Loren, Loren 'sinta' of San Pablo
MANILA, Philippines - Senator Loren Legarda marked her 50th birthday last Jan. 30 with a unique “People’s Day” celebration.
The event featured a job fair, free haircut, eyeglasses and medical and dental services plus environmental education for thousands of well-wishers in San Pablo Central Elementary School in San Pablo City, Laguna, her father’s hometown.
Students from various schools (including winners in the recent coconut festival) performed pop songs and folk dances. The lady senator went up on stage and sang Karen Carpenter’s song I Won’t Last a Day Without You to the delight of the crowd.
“This special day of my life I share with you my kababayan of San Pablo City and Laguna province, not only as a celebration but more as a day of public service. My whole life I have dedicated to public service and to hopes of helping change our nation with dynamic socio-economic reforms. Thank you for sharing my dream of a better, more green and progressive Philippine society,” says Senator Legarda, an award-winning TV host, journalist, now top legislator, international environmental advocate and vice-presidential candidate.
Senator Legarda also announced that her bill on additional benefits for senior citizens was recently passed which shall exempt senior citizens from the VAT tax. Loren is principal author of the bill along with Senator Pia Cayetano.
Old residents fondly remember Loren’s late great-grandfather Potenciano Cabrera, who once served as mayor of San Pablo City, which is famous for its beautiful seven lakes and popular buko pie.
The “People’s Day” was graced by Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manny Villar, her Nationalist People’s Coalition president, the 87-year-old Frisco San Juan, former TV host and now Nacionalista senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla, and many others.
