Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–“Thanks for the millions of stupid Filipinos who inspired this book.”
This was said in jest by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the launch of her new book “Stupid is Forever” at a bookstore in Quezon City Wednesday.
The 132-page book features a collection of jokes, speeches, and pick-up lines delivered by the feisty senator.
During the launch, she did not make a long speech saying that “I’m not yet being introduced as the president in 2016.”
The audience was mostly composed of students, armed with monopods and digital cameras. They took photos of and selfies with Santiago.
Some fans of Santiago lined up as early as 10 a.m. in order to get a copy of her book.
Santiago said that she wrote the book in order to humor in a “humorless” society plagued with economic and political ills.
“Everything is taken very seriously and at the same time, we do not get to the truth of the matter. So sometimes, a joke is better than a punchline because it humanizes the situation. If we take ourselves less seriously, then the public debate will be much better to take our insights,” she said.
The lady senator also emphasized the need to use humor in order to immerse with the masses.
“Mas mabuti pa na magpakumbaba sa madla para magkaintindihan tayong lahat sa ating kultura. In our own indigenous method of using humor, we can see the situation better,” she added.
She was floored with the turnout of people who showed up on her book launch, adding that she scolded the students who cut their classes in order to have their books signed.
“Nakakatuwa na nagpapatunay ito sa sinasabi ko na sa halip na mag-lecture nang mag-lecture at mag-orate sa taumbayan ay mabuti pa na idaan na lang sa pabiro. Dahil diyan nagkakaintindihan tayong mga Pilipino because we all have a great sense of humor” Santiago said.