One fun-filled afternoon at the Senate

MANILA, Philippines – Two veteran senators have turned an otherwise formal ceremony in the Senate into a fun-filled occasion when one broke into laughter while the other was throwing an antic.

“Stand straight and smile for Facebook,” Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago told the newly confirmed diplomats, who climbed the rostrum of the Senate plenary for a photo opportunity.

It was Santiago who endorsed for plenary approval the confirmation of 42 diplomats on Wednesday.

Before this, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile was uncontrollably laughing while administering the oath of office of new members of the Commission.

Enrile and Cebu Representative Eduardo Gullas were apparently having difficulty pronouncing the oath of office in Tagalog.

After the oath-taking, the Senate leader confirmed this, pointing out that it was because he was an Ilocano while Gullas was a Cebuano.

Other members of the Commission could not help but also laughed at the situation.

Nueva Ecija Representative Rodolfo Antonio, who was on the floor, joked that there may need to make the oath of office in English.