Senator-elect Robin Padilla today June 14 was briefed by Senate officials on legislative processes that are far different from his days in the movies as an actor and director.

‘'Wala pong hahalaga sa lahat kundi itong mapag-aralan natin kung ano po itong mataas na kapulungan (My studies here at the Upper Chamber are very important),’’ Padilla told Senate reporters during an interview at the Senate building in Pasay city.

Padilla topped the recent May 9, 2022 national elections, outvoting veteran senators, both incumbent and returning senators.

During the briefing, entitled ‘Executive Mentoring on Legislative Governance: Setting the tone for the first 100 Days in the 19th Congress,’ Padilla intently listened to the legislation officials, led by Deputy Secretary Edwin Bellen, on plenary procedures and processes in the committee level.

The neophyte senator, who is advocating federal form of government, is poised to chair the committees on constitutional amendments and revision of codes and on social justice, welfare and rural development.

Padilla is joined by lawyer Demaree Raval, UN Democratic Governance Advisor.

Yesterday, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) awarded a Certificate of Completion to Padilla for completing a three-day (June 11-13, 2022) customized program na "Executive Mentoring on Legislative Governance: Setting the Tone for the First 100 Days.’’ Raval said Padilla underwent comprehensive briefings on economics, foreign policy and other areas of concern that would be addressed in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the expected Senate President in the 19th Congress, earlier said Padilla had asked to chair the Senate constitutional amendments committee which he agreed.

The 19th Congress starts on July 25.

Padilla’s chairmanship of that committee was disclosed by Zubiri on June 1, the start of the process of selecting the various chairmen of the Senate committees.

June 1 was the day the Senate adjourned sine die.

During light moments during the interview, Padilla said he would debate with his colleagues in Pilipino at the Senate session hall but would talk in English if he is talking to an American.

He admitted that the Senate is a new ball game to him.

‘’Medyo ano lang, naninibago lang ako kasi hindi naman ako ( I feel my surroundings are new)...summa cum laude ako sa cutting classes noong araw. (eh ngayon?) iba na ngayon (I was a summa cum laude in cutting classes). Ako na ngayon naghahanap ng gagawin (Now, I am the one looking for things to do),’’ he added.

Padilla said he would push for constitutional change that would lead to the adoption of a federal form of government.

‘’Mabigat yon kung hindi mo alam ang gagawin mo (It is difficult if you don’t know what you want). Ako naman, alam ko ang gagawin ko (I know what I will do) At nandyan si atty. raval, nandyan yung mga abugado na mag-guide sa atin (Attorney Raval is here. There are lawyers who will guide me). Di naman ako nabibigatan (I don’t feel the weight of the work). Ang nabibigatan yung taumbayan kasi kailangan na nilang baguhin yung saligang batas natin (The people will carry the burden of amending the Constitution),’’ he added.

Padilla asked people to embrace Charter change that would pave to the way to meaningful changes.

‘’Lahat ng nagsilbing pangulo yaan ang kanilang hiningi. Chacha (All the Presidents who have served asked for charter change). . Kasi pagkatapos nilang manilbihan, na-realize nila na ginawa na nila ang lahat pero walang ibang solusyon kundi charter change (After having served, they realized that there is no other solution than charter change),’’ he said.

‘’Nandyan po si GMA, Fidel Ramos, lahat po yan sila (There was former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President Fidel V. Ramos, all of them). hindi sila nagsusulong niyan dahil gusto nilang mapalawig, mapahaba ang kanilang termino, kung hindi narealize nila na pagkatapos nilang gawin lahat babagsak tayo lagi sa charter change (They did not push for Charter change because they wanted to extend their terms but they later realized that we need Charter change after all),’’ he explained.