The situation would have been a whole lot different had Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan led a 12-0 Senate sweep last May.

It would have been awesome to see Heidi Mendoza, Luke Espiritu, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Teddy Casino, Liza Maza, Danilo Ramos, Ronnel Arambulo, Jocelyn Andamo, Mimi Doringo, and Leody de Guzman take their oath as senators.

Together with Risa Hontiveros, such a sweep would have enough to form a new majority, elect a Senate President among themselves, lead the committees, and dictate a Senate agenda that’s oppositionist and generally progressive.

This scenario, this wet dream, did not materialize obviously, and should be another reminder on why we cannot just campaign for or elect two, four, or six — but 12 progressive senators.

But given the situation we now find in the Senate, there’s hope for a whole lot of fiscalizing, questioning, investigating and making good trouble for some time to come.

The Senate minority bloc has grown from two to five. Former Senate President Koko Pimentel has left, but two Senate presidents have joined the minority: Tito Sotto (as new minority leader) and Migz Zubiri. Joining them are Loren Legarda, Ping Lacson, and Hontiveros. This is a formidable minority bloc of senators, all things considered. Given their experience and standing, they can attract other senators to join them on certain issues.

Chiz Escudero’s election by a supermajority of 19 is impressive and notable. Consequently, Bam and Kiko got their choice committee chairmanships on education and agriculture, and perhaps some more. This would give them an opportunity to accomplish what the voters voted them for.

Over at the House, Speaker Martin Romualdez crushed challengers even before they could mount a credible fight. It is apparent that voters have given the House a strong mandate to continue what congressmen have started in their high-profile investigations and in the impeachment of the vice president.

I am happy to see the likes of ACT Teachers’ Tonchi Tinio, Akbayan’s Perci Cendana, and ML’s Leila de Lima elected as deputy minority leaders, and Akbayan’s Chel Diokno and Kabataan’s Renee Co as assistant minority leaders. The posts would enable them to sit and participate in any and all House committees. Bicol Saro’s Terry Ridon now chairs the public accounts committee, one of the committees comprising the Quad Comm.

There’s obviously a huge gap between what Congress we hope to have, and what we have right now, especially considering the mighty hold of political dynasties. The disappointment is obvious, as we see who are getting many important committee chairmanships.

Members of Congress, whether senator and representative, must uphold their oath to represent and serve all. In the same manner, we citizens have a right and duty. We cannot run away or just be quiet for the next three to six years or until we get what we want. Democracy requires our participation to ensure our voices are heard, our concerns addressed, and abuses checked — with whoever happens to occupy political posts.

With the President’s State of the Nation Address outlining his administration’s priorities, and the leadership of Congress taking shape, the challenge to check their performance and to fill the huge gaps in terms of priority issues identified by the President falls on citizens.

For instance, the roll out of “zero balance billing” in public hospitals is absolutely welcome. But we should press both the President and Congress to double, triple, or quadruple the health budget, public hospital facilities, manpower and salaries of public health workers. Public hospitals that have undergone a lot of “rightsizing” and “downsizing” cannot possibly handle the demand for health services.

Citizens should also compel the President to speak on online gambling, and join the growing chorus demanding that the government immediately and forcefully rein in on this problem. Lawmakers have filed bills and resolutions, but it would help if the President takes executive action on his own, and certify the matter as a legislative priority.

It is always easier to be cynical and apathetic, but more so nowadays. But it sure is mentally healthier, and more important to our personal and national psyche, to engage politically at this time.

The probable trial of the former president for crimes against humanity, the vice president’s pending impeachment trial, the arrest of a suspected sex trafficker, the crucial House and Senate hearings, the return of the country’s once leading AM radio network, the reelection of good mayors, the rise in the number of oppositionist and progressive lawmakers, etc. should inspire. Our situation and our issues should compel us to act.