Former senator Nina Rasul, 94

MANILA, Philippines — Santanina Rasul, the country’s first Muslim woman senator, passed away on Nov. 28, the Senate announced yesterday. She was 94.

“Nina Rasul, as she was fondly called, made history as the first Muslim woman to serve in the Philippine Senate and the first Muslim senator to win re-election. Her life was a testament to her tireless dedication to public service, and her commitment to the empowerment of women and marginalized communities, particularly Filipino Muslims,” Senate spokesman Arnel Jose Bañas said.

“Her Senate career was marked by her steadfast commitment to advancing civil service and education reforms, promoting women’s and minority rights and fostering peace in her homeland,” he added.

Among the landmark laws Rasul authored are Republic Act 6850, which grants civil service eligibility to government employees who have worked in a career civil service position for at least seven years; RA 6949, which declared March 8 as National Women’s Day; RA 7192, which dismantled gender discrimination, opened the doors of the Philippine Military Academy to women and allocated funds for women in all government agencies and RA 7168, which elevated the Philippine Normal College to Philippine Normal University.

During her tenure at the Senate from 1987 to 1992 and from 1992 to 1995, she authored eight laws as chairperson of the Senate committee on civil service and government recognition and the committee on women and family relations.

After her stint at the Senate, she led the Magbassa Kita Foundation (Let Us Read), a program to uplift communities through literacy.

Before she was a senator, Rasul was a technical assistant to the Office of the President from 1963 to 1964; barrio councilor at Moore Avenue, Jolo, Sulu from 1960 to 1961 and 1962 to 1963; member of the Provincial Board of Sulu from 1971 to 1976; commissioner representing Muslim and other ethics minorities from 1978 to 1987 and subsequently in 1986 became a member of the Board at Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports; Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO during the International Literacy year in 1990.

The Philippine flag of the Senate was flown at half-mast yesterday to mark her passing.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ambassador Abraham Rasul Sr., with whom she had six children.

Senate President Francis Escudero said Rasul “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.”

Rasul was also a key member of the first post-EDSA Senate, which played a critical role in restoring democratic institutions, Escudero said.

Rasul was part of the historic peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front as a member of the government peace panel during the administration of the late former president Fidel Ramos, Escudero added.

“On behalf of the Senate of the Philippines, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Sen. Rasul, her loved ones and the communities she served with dedication and compassion. May she rest in peace,” Escudero said.

Sen. Robin Padilla paid tribute to his fellow Muslim senator.

“She 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,” Padilla said.

“To God we belong, and to God we will return,” he added.