MANILA, Philippines (May 17)—In a deeply symbolic act of student dissent, students of Assumption College removed the portrait of veteran lawmaker Loren Legarda from the school’s Wall of Empowered Women, declaring that her recent political actions no longer embody the values of integrity, accountability, and justice that the institution seeks to uphold.
The move exposed the widening collision between a younger generation demanding moral accountability from public officials and the shifting political alliances now reshaping the Senate.
The decision, announced by the Assumption Student Council through a public statement, carried symbolic weight against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting political climate surrounding the Senate leadership change and the looming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“While we acknowledge Senator Legarda’s contributions through the years, recent actions have caused deep concern among many students and members of the Assumption community,” the student council said.
The council emphasized that the removal of Legarda’s portrait “was rooted not in hostility, but in accountability, integrity and fidelity to the values Assumption seeks to instill in every Assumptionista.”
Legarda, one of the country’s most recognizable female political figures, has long built a national reputation as an advocate for climate action, women empowerment, cultural preservation, education, and environmental protection. Over decades in public service, she authored and sponsored major legislation on disaster resilience, ecological governance, children’s welfare, and cultural heritage conservation.
She also became the first Filipino woman to top a senatorial election twice and has consistently maintained strong public recognition as one of the country’s most influential women in politics.
But the student council’s statement suggested that legacy alone was no longer enough for a younger generation increasingly demanding moral consistency and institutional accountability from public officials.
The controversy erupted following the dramatic Senate leadership transition on May 11, where Senate President Vicente Sotto III was replaced by Alan Peter Cayetano amid mounting political tensions tied to the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte.
Student leaders said the timing of the political realignment alarmed them because it coincided with preparations for the Senate’s handling of the Articles of Impeachment involving allegations of grave misuse of confidential funds and betrayal of public trust.
Without directly accusing Legarda of wrongdoing, the council called on the senator to “reflect on past actions and reaffirm commitment to justice and accountability.”
The removal of the portrait marked a rare and highly symbolic act from a school that once celebrated Legarda as a model of female leadership and public service.
Political observers said the incident reflects a deeper shift in how younger Filipinos evaluate political figures not only through legislative accomplishments and public image, but through perceived ethical positioning during moments of national political crisis.
For decades, Loren Legarda represented empowerment, environmental leadership, and the rise of women in governance.
But inside the halls of her alma mater, students are now asking a more difficult question: whether legacy alone can survive the weight of present political choices.-Editha Z Caduaya
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
