MANILA, Philippines – Nagpahayag ng matinding paghanga at pasasalamat ang halos lahat ng senador kay dating Senador Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara bago tumulak bilang pormal na kalihim ng Department of Education (DepEd).
Sa isang parangal na resolusyon, pinagtibay ng lahat ng miyembro ng Senado na dumalo sa sesyon nitong Martes, ang Senate Resolution No. 1070 na inawtor nina Senador Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, at Joel Villanueva.
“Senator Angara brought extraordinary industry and prolificacy to the Senate, with his contributions having a significant impact on overall performance of the entire institution, and for this he deserves the sincere appreciation and commendation of this August Chamber,” ayon sa resolusyon.
Personal na tinanggap ni Angara ang pinagtibay na resolusyon na ginawang co-author ang lahat ng miyembro ng Mataas na Kapulungan, alinsunod sa mosyon ni Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Sa kanyang sponsorship speech, inisa-isa ni Zubiri ang ilang batas na binantayan ni Angara sa kanyang karera bilang mababatas sa House of Representatives at Senate.
“While we in the Senate are sure to feel his absence throughout the rest of the 19th Congress, we are also very proud to see him take on the enormous task of heading the Department of Education at this very crucial time for Filipino learners,” ayon kay Zubiri.
“As a senator, he has been competent in the heat of crisis and brilliant in the face of difficulty. So I have every faith that as Secretary of Education, he will be able to untangle the problems besetting the sector,” dagdag niya.
Bukod sa limang co-authors ng resolusyon, nagbigay din ng hiwalay na papuri sina Senador Grace Poe, Bong Go, Robin Padilla, at Ronald dela Rosa kay Angara.
Sa kanyang bahagi, sinabi naman ni Villanueva na nakararanas siya ngayon ng “separation anxiety” nang iwan siya ni Angara para gumanpan bilang DepEd secretary.
Nagbiro pa siya na gusto nitong magmosyon na ibalik si Angara sa Senado.
“Bagamat nalulungkot akong magkahiwalay na ang Splash Bros ng Senado, mananatili po kaming magkatuwang sa pagpapaunlad ng sektor ng edukasyon at sa pagsisilbi sa Bayan,” ayon kay Villanueva.
Ibinahagi din ni Poe, pumalit kayAngara bilang chairperson ng Senate finance committee, ang ilang funny tales hinggil sa bagong DepEd chief.
“For me what really stood out is his character. He is a very kind person, very patient and most importantly, very humble…Si Senator Angara pumapasok yan dito na naka-plastic envelope lahat ng mga files niya na niregaluhan ko na nga ng leather folder, ginamit ng isang linggo [at] ako’y nagpasalamat pero bumalik uli sa plastic envelope because it’s practical,” ayon kay Poe.
“Kahit hindi naman pinaplano, nagkakataon na palagi kaming nagkakasama nu’ng 2013 pa sa mga lakad namin at ang mga natutunan ko sa kanya, mabait siya, ‘wag lang gutumin. Pag gutom, napakasungit na,” biro ng senadora.
Pinasalamatan din ni Poe si Angara sa pagiging mapagbigay sa kanila tuwing may matatapos na gawain. “Hindi siya matipid sa pagkain.”
Itinuturing naman ng mambabatas si Angara bilang “tunay na gentleman pero puwede din siyang maging most kanto boy bully.”
“He has the most scathing remarks that get him in trouble. But because of his charisma, he always gets away with it,” ayon kay Poe.
Angara was also “the most acceptable across all administrations” and “he was the favorite,” giit ng senador.
“They see in him somebody who can cooperate and at the same time, contribute valuable insights. So from the PNoy administration to the Duterte administration, to the current administration, they all trust Senator Angara and again, for good reason,” dagdag ng senadora.
Para naman kay Legarda, hindi nito makalilimutan ang kahusayan, matalas na pag-iisip at kasipagan.
“I will miss your being funny. I will miss your sometimes making fun of your tita but I have forgiven you for that even before but you never apologized,” biro ni Legarda kaya nagtawanan ang manonood sa loob ng session hall.
Bago pagtibayin ang panukalang resolusyon, inaprubahan ni Escudero ang mosyon na kilalanin ang lahat ng miyembro bilang co-author nito.
“We, all of your colleagues here in the Senate, your co-workers here in the Senate, we are sure that will make us even more proud as you wear another hat in the Executive Department as the new secretary of basic education,” ayon kay Escudero. Ernie Reyes
