Filipino-American wrestler Matthew James Ramos on Tuesday, June 2 vowed to show up even until the last day of the Senate’s session day on Wednesday, June 3 for the plenary approval of a pending bill that seeks to grant him Philippine citizenship. 

The 23-year old athlete, who intends to become a naturalized Filipino citizen to be able to represent the Philippines in international competitions, arrived at the Senate on Tuesday afternoon waiting for the Senate’s plenary to commence. However, none of the members of the 13-man Senate Majority attended the session.

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who sponsored the measure on his naturalization, then approached Ramos, who was among the visitors sitting at the VIP gallery inside the session hall and told him that Tuesday’s session has been called off by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano himself. 

Pangilinan apologized to the athlete, but the latter promised to return the next day for the last session day of the Upper Chamber.

Asked how he feels about the delay, Ramos said he will just show up on Wednesday, the last session day of the Senate. 

“Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, but you know you keep showing up every single day and give everything you’ve got to power your dreams. That’s what we’re here to do,” Ramos told reporters in an ambush interview.

Asked how he feels about the delay, the Illinois-born wrestler who traces his roots from his Filipino father who is a resident of Basista, Pangasinan, said “it’s out of his control.”

“You know, it’s out of my control. I trust that the Philippines, you know, everything will come together in order. It doesn’t upset me but you know, we do it day by day. I’m gonna keep showing up whatever it takes. When they need me out here. I’ll keep showing up,” Ramos said.

Aside from Ramos, the naturalization process for San Miguel import Bennie Boatwright also got stalled due to the Senate majority bloc’s boycott. 

Ramos also said he believes that the naturalization process for him is “very important” for the Filipino people.

“It’s very important, very important. Not just for myself and my family, but for the people of the Philippines as well,” he said.