The Filipino people congratulate the following winning senators: 1) Christopher “Bong” Go; 2) Bam Aquino; 3) Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa; 4) Erwin Tulfo; 5) Kiko Pangilinan; 6) Rodante Marcoleta; 7) Panfilo “Ping” Lacson; 8) Vicente “Tito” Sotto III; 9) Pia Cayetano; 10) Camille Villar; 11) Lito Lapid; and 12) Imee Marcos.

Senators Tito Sotto and Ping Lacson shall have two inaugurations to prepare for. The first for their triumphant reelection bid and the second for their pet project — the new Senate building, with its iconic and historically identifiable features, the likes of the world famous historical monuments in Europe and America.

Let us baptize the new home of the senators with the historic impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with the spectacle of Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s defense of the Vice President, in his usual eloquence, like fire, testing the genuineness of gold.

Long live the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for what appears to be the best administered national and local elections in the history of our country!

And for making it happen, to him, His Excellency Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines, belongs the highest accolade!

For while the Comelec was in the process of conducting the historic midterm elections, the President with his newly acquired most advanced weaponry was on full alert protecting Philippine democracy in action, ensuring that our national pride and security were protected, while he was casting his vote, together with the 57,350,968 electorate, or 82.20 percent of the more than 69 million registered voters, who were expressing the proverbial “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” the voice of the people is the voice of God.

And while the Filipino nation was exercising their right to vote, the Chief Executive of the land was overseeing the country’s billion-dollar large-scale construction projects, the fruits of his foreign trips for investments, currently shaping Metro Manila, including infrastructure and urban development initiatives.

These projects include new roads, bridges, railways, and public transportation systems aimed at improving connectivity and easing traffic congestion. Additionally, there are ambitious developments in the real estate sector, like SM Bay City, which envisions a self-sustaining eco-friendly city. Most notable of the current projects are the Metro Manila Subway and the Metro Manila Expressway Expansion, and the forthcoming Overhead Metro Trains in World Class Mega City that will span, in beauty and spectacle, at nighttime, the coastline of Manila Bay.

For holding a peaceful and honest election, the Philippines achieved 50 percent of its functional democracy; the other half has yet to be attained by all the winning candidates if they prove true to their campaign promises — that they did run to serve and not to enrich themselves.

The 12 May 2025 midterm elections is seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2028 presidential elections.

The phenomenal showing of Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan augurs well for the viability of a third force with a potential for victory in 2028.

Aquino and Pangilinan will be joining Risa Hontiveros of LP’s ally, Akbayan, in the Senate, a formidable triumvirate in the 24-member body. They can fulfill the often neglected role of legislators — that of lawmaking and proactive oversight.

Triumphs and debacles in local elections will highlight my piece on Thursday.

Email: artbesana@gmail.com