Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago remained positive despite losing in her third attempt at the presidency as she issued her first statement urging her followers to “cheer up.” She was quoted as saying “Cheer up, people! Ganiyan lang talaga ang buhay. The night is darkest just before the sun rises,” Santiago said in her Facebook page Wednesday morning.
The feisty senator who became the most favorite presidential candidate by most students from different parts of the country is currently battling with lung cancer also stated that as long as she and her supporters stand for something, all their energy and time are not lost, the senator said.
Sen. Santiago also noted on her Facebook post that her candidacy had not been futile. Instead of holding a grand press conference for her concession she tap her social media account to announce that she concedes and hopes the best will come to the Filipino people.
The senator has a huge social media following as she boasts with at least 3.6 million Likes in her Facebook Page and 2.59 million followers on Twitter.
Sen. Miriam Santiago barely placed in pre-election polls conducted by Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations but was the top choice in various universities nationwide. She first ran for president in 1992, when she was just 46 but lost to former President Fidel V. Ramos.
Sen. MDS ran again in 1998 but placed 7th out of 10 in the race that was won by popular actor and then vice president Joseph Estrada.