At some point in your life, you'll watch a Senate hearing, shake your head, and mutter: Where did these people study? This is the answer.

We surveyed Philippine senators in recent history (from the 10th to the current 17th Congress) and listed them according to their completed undergraduate degrees (or lack thereof). Further studies such as Masters and Doctorate degrees, as well as certificate couses are also indicated.



ILLUSTRATOR Jasrelle Serrano

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UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Heherson Alvarez

Liberal Arts

Masters in Economics and Public Administration, Harvard University

Edgardo Javier Angara

UP College of Law (1958)

University of Michigan Master of Law (1964)

Joker P. Arroyo*

Bachelor of Arts (1948)

UP College of Law (1952)

Also studied pre-law in Ateneo de Manila University; member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi

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Maria Lourdes Nancy Sombillo Binay

BS Tourism (1997)

Started as a culinary student

Alan Peter "Compañero" S. Cayetano

AB Political Science (1993)

Ateneo de Manila Law School (1997)

Received second honors in law school

Pia S. Cayetano

AB Economics (1985)

UP College of Law (1991)

Finished Cum Laude for her undergraduate degree; graduated law school with academic distinction, 7th in class and a member of the honor society

Renato L. Cayetano

AB Political Science

UP College of Law

Master of Public Administration, Master of Laws, Doctor of Laws, University of Michigan

Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng

AB Journalism

Also studied in St. Louis University as well as the Notre Dame College in the U.S.

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Miriam Defensor-Santiago

AB Political Science (1965)

UP College of Law (1969)

Master of Laws, University of Michigan (1975)

Doctor of Juridical Science, University of Michigan

Finished her undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude after 3.5 semesters; studied MA in Religious Studies at Maryhill School of Theology but didn't submit a final thesis

Franklin M. Drilon

Bachelor of Arts (1965)

UP College of Law (1969)

Ranked third in the 1969 Bar Examinations

Francis "Chiz" Escudero

AB Political Science (1985-1989)

UP College of Law (1989-1993)

Master of International and Comparative Law, Georgetown University (1995-1996)

Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada

AB Economics

Lyceum of the Philippines Law (1988 to 1992)

Did not take the Bar

Marcelo B. Fernan

Bachelor of Arts (1948)

UP College of Law (1952)

Master of Laws, Harvard University

Juan Flavier

Bachelor of Science (1956)

UP Medical School (1960)

Masters in Public Health, Johns Hopkins University (1969)

Loren B. Legarda

AB Broadcast Communications (1981)

Masters in National Security Administration, National Defense College of the Philippines (1993)

Graduated Cum Laude in U.P.; finished her masters with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel

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Orlando S. Mercado

AB Political Science

Master of Arts in Communication, University of the Philippines

Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Philippines

Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan

AB English

UP College of Law

Masters in Public Administration, Harvard University

Cynthia A. Villar

BS Business Administration (1970)

Masters in Business Administration, New York University (1972)

Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr.

BS Business Administration (1970)

Masters in Business Administration, University of the Philippines (1973)

Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri

BS Agribusiness Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Masters in Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of the Philippines Open University

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III

AB Economics (1977-1981)

Paolo Benigno "Bambam" Aquino IV

BS Management Engineering (1995-1999)

President of the student council Sanggunian ng Mga Mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Manila; graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian; studied at the Ateneo de Manila Law School (2000 to 2001) but did not graduate

Joker P. Arroyo*

Associate in Arts Pre-Law

UP College of Law (1952)

Also took a B.A. in the University of the Philippines

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Juan Ponce Enrile

Associate in Arts (1949)

UP College of Law (1953)

Awarded Cum Laude for both his undergraduate and law degrees; received a 91.72% rating in the Bar with a perfect score in Commercial Law; won the Harvard Law School Scholarship Award

Richard J. Gordon

AB History and Government (1966)

UP College of Law (1975)

Member of the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion

Teofisto Guingona Jr.

AB Economics and Law

Teofisto "TG" Guingona III

AB Economics (1981)

Ateneo de Manila Law School (1985)

Risa Hontiveros

AB Social Sciences (1987)

Graduated Cum Laude

Ernesto "Ernie" Maceda

Associate in Arts (1952)

Ateneo de Manila Law School (1956)

Master of Laws, Taxation, and International Law, Harvard Law School (1957)

Finished Magna Cum Laude in his AA degree

Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III

BS Mathematics (1981-1985)

UP College of Law (1985 to 1990)

Chess team varsity; topped the 1990 Bar exams

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

Leila de Lima

AB History and Political Science (1980)

San Beda College of Law (1985)

Law school class salutatorian and finished 8th in the Bar

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Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito

AB Political Science

Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay Jr.

BS Mechanical Engineering (1956-1961)

Post-graduate, Harvard Business School (1962-1963)

Graduate School of Business Administration, New York University (1963-1964)

Ralph G. Recto

BS Business Administration (1983-1987)

Candidate for Masters in Public Administration, University of the Philippines, and Strategic Business Economics, University of Asia and the Pacific

Alberto Romulo

BS Accounting (1954)

Bachelor of Laws, Manuel L. Quezon University (1958)

Doctor in Law, University of Madrid (1963)

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

Luisa “Loi” Ejercito-Estrada

Associate in Arts (1949)

UST College of Medicine (1954)

Joel Villanueva

BS Commerce (1996)

Masters in Business Administration, Harvard University (1996-1998)

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST

Manuel “Noli” De Castro

BS Commerce Major in Banking and Finance (1971)

Robert “Jawo” Jaworski

BS Business Administration (1967)

Basketball varsity

Alfredo Lim

BS Business Administration (1951)

University of the East Law School (1963)

Master of National Security Administration, National Defense College of the Philippines (1981)

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

Ramon Revilla Sr.

