By Reisha Mae F. Valdez, UC student
For weeks, the Senate was consumed by a battle over leadership. There were walkouts, absences, shifting alliances, and endless discussions about who had the numbers. Day after day, the headlines revolved around political maneuvering while the concerns of ordinary Filipinos remained exactly where they had always been—waiting.
Now, Senator Win Gatchalian sits as Senate President after securing the constitutionally required 13 votes. The contest is over. The numbers have been counted. The winner has been recognized.
But I find myself asking a different question. What was all of that for?
As Filipinos watched senators count votes, many were busy counting something else. Parents counted the money left in their wallets before the next payday. Students counted the years they must spend studying in hopes of finding a better future. Workers counted the hours spent in traffic and the sacrifices needed just to make ends meet.
The Senate was fighting over leadership while many Filipinos were simply fighting to get through the week. That is why I cannot celebrate this victory the way politicians do. Positions come and go. Titles change hands. The Senate presidency itself is only a seat. What matters is what is done from it.
For weeks, senators demonstrated how quickly they could organize when political power was at stake. Alliances were built. Strategies were crafted. Attendance suddenly became important. Every vote mattered.
I only wish the same urgency appeared whenever the public needed help. Imagine if the same determination used to secure the Senate presidency were used to improve education. Imagine if the same energy spent on political calculations were directed toward lowering the burden of living. Imagine if the same passion displayed during leadership disputes were invested in solving the problems that force many Filipinos to leave their families behind in search of opportunities abroad.
Perhaps then, people would have more reason to trust their leaders. To be fair, Gatchalian now carries a difficult responsibility. The Senate has emerged from weeks of division. The institution has taken bruises from public scrutiny. Trust has been weakened. If there is a moment to prove that leadership is more than political arithmetic, this is it.
The challenge before him is not winning over senators. The votes have already been secured. The challenge is winning back the confidence of the people.
Because Filipinos are tired of political drama disguised as public service. We are tired of watching elected officials treat the government like a contest where the prize is power itself. We are tired of hearing promises while seeing little change in our daily lives.
The Senate finally has its leader. Now it must show that the weeks of conflict, speeches, negotiations, and shifting alliances were not merely a struggle over who would hold the gavel.
Because in the end, the Filipino people do not benefit from political victories. They benefit from results. And unlike Senate votes, those cannot simply be counted. They must be earned.
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