Senate honors 'most honest senator' Juan Flavier

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate on Monday paid tribute to the late and former Senator Juan Flavier, who was described as the "most honest senator."

In their eulogies for their departed colleague, senators remembered Flavier's integrity, humor and legacy as a legislator.

At age 79, Flavier died of organ failure due to pneumonia on October 30.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago recalled that Flavier was the only senator who spoke up and supported her when she denounced the corrupt pork barrel system earlier in her career.

"Juan Martin Flavier was my best friend in the Senate, and possibly the most honest senator I knew," said Santiago, who was a neophyte senator in 1995 like Flavier.

"When I was sometimes tired or bored or downhearted, I would saunter to Johnny's desk and engage him in a chat, confident that I was sharing a companionable time with an honest man; a good man; a great man," she added.

Senate President Franklin Drilon described Flavier as a "man for others" who had "nerves of steel and iron will" despite his diminutive size.

"Although he was the first one to make a joke of his height, Johnny was a giant of a man. His monumental achievements made him stand out from the rest," he said.

Drilon and other senators also recalled how Flavier brought laughter to those around him.

"Known for his quick wit, and ready repartee, he spared no one from his brand of humor. I can only imagine the chuckles he drew from people every time he referred to me as Mila's lechon," said Drilon, whose wife is named Mila.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan II said he also had "lethal exposure to the viral Flavier humor" while Sen. Serge Osmena remembered him as a simple person who "was always for the common man."

Senators Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, recalled how Flavier mentored them when they were neophytes at the Senate.

"He was a father to me but as a legislator, we complemented each other. We shared a common passion for healthcare," Cayetano said.

The Senate will adopt a resolution expressing sympathy and condolence to Flavier's family.

Resolution 1014, introduced by Drilon, cited Flavier's perfect attendance in sessions and his landmark laws that promoted public health care and disease prevention.

Born in Tondo but was raised in the Mountain Province, Flavier held various lowly jobs before earning his Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines in 1960 and Master's degree in Public Health from John Hopkins University in 1969.

He placed fifth in the 1995 senatorial elections and ranked second in his re-election in 2001.

Flavier served as chairman of the Senate committees on health and demography, education, arts and culture, cultural communities.

He was also a former health secretary known for his "yosi kadiri" campaign and his courageous advocacy for a reproductive health law.