Senate honors Angara as he leaves for DepEd post

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution expressing its appreciation to former Senator Sonny Angara after he resigned from the chamber to serve as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Senate Resolution 1070 was authored by his closest colleagues, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, and 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," the resolution read.

In his sponsorship speech, Zubiri enumerated the pieces of legislation that Angara shepherded during his tenure as lawmaker both in the House of Representatives and in the 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," Zubiri said.

"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," he added.

Apart from the five co-authors of the measure, Senators Grace Poe, Bong Go, Robin Padilla, and Ronald dela Rosa also gave their own speeches commending Angara.

Villanueva, who is also Angara's basketball buddy, said he was experiencing "separation anxiety" since his colleague left for DepEd.

The senator even joked about being "tempted" to move for Angara's return in the Senate.

"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," Villanueva said.

(Even though I am sad that the Splash Bros in the Senate are going their separate ways, we will continue to work together for the education sector and to serve the country.)

Poe, who replaced Angara as the chairperson of the Senate finance committee, also shared some funny tales about the new 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," Poe said.

(Senator Angara would come in with all his files in a plastic envelope, so I gave him a leather folder. He used it for a week and I'm grateful for that, but he went back to plastic envelopes because it's practical.)

"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," she joked.

(Though we never planned it, we often ended up on our travels, and what I've learned about him is that he is kind, as long as you don't make him hungry. He gets mean when he's hungry.)

Poe also thanked Angara for being generous with them whenever they accomplish a task. "Hindi siya matipid sa pagkain."

The lawmaker also tagged the new DepEd chief as the Senate's "proper gentleman" but "he can also be the 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," she said in jest.

Angara was also "the most acceptable across all administrations" and "he was the favorite," according to Poe.

"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," she said.

For her part, Legarda said the senators will miss Angara's eloquence, sharp mind, and hard work.

"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," Legarda jokingly said, making the people inside the plenary laugh.

Before the adoption of the measure, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that all 23 members of the chamber are made co-sponsors of SR 1070.

"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," Escudero said.

Angara was personally in the Senate to accept the resolution and he was given a chance to respond to all the commendation he received from his former colleagues. — BM, GMA Integrated News