Santanina Rasul
Senator Rasul was born on September 14, 1930 in Siasi, Sulu.
She graduated valedictorian at Laum, Tabawan Elementary School in south Ubian, Tawi-Tawi in 1941 and first honor at Sulu High School in Jolo, Sulu in 1948. She obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (cum laude) at the University of the Philippines in 1952. She acquired her Masteral degree in National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines in 1976 and doctoral units in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines in 1978.
Senator Rasul entered the public service when she became a Public school teacher in Siasi and Jolo from 1952 to 1957 and technical assistant to the Office of the President of the Philippines at MalacaƱang from 1963 to 1964. She was elected barrio councilor at Moore Avenue, Jolo, Sulu for two terms from 1960 to 1961 and from 1962 to 1963. From 1971 to 1976, she was elected member of the Provincial Board of Sulu. She became a Commissioner representing Muslim and other ethics minorities from 1978 to 1987 and subsequently in 1986 became a member of the Board at Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. In 1990, she was appointed Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO during the International Literacy year.
She was elected Senator from 1987 to 1992 and from 1992 to 1995. As a lawmaker she authored eight laws as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Recognition and the Committee on Women and Family Relations.
She married former Ambassador Abraham Rasul, with whom she has six children.