Thursday, November 27, 2008 Speak Out: Senate filled with divas, thespians By Emelito E. torres Speak Out
Former president Joseph Estrada was close to being deified when he was elected in 1998. But he made history as the first president to be deficient of moral ascendancy when tales of palatial love nests for his mistresses and millions of pesos in payoffs from jueteng lords were brought to public.
As proceedings of his impeachment trial were aired, TV stations found a new moneymaking program aside from telenovelas and cheap local soaps.
People bought the rumor, got glued to the boob tube during the congressional investigation, and consequently ratings soared.
Immediately, the senators also found a novel way of raking in pogi points.
By much posturing, being unreasonably irascible, and whimsically snapping at witnesses, they were hailed new heroes of government, the hope of the people.
So when Juan Ponce Enrile inherited the Senate presidency from Manny Villar, he was handed a legislative body filled with superstars and divas.
He must be familiar with the sight of solons/thespians in his midst, as he is one of them and they are one with him: hungry for popularity, hankering for photo ops, and eager for exposure.
Enrile is thus burdened with the biggest problem confronting the Senate now: its fondness for theatrics and sensationalism.
Senators continue to desecrate the hallowed halls of Congress with their unabashed display of smugness to strengthen name recall.
Also, they are now flagrantly enticing you to try their approved brands of instant noodles, toothpastes, and detergents.
The problem with the Philippine Senate is that it leaves so much freedom to investigators during legislative hearings.
And the problem with senators becoming product endorsers is the same: they are not liable to any prohibitions.
Lest people forget and lest the new Senate president forgets, the Senate is not a studio where pouting and flaunting are welcome and legitimate.
Lest people forget and lest our new Senate president forgets, the Senate is a sweatshop where legislative hearings are simply that, legislative.
