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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-17/roseller-t-lim.webp" alt="Roseller Tarroza Lim" loading="lazy" />
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Roseller Tarroza Lim
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When Marcos bolted from the Liberals to the Nacionalistas to run as president in the 1965 election, Lim supported President <a href="/kauswagan/articles/645/today-in-philippine-history-september-28-1910-diosdado-p-macapagal-was-born-in-lubao-pampanga" class="news_link">Diosdado Macapagal</a> of the rival Liberal Party. When Marcos won the election, Lim transferred to the Liberals. In 1970, Lim was elected to the 1971 constitutional convention. In 1973, Marcos appointed Lim to the Court of Appeals.


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 filibustered for more than 18 hours in an attempt to prevent the election of <a href="/kauswagan/articles/595/today-in-philippine-history-september-11-1917-ferdinand-e-marcos-was-born-in-sarrat-ilocos-norte" class="news_link">Ferdinand E. Marcos</a> as President of the Senate.


In April 1963, Liberal Senator Ferdinand Marcos contested the presidency of the Senate against long-time Senate President <a href="/kauswagan/articles/1729/december-9-1964-senator-eulogio-rodriguez-died-in-his-sleep" class="news_link">Eulogio Rodriguez</a> 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 <a href="/kauswagan/articles/2849/today-in-philippine-history-february-27-1919-alejandro-almendras-the-father-of-davao-was-born-in-danao-cebu" class="news_link">Alejandro Almendras</a>. 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.


As of 2023, Roseller Lim was the first and only politician from Zamboanga to be elected to the Philippine Senate.


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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-17/roseller-t-lim-senate-floor.webp" alt="Roseller Tarroza Lim at the senate floor" loading="lazy" />
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Roseller Tarroza Lim at the senate floor
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Lim died on July 5, 1976.

On March 16, 1982, President Ferdinand Marcos signed the Batas Pambansa 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 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 "Dia 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.


Source:

<ol class="article-sources">
<li>
Roseller Tarroza Lim, https://www.geni.com/
</li>
<li>
Roseller T. Lim: He stood in senate floor for 18 hours but ..., Noralyn Mustafa, PDI Mindanao Bureau
</li>
<li>
Other open source online sources
</li>
</ol>

February 9, 1915: Roseller T. Lim was born in Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Norte