Roseller T. Lim
Encyclopedia
Roseller Tarroza Lim was a Filipino
politician
who served as a member of the Senate and House of Representatives from 1949 to 1963. He also served as Court of Appeals
Justice from his appointment in 1973 until his death. Lim was known as the "Great Filibuster," after he filibuster
ed for more than 18 hours in an attempt to prevent the election of Ferdinand Marcos
as President of the Senate
.
in 1940, and passed the bar
the same year. He married Amy Schuck of Jolo, Sulu
and had five children — Rosamy, Mercibel, Victoria, Roseller Jr., and Amy. Lim was the first Senator
to served from the city of Zamboanga
.
and was first elected as representative of the Lone District of Zamboanga in 1949
. In his first term in office, he authored the law that divided the province of Zamboanga
into the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte
and Zamboanga del Sur
. He successfully won another term in 1953
, this time as representative of the Lone District of Zamboanga del Sur. Halfway through his term, he ran and won as senator in 1955
, to complete the unexpired two years of Carlos P. Garcia
's term, who was elected Vice President
in 1953. Lim was instrumental in the election of the Philippines
into the International Labor Organization governing body in 1957. He won reelection in 1957
for a full six-year term, but lost in his bid for another term in 1963
. Lim also authored the Barrio Charter Law, which served as the basis of the current barangay
governments.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos
contested the presidency of the Senate
against long-time Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez
of the Nacionalista Party
. The Senate was then composed of 12 Liberals, 10 Nacionalistas and two independents who caucus with the latter. Shortly before the Senate adjourned, Lim took the floor to buy time to wait for the arrival from the United States
, of fellow Nacionalista Senator Alejandro Almendras. Lim had to stand the entire time, leaning only on the podium on occasions. He only had water nearby to sustain him and was even prohibited from going to the comfort room; forcing him to relieve in his pants. Upon learning of Almendras' arrival in the session hall, Lim ended his filibustering after 18 hours and 30 minutes. Immediately after he was able to cast his vote for Rodriguez, Lim was carried out of the session hall on a stretcher due to exhaustion. Only to find out later that Almendras voted for Marcos.
to be elected to the Philippine Senate
.
In March 16, 1982, President Ferdinand Marcos
signed the Republic Act No. 183 creating the municipality of Roseller T. Lim
in the province of Zamboanga del Sur
(now in Zamboanga Sibugay
) in honor of Lim. A famous boulevard in Zamboanga City
was named after the latter which has the view of the beautiful Basilan Strait and the Sulu Sea beginning from the city proper to the industrial complex of the city.
In 2006, the Zamboanga City Council
approved Ordinance Number 283 designating February 9 as "Dia de Roseller T. Lim" (Roseller T. Lim Day) and a bronze monument was carved at the rotunda of the Normal Road and the R. T. Lim Boulevard.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as a member of the Senate and House of Representatives from 1949 to 1963. He also served as Court of Appeals
Philippine Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of the Philippines is the Philippines' second highest judicial court, just after the Supreme Court. The court consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Justice...
Justice from his appointment in 1973 until his death. Lim was known as the "Great Filibuster," after he filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
ed for more than 18 hours in an attempt to prevent the election of Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
as President of the Senate
President of the Senate of the Philippines
The President of the Senate of the Philippines, or more popularly known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer and the highest ranking-official of the Senate of the Philippines. He/she is elected by the entire body to be their leader...
.
Personal life
Roseller Lim was born to Antonio Lim and Mercedes Tarroza. He earned his law degree from Silliman UniversitySilliman University
Silliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
in 1940, and passed the bar
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
the same year. He married Amy Schuck of Jolo, Sulu
Jolo, Sulu
Jolo is a municipality on the island of Jolo, and the capital and largest town of the province of Sulu. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 87,998 people in 12,814 households. Part of its population is of Chinese descent, mainly from Singapore...
and had five children — Rosamy, Mercibel, Victoria, Roseller Jr., and Amy. Lim was the first Senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
to served from the city of Zamboanga
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
.
Political career
Lim was a member of the Nacionalista PartyNacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
and was first elected as representative of the Lone District of Zamboanga in 1949
Philippine general election, 1949
Elections for the members of the Senate were held on November 8, 1949 in the Philippines. While President Elpidio Quirino won a full term as President of the Philippines after the death of President Manuel Roxas in 1948, and his running mate, Senator Fernando Lopez won as Vice President, their...
