MANILA, Philippines —Often, behind the boisterous debates in the Senate hearing room, one can find a camaraderie that forms among senators when they get together to share good food in the lounge of the Senate.
For newbie Senator Robin Padilla, when it comes to the Senate lounge, he considers it an oasis of calm within the upper chamber where senators banter.
Senators speak Filipino here – but as soon as they leave, they become “Americans.”
“Masaya doon eh kahit nagbabarahan masaya ‘yung barahan. Pero dun sa ano parang may sanib eh…” Padilla told reporters on Thursday apparently in jest as he shared his experience in his first week in the Senate.
Asked later to elaborate on his remark, the senator said: “Kasi Tagalog ang salita namin doon sa loob eh, paglabas doon Amerikano na lahat.”
(There, we speak Filipino, but when we leave, they all act like Americans.)
The senator quickly added, however, that as legislators, they have to follow certain protocols when they are inside the session hall crafting laws.
Padilla has openly expressed his preference for the Filipino language when debating with his colleagues in the Senate and even in government documents.
READ: Senator-elect Robin Padilla to debate in Filipino: ‘I won’t be facing Americans’
“Hindi naman Amerikano mga kaharap ko para mag-English ako. Siguro kung Amerikano, well I’m willing to debate. Pero mga Tagalog sila eh, eh ‘di Tagalog tayo,” Padilla said in an interview last month.
(I’m not facing Americans for me to speak in English. Maybe if they are Americans, well, I’m willing to debate. But they are Filipinos, so let’s use Tagalog.)
He has also filed a bill for the equal use of Filipino and English languages in all government issuances and documents.
READ: Robin Padilla bats for equal use of Filipino, English languages: ‘Masyado tayong Amboy’
More than sharing good food with colleagues, Padilla said he is happy to be a part of a “brotherhood” or “sisterhood” built inside the Senate lounge.
Though he admitted that at first, he thought the session hall is a venue where legislators quarrel over various issues.
“Eh hindi pala ganoon, may rules,” he pointed out.