Ika 23 ng Setyembre 2008

What would this Tuesday bring? Yesterday, our senate session was postponed for today. I didn't report to my office but went straight to the office of my colleague to finish our work.

We went to the Senate after lunch and proceeded to the session hall already teeming with reporters and guests. There were lots of students today. Some senators were going to the gallery and cameras started clicking. Senator Chiz Escudero came to our side of the gallery. I told my colleague-friend who fancies the young-looking senator to get her camera ready and I will take their picture. After a photo opp with some students, my friend motioned to him that she wanted their picture taken. I was ready and made the shot. It was a good shot except that my friend forgot to take her glasses.

Soon, Senator Villar banged the gavel to signal the start of the session. Reporters moved away from the floor towards the exit. It started with a prayer and reading of some proposals. Senator Joker Arroyo was the first to take the floor with his Complaint to Nowhere, an obvious repartee on Senator Lacson's Road to Nowhere expose complete with powerpoint presentation. He said that the suspected insertion or double entries in the 2008 budget are actually two portions of the C-5 Road and thus cannot be considered an insertion. Senator Arroyo was piqued at the waste of time by the Senate on an expose that according to him was baseless and unfounded. He chided Lacson for not allowing interpellation on his privilege hour who found an ally in Senator Jamby Madrigal for using diversionary tactics to evade questioning. After Senator Arroyo's speech, Senator Lacson prepared for a rebuttal and took the floor saying he needed just a 30-second rebuttal. To which Senator Arroyo replied that he would allow that being a true Liberal and Democrat. Lacson said that his basis was the GAA and wondered where he got his facts. No other senators raised questions. But I guess we have not heard the last of it. There was a motion to ban the term "insertion" on the floor.

Senator Angara was the next senator to take the floor tackling the toxic milk coming from China which is laced with Melamine. The gallery crowd was obviously interested in the information. Senator Legarda asked whether the food poisoning in a school in Tondo affecting 130 kids is somehow connected. The eloquent senator spoke volumes as she wanted to know what this Melamine is all about. At this point, I was getting the feeling that we were going home empty-handed. Melamine is a plastic material with lots of industrial applications but should not be used for food products. Apparently, it increases the protein content of milk when added to it. If you are using melaware plates and bowls, it is made of melamine. Senator Madrigal asses that there is no such thing as really fresh milk today as even fresh milk are reconstituted from powdered milk. Hmmmm....that's a useful piece of information but what do we eat and drink now.

I think that Senator Legarda was on her final reading of her sponsored bill, newborn hearing screening aimed at determining deafness and giving proper management. Some sessions back, she mentioned that some children and their parents missed early detection of this affliction affecting many infants and this could go on in life. Senator Enrile raised some constitutionality issues and Senator Legarda was willing to consider his point.

As we watched the proceeding, there were many things we would notice. The people.... who go there and why. My friend and I were asking each other if Senator Gordon's hair is for real. We believe it's not. Pardon our irreverence but we are only humans who err. Besides how do you keep the fire burning for three hours and not go mad. That's what happens when there is too much time and there is nothing to do. People-watching is a good thing to do on such occasion. It keeps one busy lambasting people while pretending to enjoy the scene.

There were other matters for discussion as mentioned by Senator Kiko Pangilinan. Senator Roxas, our sponsor, asked about JPEPA...... probably embarrased about keeping us glued to our seats for three straight hours. Senator Pangilinan said two more and then it will be our turn. We would hear one of the senators holler "ang walang kamatayang JPEPA". We were sent packing our stuff home for the nth time as the JPEPA interpelation was reset to next Monday. My boss showed relief and was happy that Senator Legarda must be warming to us and simply want a legal opinion on her question on toxic waste.

That's my day today. I am looking forward to my adventure tomorrow.

PS: Pagkagaling senado, nagkita kami ng anak kong panganay. Bumuhos ang ulan habang pasakay kami sa bus. Nabasa ako at tumulo sa akin yun tubig na bumabagsak sa payong. Ginaw na ginaw ako at ibinalabal ko na lang shawl ko habang pinapanood ko ang telenobelang kakapanood ko pa lang sa senado sa TV ng bus.