Talk First, Think Later

Disclaimer: I don't really have much of an idea about the entire legislative process, nor do I fully understand it, so I simplified things for the sake of the story.

The week has been full of back-to-back hearings for Leni. With the budget season in full swing, she attended the hearings of various agencies in the morning, this time on the other side of the table.

Having a bigger voice as being 1 of 24 meant having to scrutinize every line item to make sure everything was in order. If anything, her experience as a former Vice President allowed her to see things and patterns others don't spot as easily.

In the afternoon, she chaired one of her own hearings as chair of the Committee on Local Government and Good Governance. This particular hearing is about the People Empowerment Bill, one of the pet bills that she championed as early as her congress days.

As she had three more prior hearings on this bill, this went by swiftly compared to the previous ones. Not too long to go before the bill goes through the Technical Working Group and is eventually condensed into the resulting committee report.

Another week has passed, and Leni, with the help of her legislative staff, finally drafted the committee report. Now she has to go through the task of getting enough signatures needed to be able to sponsor the bill on the floor.

"Madali lang naman, diba?"

Except, it wasn't.

Getting her allies to read and sign the report was the easy part. A couple of them have indicated intentions to interpellate and amend, but that's part and parcel of legislation.

Convincing the senators in the majority bloc, on the other hand, was a different ballgame.

Leni shuttled to each and every senator's office in an attempt to catch them with enough free time for them to be able to read and sign the report, but most were either out or seemed non-committal with their answers.

She did this for the entire week, only to end up with one additional signature. A far cry from the 13 needed for her to be able to sponsor it on the floor.

Getting desperate for answers, Leni marched to the office of the majority bloc senator she has the most access to. She passed by every door until she found the one with a textile installation right in front, a sign that she was in the right office.

Leni then trooped right into the door inside and knocked three times.

—

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Loren was reading the piles of budget paperwork on her desk when she heard the knock on the door.

She then breezed to open it, then saw Leni on the other side. "Leni, what are you doing here?",

Leni smirked. "Usap tayo."

Loren spaced out for a couple of seconds before leading her to the round table nearby. "Okay, dito tayo sa table"

"Tanong ko lang kung may caucus ba kayo kanina or busy lang?", Leni explained. "Kasi tapos na ung committee report sa People Empowerment Bill, pero ang hirap nilang hagilapin para pumirma."

Loren nodded, albeit her eyes seem to be in another plane. "I see. May budget hearings pa rin so baka busy pa. Hinabol mo na ba sila sa lounge?"

Leni flipped through the committee report. "Si JV, napapirma ko, pero ung iba naka-ilang hingi nako ng update, wala pa rin."

She then handed the report to Loren. "Pwede ka rin namang pumirma."

Loren grabbed a pen and signed her initials and a note signifying an intention to interpellate and amend. "I've already read this when your staff sent the soft copy so I'll just sign this. Ako bahala sa pirma nila, okay?"

Leni sighed in relief and clasped her hands. "Salamat, Loren. Sabihan mo ko pag may update na."

"Will do. See you in plenary later!", Loren said, waving Leni goodbye before closing the door.

As soon as Leni left, Loren grabbed her phone and sent a message. "Sherwin, Migz, buking tayo. Pumunta si Leni sa office ko at pinapapirma ung committee report."

Send.

Not even a minute after, she received a message from Migz. "Tita Ganda, don't panic. Let's have some of us sign with the intention to interpellate/amend, have her sponsor, then go for Plan B."

Loren typed another message in reply. "Okay. Sherwin, you there?"

Send.

Win then replied right after. "No worries, Tita. Marami namang nag-sign for interpellation, so schedule natin sa Rules, but just...don't show up pag time to interpellate."

Loren then sent her final message. "Perfect. Maraming salamat!"

Send.