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MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator and now Education Secretary Sonny Angara returned to the Senate on Monday to receive praises — and some teasing — from his friends.
One by one, senators stood up on the floor to support a resolution, thanking Angara for his “exemplary service” as a senator.
He just took the helm of the Department of Education (DepEd) last July 19.
READ: Angara is new DepEd chief
He was described as a “consistent education warrior” by Senate President Francis Escudero and best remembered by his former colleagues for his work as chairman of the Senate committees on finance and ways and means.
READ: Angara appointment as DepEd chief well deserved – senators
But it was not just praises for Angara, as Sen. Grace Poe shared some anecdotes about the new DepEd chief.
Yes, Angara is a very kind, patient, and humble person, but just don’t let him get hungry, according to Poe.
“Mabait sya, ‘wag mo lang gutumin. Pag gutom napakasungit na,” she added.
(He’s nice, but don’t let him get hungry. When he’s hungry, he gets grumpy.)
“He’s a proper gentleman but he can also be the most ‘kanto’ boy bully,” Poe also said.
“He has the most scathing remarks that get him in trouble. But because of his charisma, he always gets away with it,” she added.
Angara would also come to the Senate with documents in a plastic envelope, even after she gifted him a leather folder, Poe said.
Among all senators, Poe conceded that Angara is the “most acceptable across all administrations.”
“He is the favorite,” she said. “They see in him somebody who can cooperate and at the same time contribute valuable insights.”
One of his closest friends, Sen. Joel Villanueva, joked about having a “separation anxiety” since Angara’s appointment as DepEd chief
“Kaya kung puwede nga ho, nate-tempt nga ako na mag-move na lang na ibalik na lang sa Senado si Senator Angara. Pero sinabihan niya na po ako kapag ginawa ko raw po magmo-move siya na ibalik ako sa Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) kaya hindi na lang po,” said Villanueva, who headed Tesda before he became senator.
Villanueva assured the DepEd and the country that Angara is the best man for the job. He also has the heart of a champion, the senator added.
Escudero, meanwhile, believes Angara is now a “battle-tested general,” ready to lead the one million-strong teaching army “in the war against ignorance and mass disinformation.”
Now at the helm of the education sector, Angara must address what Escudero described as the longest “to fix list” of any agency.
Escudero said the new education chief must ensure the following:
1. That every child can go to any of the 60,317 schools in the country today.
2. That all our existing classrooms are safe, pleasant, and adequately equipped— and build new classrooms where shortages exist.
3. That our 24.04 million learners have a book in their hands, a chair to sit on, and a teacher in front of them.
4. That every one of 1.01 million public teachers and DepEd employees are properly trained and paid.
5. That every centavo of its P759.69 billion budget for 2024 is properly spent, and delivers the outcome it was budgeted for.
Among those who manifested their support for the resolution commending Angara are Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Ronald Dela Rosa, Pia Cayetano, Robin Padilla, and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
The chamber adopted the resolution.