He may not have the legal depth of a curmudgeonly Dante Marcoleta, or the weird folksy wisdom of a Bato dela Rosa, or the incisive if somewhat abrasive wit of an Imee Marcos, but make no mistake about it: Win Gatchalian is a fine senator.

You may not hear about him all the time, but he is there, quietly — although not nearly as quiet as perennial Comite de Silencio chair Lito Lapid — working for an agenda that he believes to be of benefit to the Filipino people.

Perhaps it is because he was raised in a culture of business, the Chinoy way — born to blend in, not to call attention to oneself, to work without fanfare but for results. Or maybe because it is in his character not to be loud. I have known him for almost two decades; showboating is not in his vocabulary.

Yet perform he does, and in ways that have affected, and continue to affect, the lives of the proverbial Everyman. Having received the benefit of a very good education (Boston University) — courtesy of his highly successful father, so-called “Plastics King” William Gatchalian (no, not that kind of plastic, William is very straightforward and sincere) — Win appeared to have developed a fetish of sorts for making good education accessible to all. 

Thus, as first district representative of Valenzuela City, he sponsored a bill that eventually became a landmark legislation: the Free Higher Education Act, giving millions quality college education on the government’s tab. 

Winning handily as senator in 2016 and reelected even more handily in 2022, his business background kicked in, resulting in another important piece of legislation, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which simplified and rationalized taxes the better for the country to develop, and more importantly, granting tax breaks to low-income groups. 

He also made into law, among others, the extended estate tax amnesty, the prohibition of the nefarious practice of hazing, fare discounts for students, lower electric rates and — what made communist-front organizations rise up in arms, albeit unsuccessfully — the mandatory registration of SIM cards for mobile phones. 

All of these Win has done without tooting his own horn. In fact, such is his unpretentiousness that, although as one of the most eligible bachelors around, he has had his fair share of high-profile relationships — most notably with actresses Pauleen Luna (now Mrs. Vic Sotto) and beauty queen Bianca Manalo — his love life was never a circus. He has always been discreet and although being what is now termed as a “nepo baby,” he was never showy or flashy about who he is or what he has. Would that all high public officials of generational wealth follow his lead.

As he nears the end of his second term as senator, necessitating a “rest” (as it were) as mandated by the Constitution, his father and I would get into casual and well-meaning debates as to his political future. Would a higher position be in the offing? Only heaven knows. But if it is, then Win, at least equally with others, would deserve it as a true patriot. 

After all, as Adlai Stevenson once said, “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”