The UP Mindanao community is saddened at the passing of former senator Santanina Rasul. Senator Rasul was among the co-authors of the counterpart Senate bill for creating UP Mindanao.
Historian Agnes Togon, in her manuscript, “The U.P. Mindanao Story,” has the following entries documenting the participation of Senator Rasul.
“The UPAA Davao hosted the 12th U.P. Alumni Institute, held on November 24 and 25, 1989, at the Davao Insular Inter-Continental Inn (now Waterfront). The keynote speaker was Senator Vicente T. Paterno, while Senator Santanina Rasul, Secretary of Agrarian Reform Miriam Santiago, and U.P President Jose Abueva were among the guests. With about 300 alumni in attendance, President Abueva was faced with a strong and united voice, supported by media and business sectors, in a clamor for a resolution for the promotion and establishment of a U.P. unit in Davao City, which was unanimously approved by the Institute during the Closing Plenary Session on November 25, 1989.”
“On October 12, 1990, Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, held a Public Hearing on a U.P. in Mindanao at the Davao Chamber Kalakalan Hall, after which Senator Angara and Senator Santanina Rasul met the UP alumni at Davao Beach Club to continue the discussion. The alumni group was composed of UPAA Davao president Sebastian Angliongto, Aida L. Reyes, Gladys SJ Tiongco, Tessie L. Abesamis, John Y. Gaisano Jr, Bien Garcia, Agnes S. Togon, Heidi Gloria, Peping Capili, Dr. Ting Tiongco, and others.”
“In the Ninth Congress (1992-1995), as Rep. Elias B. Lopez introduced House Bill No. 13382, `An Act Establishing the University of the Philippines in Mindanao,’ the Senate Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture, with Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Orlando Mercado, Edgardo Angara, Leticia Shahani, Agapito Aquino, Alberto Romulo, Joey Lina Jr, and Santanina Rasul, as authors, likewise passed Senate S. No. 2051, known as the “ University of the Philippines in Mindanao Act.” This was approved on the Third Reading on Feb.13, 1995.”
Image from the UP Alumni Association: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14u6WU7Pg1/