Roseller T. Lim

Roseller Lim was born to Antonio Lim and Mercedes Tarroza. He earned his Associate in Arts (AA) program in History & law degree from Silliman University 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.[1]

Lim was a member of the Nacionalista Party 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.[2] He 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 Labour Organization governing body in 1957.[4] 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.

Great filibuster

Senator Roseller Lim delivering a speech at the Senate floor

In April 1963, Liberal 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.[3]

Roseller Lim was the first and only politician from Zamboanga to be elected to the Philippine Senate.

On March 16, 1982, President Ferdinand Marcos signed the Batas Pambansa No. 183[5] creating the municipality of Roseller T. Lim in the province of Zamboanga del Sur (now in Zamboanga Sibugay) in honor of Lim.[6] A famous boulevard in Zamboanga City was named after the latter which has the view of Basilan Strait and the Sulu Sea beginning from the city proper to the industrial complex of the city.

In 2006, the Zamboanga City Council designated February 9 as ‘’Día de Roseller T. Lim’’ or Roseller T. Lim Day and a bronze monument was erected at the rotunda of Normal Road and the R. T. Lim Boulevard.