All eyes are on the Senate. Recent events and incidents, as well as the unfolding of another difficult constitutional ritual in its halls, have inevitably drawn and captured public attention.

This institution will continue to hold it for many months down the road.

The Senate has been described by three C’s: colorful, controversial, and chaotic.

I remember asking our political elders in Rizal Province why the Senate is described that way. Their answer: the Senate has always been that way. Nothing has changed. Whatever we are seeing happening in the Senate, generations of Filipinos before us had already witnessed during their times.

Our elders explained that, since the creation of the Senate, changes in its leadership had always been tumultuous. Within the memory of one of the oldest among our elders was the ouster of then Senate President Jose Avelino – yes, the politician who made famous the quote, “What are we in power for?” This happened in 1949 and is believed to be the first-ever “senate coup.”

According to our elders’ accounts, Avelino was facing corruption allegations. In one session, opposition senators attempted to deliver privilege speeches against him. Avelino’s allies allegedly did everything to delay the proceedings and prevent the anti-Avelino speeches. This led to a walkout by the opposition solons. Later, at a “rump session,” the opposition senators declared the position of Senate President vacant and elected then-Senator Mariano Cuenco as acting head of that body.

Avelino brought the case to the Supreme Court. This brought about the landmark “Avelino vs. Cuenco” case, which upheld legislative autonomy. The High Court ruled that the issue involved a political question and refused to intervene.

The leading newspapers of that era must have feasted on this chaotic episode.

A more recent example of a tumultuous leadership change happened during the Senate presidency of the late Jovito Salonga. This one had a touch of humor. Those old enough to remember would recall the image played on television and photographed for print media.

The image showed the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms running with the Senate Mace – the symbol of the power of the presiding officer – with several people chasing him. Newspapers described it as the “mace chase” and noted the “childish game” that solons play.

That episode involved the bid to oust Salonga by the camp of the late Senator Neptali Gonzales Sr. of Mandaluyong.

There were other colorful events which took place in the halls of the Senate: the famous (or infamous) 18.5-hour continuous speech (called ‘filibuster’) by Zamboangueño senator Roseller Lim; the heated exchanges during high-profile Blue Ribbon Committee hearings (the NBN-ZTE issue, the PDAF investigation, and the Stonehill scandal probe of the 1960s).

These, and many more, show that our Senate is indeed “colorful, controversial, and chaotic.”

However, the Senate is more than that.

Our elders point out that it was and remains a vital institution necessary for the preservation and protection of our democracy. Its value lies in its role as a national deliberative body, its contribution to the system of checks and balances, and its platform for broader perspectives. We need the 24 senators who are elected nationwide – they have a national rather than parochial outlook. They provide a second look at House bills, a role that reduces impulsiveness or the dominance of narrow interests in legislation.

It has also proven to be a training ground for the two highest positions of the land. Of the 17 Philippine Presidents, 11 were former Senators: Quezon, Osmeña, Roxas, Laurel, Quirino, Garcia, Marcos, Sr., Estrada, Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino III, and the incumbent President Bongbong Marcos.

From the ranks of our senators also came 10 vice-presidents: Osmeña, Sr., Garcia, Pelaez, Lopez, Tolentino, Doy Laurel, Macapagal-Arroyo, Guingona Jr., and De Castro.

Many of the brightest minds and best orators in Philippine history were senators. While their list may be subjective, our elders have identified the following as outstanding Filipinos who shone in the halls of the Senate: Claro M. Recto, Arturo Tolentino, Raul Roco, Blas Ople, Jose W. Diokno, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Lorenzo Tañada.

When no colorful event is taking place in its halls, our senators are actually doing what they were elected to do: passing relevant laws productively. In 2024, it passed 108 bills, of which 72 were signed into law. According to political observers, this was one of the most productive periods in our legislative history.

To be fair, the Senate and the Senate President usually fared well in survey trust ratings, usually scoring higher than other political institutions in the country.

As our Senators begin another important constitutional task, we salute this institution. We offer a prayer for our Nation and wish our Senators all the best as they serve in a role that will definitely shape the course of our history.