Former Sen. Santanina Rasul passed away on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. Photo from her daughter Amina Rasul's Facebook post

MANILA — Former senator Santanina Rasul passed away on Thursday night, her daughter Amina Rasul announced on Facebook on Friday. She was 94.

Amina said the former legislator "left us peacefully last night and has returned to Allah," without giving other details.

"This is how I will remember her - a gentle soul, proud of her heritage and her peoples and unafraid to fight for her convictions and advocacies," Amina said.

According to her Senate profile, Rasul was born on September 14, 1930 in Siasi, Sulu.

She graduated valedictorian at Laum, Tabawan Elementary School in south Ubian, Tawi-Tawi in 1941 and first honor at Sulu High School in Jolo, Sulu in 1948. 

She obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, cum laude, at the University of the Philippines in 1952.

After graduating from UP, Rasul worked as a public school teacher. In 1960, she entered politics after getting elected as barrio councilor at Moore Avenue, Jolo, Sulu for two terms. 

"She was an educator at heart since she graduated from UP, even when she served in the Senate. I remember her taking a bus to travel - after we had lost everything during the Jolo Siege - just to train teachers who wanted to learn how to teach adult illiterates," her daughter said.

Rasul was elected senator from 1987 to 1992 and from 1992 to 1995.

"As a lawmaker she authored eight laws as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Recognition and the Committee on Women and Family Relations," her Senate profile said.

Rasul's remains will be brought to the Blue Mosque in Taguig on Saturday noon.

After there, the remains will be flown to Jolo "where she will lie beside Papa."