Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Following the success of Stupid is Forever, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday launched Stupid is Forevermore, the second installment in her best-selling collection of jokes, quotes, and anecdotes.
Santiago released the book in time for her 70th birthday. Stupid is Forevermore was produced by ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. and distributed exclusively by National Book Store.
“I was pleasantly surprised with the strong public support for Stupid is Forever, so I decided to publish a second book,” the senator said in a statement.
The first book has sold more than 350,000 copies so far, according to National Book Store.
Like Stupid is Forever, the 140-page Stupid is Forevermore highlights Santiago’s sharp wit and sometimes dark humor. The longest chapter in the second book, “Overheard at the Senate,” was culled from her privilege speeches and press conference transcripts.
“We should never underestimate the power of humor, especially among Filipinos, and most especially in politics. When the debates turn ugly or the legalese is too hifalutin, humor is a way for us all to see eye to eye,” Santiago said.
The senator nonetheless urged the public to remain wary of politicians who always resort to jokes in order to evade serious questions.
“Humor has its limits; those who overly use it show that they should not be taken seriously as public servants,” said Santiago, who remains on medical leave due to stage 4 lung cancer.