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Sarah Elago

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Ibañez and the surname or paternal family name is Elago.
Sarah Elago
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Kabataan Party-list
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Personal details
Born
Sarah Jane Ibañez Elago

(1989-10-18) October 18, 1989 (age 35)
Las Piñas, Philippines[1]
Political partyGabriela (2024–present)
Makabayan (2016–present)
Other political
affiliations		Kabataan (until 2024)
Alma mater

Sarah Jane Ibañez Elago (born October 18, 1989) is a Filipino activist and politician who served as the representative for Kabataan Party-list from 2016 to 2022. During her tenure, she was the youngest female member of the House of Representatives.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Elago served as the national president of the National Union of Students in the Philippines and was active in student activism. During her congressional tenure, she sat as a member of the House minority bloc and supported the franchise renewal for broadcast network ABS-CBN.

After leaving Congress, Elago remained active in the Makabayan Coalition and was among those who filed the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. In 2025, she unsuccessfully sought a return to the House of Representatives as the first nominee of the Gabriela Women's Party, which lost its sole seat in the lower chamber.

Early life and education

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Elago was born on October 18, 1989, in Manila. As a child, she stuttered and found it difficult to speak to others.[2] She learned to manage the disability by joining drama clubs, singing, and reading out loud. She would eventually study at the University of the Philippines Diliman, graduating cum laude with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management.[3]

While in UP, she was a member of The UP Repertory Company (UP Rep), UP Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (lit. 'UP Filipino Contemporary Gamelan'), a theater arts performing group, and a student councilor for two years.[3] Elago was also involved in youth sectoral politics and activism, becoming a coordinator for Youth Vote Philippines and Rock the Vote Philippines, an officer in the International Youth Council, and a member of the Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights - National Youth Committee in 2013. She was also the national president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines, and a national convenor for the Rise for Education Alliance and Youth for Accountability and Truth Now.[citation needed]

House of Representatives (2016–2022)

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Elections

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In her campaigns Kabataan Party-list in 2016, Elago campaigned for the advancement of a "youth agenda", as well as for free education, free internet access, and gender equality.[4] She was re-elected in 2019.

In 2025, Elago sought to return to the House of Representatives as the first nominee of the Gabriela Women's Party.[5] During her campaign, Elago voiced support for Rita Daniela who filed lascivious behavior complaint against her co-Kapuso actor, Archie Alemania with the Bacoor City Prosecutor’s Office. She also asked the Sparkle GMA Artist Center to suspend the respondent, as she condemned all sexual harassment in workplaces, invoking thereby the Safe Spaces Act or "Bawal Bastos Law".[6]

Tenure

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During her tenure, Elago served as a member of the minority for 12 house committees, including Youth and Sports Development, Women and Gender Equality, and Higher and Technical Education.[7] Elago has authored 257 house measures and was a co-author for eight.

In the 18th Congress, Elago authored 426 bills.[8] During the May 2019 School Strike for Climate, Elago joined youth protesters calling for a rejection of government proposals that could have detrimental effects on the environment.[9]

Elago supported the franchise renewal for broadcast network ABS-CBN.[10][11] She was also among the representatives that opposed House Bill No. 78 allowing for 100 percent foreign ownership in power, transport, and communications sectors in the Philippines.[12]

Post-congressional career

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On December 4, 2024, Elago and 74 others filed the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, submitting one article of impeachment: betrayal of public trust.[13][14]

Public profile

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Elago was the youngest female member of the House of Representatives during her tenure, having served from ages 26 to 33.[15][8] Besides being the youngest lawmaker, she is also the poorest lawmaker with a net worth of ₱85,400 based on her 2018 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).[16][17] She was also the poorest in 2017 with a net worth of ₱75,800.

Personal life

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Elago is the founding president of the Philippine Stuttering Association, an advocacy group that supports people who stutter.[2] She has also shown support to breast cancer warriors and survivors by donating her hair.[18]

References

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  1. ^ https://comelec.gov.ph/php-tpls-attachments/2025NLE/COC_2025NLE/COC_Partylist162/46.%20GABRIELA.pdf
  2. ^ a b "Woman shares how she cured own stuttering". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Victoria, Lhealyn (2016-05-26). "Sarah Elago | 'The youth must be leaders of today'". Bulatlat. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  4. ^ Beltran, Michael (April 30, 2019). "Sarah Elago, the Youngest Lawmaker in the Philippines, Challenges Duterte's Boys Club". The News Lens International Edition. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Buan, Lian. "Sarah Elago seeks House return via Gabriela, vows push for divorce". Rappler. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  6. ^ "Gabriela supports Rita Daniela, calls for stronger protection vs sexual harassment". Politiko. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP - Hon. Elago, Sarah Jane I." House of Representatives. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Sarah Elago of Kabataan Partylist tells us why being woke is not enough". Scout Magazine. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  9. ^ "In photos: Filipino youth rally for climate justice". Rappler. 2019-05-25. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  10. ^ Maru, Davinci (2021-07-09). "Brave 11: Solons who voted for ABS-CBN's franchise renewal". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  11. ^ Hitosis, Jet (2021-07-10). "ABS-CBN franchise renewal timeline; how much income did ABS-CBN lose in 2020?". PEP. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  12. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (February 20, 2020). "'PH for sale': Solons hit move to allow foreign ownership of public utilities". Inquirer. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  13. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (December 4, 2024). "VP Sara Duterte faces 2nd impeachment rap". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Manila, Philippines: INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  14. ^ De Leon, Dwight (December 4, 2024). "Sara Duterte slapped with second impeachment complaint". Rappler. Manila, Philippines: Rappler Inc. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Cupin, Bea (23 March 2018). "Sarah Elago on why being young and being a dissenter matters". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  16. ^ "Kabataan Rep. Elago, pinakamahirap na kongresista | Abante TNT Breaking News". Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  17. ^ "Kabataan party-list rep still House's poorest lawmaker". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  18. ^ "Sarah Elago nagpaikli ng buhok para sa nanay, kanser | Abante TNT Breaking News". Retrieved 2020-03-08.
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