Santanina Rasul, first Muslim woman senator, dies
(UPDATE) SANTANINA Tillah Rasul, the country's first Muslim woman senator, died Thursday at the age of 94. Secretary Almarim Centi Tillah, the Presidential Adviser for Muslim Affairs and Rasul's younger brother, shared the news of her death with The Manila Times on Friday. Tillah said Rasul's remains will be taken to Jolo, Sulu, where she will be buried next to her husband, Abraham Rasul, who served as the former Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Muslim civic leader and The Manila Times columnist Samira Gutoc said Rasul's remains will be brought first to a mosque in Taguig City before being flown to Jolo. The Rasul couple had six children. Santanina Tillah Rasul, the country's first Muslim senator, died on Thursday night, aged 94. PHOTO FROM FB PAGE OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR MUSLIM AFFAIRS AL TILLAH Born Santanina Centi Tillah on Sept. 14, 1930, in Siasi, Sulu, Rasul's journey is marked by consistent achievement. She excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian of Laum Tabawan Elementary School in 1941 and earning first honors at Sulu High School in 1948. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines, graduating cum laude in 1952. She pursued a master's degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines in 1976, and completed doctoral units in Public Administration at UP in 1978. Rasul's career in public service spans several decades. She began her journey as a public school teacher in Siasi and Jolo from 1952 to 1957, later serving as a technical assistant to the Office of the President of the Philippines from 1963 to 1964. She served two terms as a barrio councilor in Jolo from 1960 to 1961 and from 1962 to 1963. She served on the Sulu provincial board from 1971 to 1976. She was appointed as a commissioner representing Muslim and other ethnic minorities from 1978 to 1987. She became a member of the board at the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports in 1986. She was appointed honorary ambassador of Unesco during the International Literacy Year 1990. Rasul's entered the political arena when she was elected senator from 1987 to 1992 and from 1992 to 1995. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Recognition and the Committee on Women and Family Relations, she authored eight laws. She founded the Magbassa Kita Foundation, which is dedicated to providing non-formal education to older adults who have missed formal schooling. The program empowered thousands of Filipinos — particularly in rural, indigenous, and Muslim Mindanao communities — by equipping them with essential reading, writing and arithmetic skills. Rasul was deeply committed to civil service reform and advocated for the rights of government employees. In recognition of her dedication, she received the prestigious Tandang Sora Award in 2019. "Nina Rasul leaves an indelible mark on the countless lives she touched through her decades of public service and unrelenting advocacy. Her memory will forever inspire those who strive for equality, education, and peace," the family said. Writing on Facebook on Friday, Rasul's grandson, Ibba Rasul Bernardo, said her grandmother "excelled in everything she put her mind to — civil servant, champion of Muslim and women's rights, teacher — but to me, where she truly shined was as my Grandma." Former senator Leila de Lima condoled with the Rasul family. "May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her extraordinary legacy continue to inspire. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and loved ones during this time of immense loss. May you find solace in the love and cherished memories she leaves behind," de Lima wrote on Facebook. House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Friday described Rasul as "a faithful public servant. She pushed for laws that supported the rights of Muslims and women which paved the way for their more active participation in various fields." Hataman said one of the laws that Rasul supported was Republic Act 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act. RA 7192 "opened the doors of the Philippine Military Academy to women and mandated that part of the government's funds be appropriated to programs that benefit women," Hataman said. Rasul was among the principal authors of Republic Act 6949 which declared March 8 as National Women's Day, he said. "Ang kanyang mga kontribusyon sa larangan ng edukasyon, karapatan ng kababaihan at kapayapaan ay nagsilbing inspirasyon sa marami, kasama na ang representasyong ito (Her contributions in the field of education, women's rights and peace served as inspiration to many, including this representation)," Hataman said. Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Rasul. "Her historic role as the first Muslim woman in the Philippine Senate and her tireless advocacy for education, women's rights, and marginaliz
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
(UPDATE) SANTANINA Tillah Rasul, the country's first Muslim woman senator, died Thursday at the age of 94.
