The Senate: Fortress or Carnival?

The Senate, which ought to be a fortress of principle and statesmanship, was once again engulfed in chaos this May 13. Authorities declared that there were no casualties, and for that we should be thankful. Yet the true casualty was the integrity of the institution itself. The chamber of democracy, meant to be a venue for intelligent discourse, turned into a carnival of interests and self-serving maneuvers.

For more than five hours, decorum vanished and disorder prevailed. The Senate—long regarded as the “stepping stone” for political leaders aspiring to the Presidency—became a stage for personal ambition. Senators who are considered “independent,” despite their party affiliations, easily shifted positions under the banner of former President Manuel Luis Quezon’s oft-quoted line: “My loyalty to my party ends, where my loyalty to country begins.” He also declared: “I would rather see the Philippines run like hell by the Filipinos, rather than by the Americans.”

In reality, however, the opposite is happening. The people are left behind—Mang Kulas is sidelined, while senators and congressmen reap the rewards. Adding to this irony is the continuing presence of foreign influence through EDCA. Quezon’s words may have rung true, but the shadow, claws, and grip of external powers remain firmly embedded in our national policies.

This leads us to a pressing question: does the Senate still matter? In the legislative process, crucial laws for Juan dela Cruz pass through the House, only to be blocked in the Senate—or vice versa. Each hearing costs the government money, with lawmakers and staff receiving allowances and per diems. And who pays? The taxpayers. Yet in the end, the taxpayers are the ones left empty-handed.

If the Senate continues in this manner, where “leadership change” is treated as routine depending on the whims of a single senator, then chaos will persist and the personal interests of 24 “honorable senators” will dominate. The institution risks becoming irrelevant, reduced to a theater of ambition rather than a pillar of democracy.

For every wasted hour, every allowance paid, and every law that ends up stalled, the real loser is Juan dela Cruz—and the nation’s palabigasan.