Declining quality of senators and the need for change

I read with interest the letter of freelance journalist Mr. Philip Lustre Jr., “Impeachment prospects of Vice President Sara Duterte,” (1/10/25).

While I believe and agree with most of what he stated therein, the salient point that I took cognizance of was the phrase, “declining quality of senators.” Truly the quality of senators in this country has long been on the decline. I miss the days when illustrious ladies and gentlemen who occupied the once august halls of the Senate were elected into office by virtue of their splendid qualifications and exemplary academic attainments. Their brilliance cast light on life with the laws they enacted.

We sorely miss the likes of former Senators Claro M. Recto, Ambrosio Padilla, Arturo Tolentino, Lorenzo Sumulong, Lorenzo Tanada, Gil J. Puyat, Jose Roy, Gerardo Roxas, Ninoy Aquino Jr., Jose W. Diokno, Maria Kalaw Katigbak, Tecla San Andres Ziga, and many more to mention. Look at what we have now. What we see is a sorrowful view. We have persons who got elected by virtue of their being popular movie stars, sports greats, and good looks, but whose sheen pale on the Senate floors and simply make our future dim.

The Senate is in a very sad state. Political parties and their stalwarts are themselves to blame. They nominate persons as candidates in their lineup based on popularity and name recall. All this is happening at an age when the electorate is supposed to be well-informed and given easy access to information from the media.

The prospects of change do not look promising. Many of the candidates for the Senate are less worthy of the office they aspire to hold. Those few well qualified are being eclipsed by the mediocre ones. Politically established families dominate the scene thereby cementing their dynastic rule in the Filipino political landscape. Sad, very sad indeed.

Ramon Mayuga,

ramon.mayuga49@gmail.com