Secretary Almarim Centi Tillah, the Presidential Adviser for Muslim Affairs and Rasul's younger brother, shared the news of her death with The Manila Times on Friday.
Tillah said Rasul's remains will be taken to Jolo, Sulu, where she will be buried next to her husband, Abraham Rasul, who served as the former Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Muslim civic leader and The Manila Times columnist Samira Gutoc said Rasul's remains will be brought first to a mosque in Taguig City before being flown to Jolo.
The Rasul couple had six children. Santanina Tillah Rasul, the country's first Muslim senator, died on Thursday night, aged 94. PHOTO FROM FB PAGE OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR MUSLIM AFFAIRS AL TILLAH
Born Santanina Centi Tillah on Sept. 14, 1930, in Siasi, Sulu, Rasul's journey is marked by consistent achievement.
She excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian of Laum Tabawan Elementary School in 1941 and earning first honors at Sulu High School in 1948.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines, graduating cum laude in 1952.
She pursued a master's degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines in 1976, and completed doctoral units in Public Administration at UP in 1978.
Rasul's career in public service spans several decades. She began her journey as a public school teacher in Siasi and Jolo from 1952 to 1957, later serving as a technical assistant to the Office of the President of the Philippines from 1963 to 1964.
She served two terms as a barrio councilor in Jolo from 1960 to 1961 and from 1962 to 1963. She served on the Sulu provincial board from 1971 to 1976.
She was appointed as a commissioner representing Muslim and other ethnic minorities from 1978 to 1987. She became a member of the board at the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports in 1986.
She was appointed honorary ambassador of Unesco during the International Literacy Year 1990.
Rasul's entered the political arena when she was elected senator from 1987 to 1992 and from 1992 to 1995.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Recognition and the Committee on Women and Family Relations, she authored eight laws.
She founded the Magbassa Kita Foundation, which is dedicated to providing non-formal education to older adults who have missed formal schooling.
The program empowered thousands of Filipinos — particularly in rural, indigenous, and Muslim Mindanao communities — by equipping them with essential reading, writing and arithmetic skills.
Rasul was deeply committed to civil service reform and advocated for the rights of government employees. In recognition of her dedication, she received the prestigious Tandang Sora Award in 2019.
"Nina Rasul leaves an indelible mark on the countless lives she touched through her decades of public service and unrelenting advocacy. Her memory will forever inspire those who strive for equality, education, and peace," the family said.
Writing on Facebook on Friday, Rasul's grandson, Ibba Rasul Bernardo, said her grandmother "excelled in everything she put her mind to — civil servant, champion of Muslim and women's rights, teacher — but to me, where she truly shined was as my Grandma."
Former senator Leila de Lima condoled with the Rasul family. "May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her extraordinary legacy continue to inspire. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and loved ones during this time of immense loss. May you find solace in the love and cherished memories she leaves behind," de Lima wrote on Facebook.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Friday described Rasul as "a faithful public servant. She pushed for laws that supported the rights of Muslims and women which paved the way for their more active participation in various fields."
Hataman said one of the laws that Rasul supported was Republic Act 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act.
RA 7192 "opened the doors of the Philippine Military Academy to women and mandated that part of the government's funds be appropriated to programs that benefit women," Hataman said.
Rasul was among the principal authors of Republic Act 6949 which declared March 8 as National Women's Day, he said.
"Ang kanyang mga kontribusyon sa larangan ng edukasyon, karapatan ng kababaihan at kapayapaan ay nagsilbing inspirasyon sa marami, kasama na ang representasyong ito (Her contributions in the field of education, women's rights and peace served as inspiration to many, including this representation)," Hataman said.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Rasul.
"Her historic role as the first Muslim woman in the Philippine Senate and her tireless advocacy for education, women's rights, and marginalized communities will forever be remembered as a source of pride and inspiration for our people," Adiong said.
