Senator Nancy Binay walks on the red carpet at the Senate on Monday, July 22, 2024. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Not just the fashion, but the witty remarks of some senators added color to an otherwise regular opening of session in the Senate.
All 23 senators were present when the Senate opened on Monday, July 22, its third and final session of the 19th Congress.
But before attending the session at 10 a.m., the senators walked the red carpet and posed for the camera.
Strutting a Randy Ortiz gown, Sen. Nancy Binay quipped about having another Binay to walk the Senate red carpet next year.
“Uy next year ibang Binay na rarampa dito,” Binay told reporters while showing off her dress. She was accompanied by her husband, Pepito Angeles.
(Next year, a different Binay will walk the ramp here.)
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It was just last week when Binay reportedly said she would campaign for her sister, incumbent Makati Mayor Abby Binay, in case the local chief executive decides to run for senator in May 2025.
Senator Grace Poe and her husband Neil Llamanzares pose for a photo on the Senate red carpet on Monday, July 22, 2024. INQUIRER FILES
Before leaving the red carpet, Sen. Binay asked the media in jest: “Nakuha ninyo ba ‘yung mga tanong (Did you get the questions)?” – an apparent reference to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s previous allegations that she was feeding questions to the media regarding the controversial New Senate Building (NSB) in Taguig City.
On July 3, Cayetano and Binay engaged in a heated debate when the Senate committee on accounts headed by Cayetano started its review of the funding for the construction of NSB.
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Back at the Senate red carpet, 12 of 23 senators went solo on the trail.
“Yung asawa ko kasi ayaw ma-involve sa pulitika,” Senator Robin Padilla explained when the media asked about his wife, actress-host Mariel Rodriguez.
(My wife doesn’t want to get involve in politics.)
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri poses briefly for a photo on the Senate red carpet on Monday, July 22, 2024. INQUIRER FILES
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Christopher “Bong” Go, Cynthia Villar, and Francis Tolentino also walked the red carpet unaccompanied.
Other legislators who came with their spouses or partners were: Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Grace Poe, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Binay and Cayetano.
Senator Lito Lapid, meanwhile, came with his son, Mark.
“Pasensya na kayo medyo luma ang barong ko,” Lapid told the media.
(Sorry, my barong is a bit old.)
“Halata bang luma na?” Pimentel also said.
(Is my barong obviously old?)
Zubiri explained the absence of his wife, Aubrey, noting that she could not accompany him because she was not feeling well.