. In his first term in office, he authored the law that divided the province of Zamboanga
Zamboanga (province)
Zamboanga is a former province of the Philippines located in the western region of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.-Creation:During the time of the United States' purchase of the Philippines of 1898, the Republic of Zamboanga had its own independence and jurisdiction on what is now...
into the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Norte or simply known as ZANORTE is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south and Misamis Occidental to the east...
and Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the capital...
. He successfully won another term in 1953
Philippine general election, 1953
Elections for the members of the Senate were held on November 10, 1953 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Elpidio Quirino of the Liberal Party lost his opportunity to get a second full term as President of the Philippines to former Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay of the Nacionalista Party....
, this time as representative of the Lone District of Zamboanga del Sur. Halfway through his term, he ran and won as senator in 1955
Philippine general election, 1955
A senatorial election in the Philippines was held on November 8, 1955. The 1955 elections were known as a midterm election as the date when the winners take office falls half-way through President Ramon Magsaysay's four-year term. Since Magsaysay was very popular midway through his term, there...
, to complete the unexpired two years of Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
's term, who was elected Vice President
Vice President of the Philippines
-Description:The Vice-President is the first in the Philippine line of succession, assuming the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal by impeachment and subsequent conviction of the incumbent. The position was abolished by Martial Law in 1972, and was not included in the original text...
in 1953. Lim was instrumental in the election of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
into the International Labor Organization governing body in 1957. He won reelection in 1957
Philippine general election, 1957
Senatorial elections were held on November 12, 1957 in the Philippines. The Nacionalista Party, despite losing two seats to the Liberal Party still held the Senate with twenty seats. The Liberals who won were actor Rogelio de la Rosa and former basketball player Ambrosio Padilla.-See...
for a full six-year term, but lost in his bid for another term in 1963
Philippine general election, 1963
A senatorial election was held on November 12, 1963 in the Philippines. The 1963 elections were known as a midterm election as the date when the elected officials take office falls half-way through President Diosdado Macapagal's four-year term....
. Lim also authored the Barrio Charter Law, which served as the basis of the current barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
governments.
Great filibuster
In April 1963, LiberalLiberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
Senator Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
contested the presidency of the Senate
President of the Senate of the Philippines
The President of the Senate of the Philippines, or more popularly known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer and the highest ranking-official of the Senate of the Philippines. He/she is elected by the entire body to be their leader...
against long-time Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez
Eulogio Rodriguez
Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodríguez, Sr. was a Filipino politician, the longest serving Senate President after Manuel L...
of the Nacionalista Party
Nacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
. The Senate was then composed of 12 Liberals, 10 Nacionalistas and two independents who caucus with the latter. Shortly before the Senate adjourned, Lim took the floor to buy time to wait for the arrival from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, of fellow Nacionalista Senator Alejandro Almendras. Lim had to stand the entire time, leaning only on the podium on occasions. He only had water nearby to sustain him and was even prohibited from going to the comfort room; forcing him to relieve in his pants. Upon learning of Almendras' arrival in the session hall, Lim ended his filibustering after 18 hours and 30 minutes. Immediately after he was able to cast his vote for Rodriguez, Lim was carried out of the session hall on a stretcher due to exhaustion. Only to find out later that Almendras voted for Marcos.
Legacy
Roseller Lim was the first and only politician from ZamboangaZamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga Peninsula / Western Mindanao is a peninsula and an administrative region in the Philippines. Designated as Region IX, the region consists of three provinces, namely, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, its component cities of Dipolog, Dapitan, Pagadian, and...
to be elected to the Philippine Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
.
In March 16, 1982, President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
signed the Republic Act No. 183 creating the municipality of Roseller T. Lim
Roseller Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay
Roseller Lim is a 4th class municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 34,152 people in 6,478 households...
in the province of Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the capital...
(now in Zamboanga Sibugay
Zamboanga Sibugay
Zamboanga Sibugay is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil and it borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga del Sur to the east and Zamboanga City to the southwest. To the south lies Sibuguey Bay in the Moro Gulf...
) in honor of Lim. A famous boulevard in Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
was named after the latter which has the view of the beautiful Basilan Strait and the Sulu Sea beginning from the city proper to the industrial complex of the city.
In 2006, the Zamboanga City Council
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
approved Ordinance Number 283 designating February 9 as "Dia de Roseller T. Lim" (Roseller T. Lim Day) and a bronze monument was carved at the rotunda of the Normal Road and the R. T. Lim Boulevard.