Senate honors 100-year-old Enrile for contributions to PH gov't

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution honoring former Senate President and now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile for his service and contributions to the country in his 100 years of life.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero authored Senate Resolution 1223 which highlighted Enrile's public service for almost six years which covered the terms of eight presidents of the republic.

Escudero praised Enrile for his "brilliance and bravery" which the latter exhibited mostly during his time as a member of the Senate.

"In our library are many laws that bear his name as author, surpassed only in number by the laws purged of mistakes and polished to perfection by a first-rate mind he deployed in the service of the republic," Escudero said.

"This is a man, Mr. President, who is not only an eyewitness to the many historic events of our nation, but who actually took part and actually shaped them," he added.

Despite his age, Escudero noted that Enrlie is still serving the Office of the President at 102 years old.

"With his experience, sharp mind and work ethic, President Marcos Jr. is lucky to have this legal heavyweight in his corner," the Senate president said.

"Our country, Mr. President, is better off because of Juan Ponce Enrile. And today, I salute the man, I salute his achievements, I salute the friend that I’ve learned to respect and love in the many years I’ve served not only in this chamber but also in the House of Representatives," he ended.

Senators Nancy Binay, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel Zubiri, JV Ejercito, Mark Villar, Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla, and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also delivered their co-sponsorship speech on the resolution honoring Enrile.

In her speech, Legarda praised Enrile not only for living in a span of 100 years, but for making "a century count."

"Manong Johnny’s story is far more than the sum of his accomplishments. It is the story of a man who dared to weather the storms of criticism and the tempests of change. He has shown that true strength lies not in unyielding rigidity, but in the ability to stand upright again and again, no matter how fierce the gale," Legarda said.

"Let us be reminded that the measure of our service is not in the number of years we serve but in the depth of our contributions," she added.

Zubiri, for his part, lauded Enrile for consistently making himself indispensable for administration after administration.

"Throughout his long and blessed life, Manong Johnny has cemented his legacy as a peerless public servant. And today, we are honoring him, but the truth is that it is our honor to have worked with him and learned from him throughout these years," Zubiri said.

After the acknowledgments from the senators, Enrile was allowed to speak during the plenary session to respond to the lawmakers' words of honor.

"I appreciate this unusual and unique gesture that you accorded me this evening to recognize my humble contribution not only to this chamber, but to the country. And I must tell you that if there is anything else that I will cherish much in my life, it will be this," Enrile said.

"Thank you for giving me this resolution. Perhaps this will be the last honor that I will receive, but nonetheless from the bottom of my heart, I'm grateful and thank you very much," he added.

While thanking the senators, Enrile also reminded them that being in the Senate is "not something that can be taken for granted."

"It is an honor and privilege and a very heavy responsibility. You represent the people, you represent the country, you balance the lower house, your another chamber, your president is number three in the hierarchy of succession," he said.

He told the lawmakers to work for the future generations of Filipinos.

"You are now in charge of this country and this country must be handled by every generation of Filipinos," Enrile said.

"I went to war during the war, I participated in the drama that we have had in this chamber, I have been jailed several times, but I survived and that's why I'm here today. That is the essence of our struggle. To make this country exist not for ourselves, not for anyone but for our families and for our descendants," he stressed.

While having a long list of experiences in his pockets, Enrile still acknowledged that the current environment is more challenging than during his time.

"One thing I can tell you. You are young people. I have worked with you, I have worked with your parents, but you are living at a time perhaps much more difficult and much more challenging than the time I have lived with," he said.

"I would like to let you know that if there is anything that I can do for you, for each and everyone of you, just call me and I will give you my two cents advice," he added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News