BS Commerce

COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN

Vicente C. Sotto III

AB English (1969)

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Freddie Webb

AB English

Basketball varsity

SAN BEDA COLLEGE

Raul Roco

AB English

San Beda College of Law

Graduated Cum Laude for his undergraduate degree; studied Comparative Law as a University Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, while also enrolled at the Wharton School

LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES

Robert Z. Barbers

AB Political Science (1981)

Lyceum of the Philippines Law School (1985)

Master of Science in Criminology, National Security Administration at the National Defense College (1992-1994)

Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson*

BS Engineering (1964-1967)

Masters in Government Management Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (1995-1996)

Went to the PMA

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE (FORMERLY ASSUMPTION CONVENT)

Teresa Aquino-Oreta*

AB Literature and History

Masters in National Security Administration, National Defense College of the Philippines

Took up International Studies in Spain

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

AB Economics (1968)

Masters in Economics, Ateneo de Manila University (1978)

Ph.D. Economics, University of the Philippines (1985)

Graduated Magna Cum Laude from her undergraduate degree; studied Economics in Georgetown for two years with eventual U.S. President Bill Clinton

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PHILIPPINE LAW SCHOOL

Neptali A. Gonzales

1949

Placed 9th in the bar with 92.50%

EDUCATIONAL CENTER OF ASIA

Blas F. Ople

Liberal Arts

Initially started his Liberal Arts degree at the University of the Philippines and Manuel L. Quezon University

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.

AB Law (1959)

UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS

John Henry Osmeña

BS Mechanical Engineering (1959)

Masters in Public Administration, University of the Philippines

Pursued further studies at the International Social Development Institution in Holland

UNIVERSITY OF VISAYAS

Ernesto Herrera

Pre-law (1959)

University of Visayas Bachelor of Laws (1966)

Masters in Public Administration (1995),

Doctor of Fiscal Studies (1998), Lyceum of the Philippines

Graduated Summa Cum Laude from his Masters and Magna Cum Laude from his doctorate

PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY

Rodolfo Biazon

1961

Gregorio B. Honasan II

1971

Masters in Business Management, Asian Institute of Management

Studied Economics in the University of the Philippines for two years; was class baron in the PMA; finished his Masters degree with distinction

Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson*

1967-1971

Masters in Government Management Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (1995-1996)

Took an undergraduate degree from the Lyceum of the Philippines

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Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV

BS Naval Systems (1991-1995)

Masters in Public Administration Major in Public Policy and Program Management, University of the Philippines (2000-2005)

Reached his fourth year as a BS ECE student of the De La Salle University; graduated Cum Laude and received awards for Mathematics and Physics from the PMA

INTERNATIONAL

Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara

BS Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (1991-1994)

UP College of Law (1995-2000)

Master of Law, Harvard Law School (2002-2003)

Finished second class honors in the London School of Economics and Political Science

Teresa Aquino-Oreta*

International Studies, Ciudad Ducal (Spain)

Masters in National Security Administration, National Defense College of the Philippines

Took up AB Literature and History in Assumption College

Sherwin Gatchalian

BS Finance and Operation Management, Boston University (1991-1995)

Studied at the Euromoney Institute of Finance and took language courses at the Beijing Language and Culture University in China

Jamby Madrigal

Economics and French, Santa Clara University (California)

Studied International and Development Economics in Yale University and took a course in Trade and Shipping from the University of Cambridge

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Grace L. Poe

AB Political Science (1991), Boston College

Studied development studies in the University of the Philippines before transferring to Boston College

Leticia Ramos-Shahani

AB English Literature, Wellesley College

Masters in Comparative Literature, Columbia University

Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative Literature, University of Paris

Manuel “Mar” Roxas II

BS Economics, Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania (1979)

DID NOT GRADUATE

Lito Lapid

Did not pursue a college degree to enter show business

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Special Diploma in Social Studies, Oxford University (1975-1981)

Graduate Coursework in Business Administration; Wharton School of Business (1979-1981)

Sergio Osmeña III

Took up subjects in Harvard University, Georgetown University, and the University of the Philippines, but did not complete a degree

Emmanuel "Manny" D. Pacquiao

Attended Notre Dame of Dadiangas University

Ramon "Bong" Revila Jr.

Fulfilled certificate courses on Special Local Chief Executive Program on Local Governance and Philippine Legislative Institutions and Processes from the Development Academy of the Philippines

Francisco "Kit" Tatad

Although already a successful journalist as an undergraduate in the University of Santo Tomas, Tatad, who was pursuing a Philosophy degree, dropped out after a misunderstanding regarding a symposium he organized. He took a Business Economics Certificate Course (finishing 33 units) at the Center of Research and Communication (now UA&P) and attended programs in Harvard University, Rand Graduate School, and Warwick University

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Sources:

www.senate.gov.ph; archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph; news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016; www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/data/candidates; and from the senators' individual websites.