The last time I saw Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III was when he had just come from the Adoration Chapel of St. James the Great Parish Church. He waved back when my wife greeted him from inside our car as we were leaving the premises. I was reminded of this snapshot after hearing him deliver his acceptance speech as Senate Presi-dent last Monday, Sept. 8.

His speech began with an avowal of humility: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Earlier, he also delivered the opening prayer after the Senate session was called to order. Key excerpts:

“Today we celebrate the birthday of our Blessed Virgin Mary and this I pray to our dear God…Your Word in Matthew 21:22, ‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer…Thank you Lord Jesus for all that you do, for your goodness and mercy. You are a God who is so good and caring.

“I give you praise because every aspect of my life is in your hands. I find strength in knowing that the most high God is working for my good. Even though I don’t know all the details of tomorrow, I trust you with all my heart. When I am broken, mend me. When I’m weak, strengthen me. I trust and believe that you will answer when I call…”

Parenthetically, a quick flashback. One of the iconic songs of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution was composed by Tito Sotto and sang by Virna Lisa Loberiza. It is notably expressive of faith in God: “Ngayon, may pag-asang natatanaw/May bagong araw, bagong umaga/Pagmamahal ng Diyos, isipin mo tuwina (Now we see hope in a new day, a new morning. Let the love of God fill our minds.)

The Senate President is the third highest official of the land, second in the line of succession after the Vice President. In the unlikely event that both the President and the Vice President are incapacitated, the Senate President could become President or Chief Executive.

While this has not happened in the Philippines, I recall a similar occurrence in the US. In December 1973, two months after Spiro Agnew's resignation, Gerald Ford became the first person appointed to the vice presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. Following President Richard Nixon’s resigna-tion in August 1974 in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Ford immediately assumed the presidency.

From being a known actor, musical composer, and co-host of the noontime show Eat Bulaga, Tito Sotto was elected Quezon City Vice Mayor in 1988 and served until 1992. Then he served in the Philippines' Senate for two terms from 1992 to 2004. In 2010, he was reelected in the Senate; then reelected in 2016.

He was elected Senate President for the first time in 2018 and served until the end of his second term in 2022.

When the Congress convened last July 28, he ran for Senate President but obtained only five votes; Chiz Es-cudero retained the Senate’s top position as he was supported by the supermajority bloc composed of 19 sena-tors.

Five weeks hence, he was elected Senate President for the second time, leading a new majority bloc of 15 senators. This came on the heels of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation of anomalies related to flood control projects.

Delivering a brief acceptance speech, he acknowledged that he was elected “to again lead this august cham-ber at this crucial and challenging time.” He pointed out that “our people are enraged (at) the corruption “that is now seen, heard and felt by the Filipinos more than ever.”

He noted the irony: “The failed flood control projects that (are) supposed to protect the lives, livelihood and properties of our countrymen, the dilapidated classrooms for our students, and the lack of quality farm-to-market roads to aid our farmers — all are engulfed in corruption, hindering the progress of the nation as a whole.”

He accepted the position with humility, emphasizing that he was simply primus inter pares, or first among equals. As such, he said that he was not their superior but a presiding officer: “I am your listener, your adviser if you so desire, your enabler for anything within my power to do so.”

Again, he turned to Scripture: “In 1 Peter 5:2-3 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishon-est gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

Concluding his speech, he invoked guidance from Proverbs 3:6: “ In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

Indeed, this column was inspired by Senate President Sotto’s evidently strong preference for Spirit-guided governance. With rampant corruption eroding public confidence in government, he seems determined to recast the Senate’s image as one that is not tainted by hints of complicity with the perpetrators of anomalies and graft-laden transactions.

Like a fresh gust of wind, Spirit-guided governance could demonstrate to the people that there is reason to repose trust and confidence in their high government officials — especially those directly elected by them.

To paraphrase a memorable quotation from former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad: “I may not be able to eradicate corruption, but at least I may be able to instill the fear of God in the hearts of civil serv-ants.”

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