Persons Act.

Apart from her professional work, Loren took it upon herself to personally help women and children who have become victims of unfortunate circumstances, like Joseph Boseto and Rodel Morcozo who were both child miners in Camarines Norte. Rodel would search for gold and handle mercury-based chemicals with bare hands, while Joseph used to dive up to thirty feet in a narrowly-dug hole filled with murky water, staying in this zero visibility pit for hours, with only a pair of goggles to protect his eyes, cotton balls to protect his ears from air pressure, and a tube connected to a compressor that generates unsafe air as his oxygen source.

Loren helped them escape from the dangerous world of mining by supporting their education—the same assistance she provided to Melinda de Vera, who once lived in a wooden cart and helped her mother sell candies in the streets of Paco, Manila.

Joseph, Rodel, and Melinda are only a few of the many individuals who were freed from child labor and were given the opportunity to secure their right to education with the support of Sen. Legarda. This opportunity, Loren continues to share with others through her foundations.

Fervently advocating for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and initiating efforts to liberate them from various forms of discrimination, Loren has become the voice of Filipinos who continue to embrace their cultural roots and heritage.

Her love for tropical fabrics and native products, and her visits to indigenous communities in different parts of the country inspired Loren to initially set up cultural exhibits that showcased the exceptional skills and world-class products of IPs, and in 2011, in her capacity as Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, successfully organized regional assemblies—in Baguio City for Luzon IPs, in Iloilo City for Visayas IPs, and in Tagum City, Davao del Norte for Mindanao IPs—and the First National Indigenous Cultural Summit that served as avenues for dialogue with local and national policy-makers as well as international institutions.

Loren supported the development of cultural villages of the Ata-Talaingod, Mandaya, B’laan, and Bagobo Tagabawa in various activities of their Schools of Living Traditions. She supported the establishment of the country’s first permanent textile gallery called the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles to celebrate indigenous artistry and revitalize our weaving traditions, as well as the Baybayin Gallery, a permanent gallery that promotes awareness of the writing systems used by ancient Filipinos, and a gallery dedicated to our country’s National Living Treasures, all housed at the National Museum of the Philippines.

In October 2012, the Senator launched the Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weaves of the Philippines with the hope of solving one of the greatest threats to Filipino indigenous artistry – extinction brought about by apathy. Said exhibition was a highlight of the Manila FAME Design and Lifestyle Event 2012 and showcased the rich and colourful heritage of Schools of Living Tradition.

As a sign of gratitude for advancing IP concerns, the cultural communities of Mindanao adopted Sen. Legarda as “Bae Matumpis,” which means “The one who takes care”. 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.

The Panay-Bukidnon from Visayas declared Sen. Legarda as a “daughter of Panay-Bukidnon” and gave her the name “Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan”, which translates to “shining sun rising in power”.

Sen. Legarda was also named by the Cordillera Indigenous Elected Women Leaders’ League as “Tukwifi” which means “Bright Star”.

Loren graduated valedictorian in elementary school and completed her secondary schooling at the Assumption Convent. 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 was a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of lieutenant colonel, up until her promotion to colonel in 2018.

Legarda is a lifetime member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, an international organization that promotes academic excellence and encourages its members to be of service to others.