New action-star-turned-senator-elect Robin Padilla is 100%ready to take on the job as senator-but he will use Tagalog and not English during debates.
It will be recalled that Robin received the highest number of votes for senatorship in the last 2022 elections and will be the chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
“Ah oo, [makikipag-debate ako], pero Tagalog. Eh una, hindi naman Amerikano ‘yung mga kaharap ko, alangang mag-English ako,” said Padilla, Tuesday, after attending the Senate legislative briefing before the opening of the 19th Congress in July.
“Siguro kung Amerikano [kaharap ko], ‘Well, I’m willing to debate.’ Pero mga Tagalog sila eh.”
Although Filipino is the national language of the Philippines in the 1987 Constitution, which needs to be developed using the various languages in the Philippines, English is widely used during Senate and House meetings and hearings. Most of its words today are derived from Tagalog.
“Ah lahat madali [paghahanda ko bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments],” Robin added regarding the new phase of his career.
“Naninibago lang ako. Summa cum laude ako sa cutting classes noong araw eh. Ngayon ako na ang naghahanap ng gagawin.”
Robin Padilla ready to debate in Senate as long as it is in Tagalog
“Mabigat ‘yun kung ‘di mo alam ang gagawin mo. Ako naman alam ko naman ang gagawin ko. Andyan yung abugado na magguide sa atin.”
Outgoing Sen. Franklin Drilon first advised Robin to study hard, especially since his job will not be easy.
Incoming senator Raffy Tulfo has previously said he will take a course in Public Administration to prepare for his position in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Padilla voiced confidence on Tuesday that he can manage the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
“Mabigat ‘yon kung hindi mo alam ang gagawin mo. Ako naman, alam ko ang gagawin ko [That’s difficult if you don’t know what you’ll do. But me, I know what I’ll do],” Padilla told reporters.
Padilla claimed that Charter revisions are the only way to achieve “real change,” noting former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fidel V. Ramos’ efforts to modify the Constitution.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.