Talk First, Think Later

Session Showdown

At the Plenary Hall, senators scrambled to take their seats after concluding an all-senators caucus right before. There are lots of bills to be tackled on the floor in various stages of completion, but Loren had other things on her mind.

She held the papers containing the speech she wrote this morning in a vice-like grip. For her, these aren't just words on a page, but a weapon she just doesn't brandish around willy-nilly.

Her last chance to get the final word once and for all.

After what seemed like an eternity, Migz, sitting atop the rostrum, signaled her turn to speak. "Our Tita Ganda, Senator Loren Legarda, is recognized."

Loren's sneakers squeaked on the Senate floor until she reached the podium in front. She then took a deep breath and started her speech. "Thank you, Mr. President. Just this morning, a fellow lady senator took to the media to accuse me of intentionally delaying her pet bills."

Her voice rose into a crescendo as she delivered the rest of her speech - just like how action intensifies until reaching the climax. "She comes along with these baseless attacks against me in a feeble attempt to smear the good name and reputation I've built for myself in my four terms as a Senator of the Republic. Mr. President, like I always said, I don't want to talk about this kind of politics, but now I am forced to if only to clear my name once and for all.

Picture this - a woman who once occupied the second-highest position in government takes to petty attacks against a fellow sitting Senator just to get ahead of everyone else. Isn't this a mockery of more than a century of traditions this august chamber upholds? Why are we letting this happen?"

Tears fell from Loren's eyes in her next statement. "Why are we letting someone do this, Mr. President? I want a clear answer."

Loren delivered the rest of her speech with some choice words that will end up being struck off the record right after. So much pent-up anger, frustration, and resentment weighed every word, but she had to do it.

"Thank you, Mr. President.", Loren concluded before turning off her mic.

Immediately after her speech, Leni raised her hand and made her way to the podium on the right side. "The Lady Senator from Bicol, Senator Leni Robredo, is recognized."

Leni turned on her mic and faced the podium in Loren's direction. "Maraming salamat, Mr. President. I would just like to answer the points raised by the gentlewoman from Antique, Malabon, and the Republic of the Philippines point-for-point: Una, lahat ng sinabi ko, may basehan. You can even check the journals for both the 17th and 18th Congress both here in the Senate and in the House about the positions of the good senator in various bills."

Loren could feel Leni's eyes boring down her core. The urge to escape from it all became more and more unbearable by the minute. "Pangalawa, it's not a mockery of the Senate's traditions to point out the reality of the situation. Mr. President, sino ba sa ating dalawa ang may posisyon sa liderato? Sino ang mas may impluwensya sa legislative calendar? Hindi naman ako diba?"

Upon hearing Leni's words, Loren's eyes twitched as she replied to Leni's statements. "Mr. President, this is what I was talking about. See how she just spews all these things against me and you all just sit there doing nothing? I would like to make the motion to strike the entire manifestation of Senator Robredo off the record."

"There is a motion to strike the manifestation of Senator Robredo off the record. Is there any objection?", Migz inquired.

"Mr. President?", Pia called from behind.

"Senator Pia Cayetano is recognized."

Pia approached the podium behind Leni and joined the bloodshed. "Mr. President, I would like to raise a point of order. Under the Senate Rules, we only move to strike an entire manifestation off the record if and only if the manifestation contains unparliamentary language.

In this representation's opinion, there's nothing unparliamentary about the statements of the lady senator from Naga. She's just stating realities that may or may not make some of us uncomfortable. Unfortunately, as far as the Senate rules go, discomfort isn't a strong enough ground to remove an entire manifestation in the journal."

Loren's gut dropped upon seeing Pia pile on her instead of backing her up like she expected her to. Hushed whispers and conversations filled the room around her, but she couldn't make out anything being said.

"There is an objection to the motion to strike the manifestation of Senator Robredo off the record. Let's put this motion to a vote. Those in favor of striking the manifestation off, kindly raise your hands."

She scanned the room to find only a couple of hands raised up, including her own. Migz then continued. "Those NOT in favor of striking the manifestation of Senator Robredo, raise your hands."

Even more senators raised their hands - some of the people she expected, but abject fear filled her when even Migz and Win also raised their hands."

"With 3 affirmative votes, 18 negative votes, and no abstentions, the motion is lost.", Migz concluded with a bang of the gavel.

Win immediately moved to suspend the session again and right after the mace was taken out, Loren immediately bolted out of the session hall and into the lounge, where she found Pia running from behind. "Loren, wait!"

Fire erupted from Loren's eyes upon hearing Pia's voice. "Did you really have to sell me out like that? Sa plenary pa?"

"Loren, I was just stating facts."

Loren pointed at the door, her face red with fury. "Did you just see how that bitch eviscerated me in front of everyone like that?"

Pia kept her cool and crossed her arms. "That bitch you're talking about was right, though."

As soon as Loren opened her mouth to speak, Risa called from behind them. "What's going on?", 

"Of course you will side with her.", Loren snapped. "Jowa mo yan, eh."

"Ate..."

Loren stomped her feet on the floor as if trying to prove an inexistent point. "Four terms, and this is how they remember me. All that work down the drain dahil sa babaeng iyan?"

Risa stared down at Loren with a coolness to her voice. "Forgive my French, Loren, pero punyeta, hindi na yan nakakatuwa."

As soon as Risa said those words, Loren sank down to the sofa behind her and curled into an almost fetal position. "Get out, both of you."

"But–"

Loren pointed at the door. "I said Get. Out."

Risa and Pia shuffled away, leaving Loren alone in the lounge to ponder at the events that just transpired, particularly how even her so-called "allies" dropped the ball on her. "I don't think I can handle two more years of this."

While the Session Hall is empty due to another caucus, Loren grabbed her bag from the Plenary Hall and immediately bolted back to her office, bypassing the media reporters trailing behind her in the hopes to get her side of the story.