MANILA, Philippines – Celebrity congressmen like former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd district Pampanga- Lakas-Kampi-CMD), former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos (2nd district Ilocos Norte-KBL), Manny Pacquiao (lone district Sarangani-NP), Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district Leyte-LP), and Lani Mercado (2nd district Cavite-Lakas-Kampi-CMD) upstaged fellow neophytes and seasoned lawmakers at the orientation seminar of the House of Representatives Plenary Hall for first-term representatives.
Arroyo slipped into the Plenary Hall towards the latter half of the seminar which began at 8 am. She sat towards the side and was joined by fellow neophyte, her former Agriculture Secretary, now Rep. Arthur Yap (Bohol, Lakas-Kampi-CMD).
She was asked to join all the neophyte lawmakers towards the end of the seminar for a group shot, after which she was hounded by media across the floor.
She declined interviews and only said, ?Okay,? when she was asked how she felt during the seminar.
At one point, she tried to slip under a velvet rope trying to avoid the media, as she was escorted by her remaining Presidential Security Guard (PSG) compliment to the south lounge reserved exclusively for lawmakers.
Most media ran after her and ignored the other congressmen after her arrival.
This is the first time she showed up in Congress as a congresswoman, and her first major public appearance after relinquishing the presidency last week.
However, this is not her first parliamentary stint, have been a senator from 1992 to 1998 before becoming vice president and eventually president.
Incoming majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said the former president will not get any special treatment in the lower house.
Imelda’s signature outfit, hairdo
Seated a few steps away, and among the early birds was Marcos, who came in her signature outfit and hairdo.
Marcos was seen chatting with fellow lawmakers during the seminar. It?s not exactly her first time since she was a congressman 10 years ago.
Marcos said she will support the Aquino administration’s legislative agenda and a bill on the compensation of human rights abuse victims.
Marcos, however, stressed she preferred not to have out-of-court settlements with victims and have it in-court instead. Marcos said she herself is a victim of human rights abuses.
Pacquiao’s priorities
A few more tables away sat Pacquiao, who was also one of the early birds.
Pacquiao told media he was interested in being a member of a sports-related committee, even as he vowed to work on bills for his district as his priority.
Pacquiao said he would eventually join the LP as he backs the Aquino administration. He said he also intended to greet his patron, Arroyo, who was a key supporter of his boxing career.
He said he understood what was being told to them during the seminar, which delved on the basics of parliamentary procedures.
Biazon and the better-dressed solons
Another celebrity lawmaker of sorts is former Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who won his son?s former congressional seat in Muntinlupa.
In his orientation speech, majority leader Gonzales emphasized that Biazon may be in for a culture shock as congressmen have shorter times for speech during sessions compared to senators.
Arguably among the better-dressed lawmakers were Gomez and Mercado.
Another celebrity lawmaker, Pangasinan 4th district Rep. Gina de Venecia, wife of former Speaker Jose de Venecia, was absent.
How to be a congressman
The orientation seminar had 112 particpants.
It started with breakfast, followed by a video presentation on the facilities of the Batasan Pambansa, the legislative process, drafting of bills and parliamentary procedures by House secretary-general Atty. Marlin Yap.
This was followed by a presentation on the budget process by 14th Congress House appropriations committee chairman Junie Cua, a presentation on his experience on the use of parliamentary rules by Gonzales, and experiential sharing speeches by 14th Congress House Constitutional amendments committee chair Victor Ortega and Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla.
The seminar was done 19 days before the opening of the 15th Congress, when President Benigno Aquino III delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Between now and then, congressmen are expected to set up their staff and move into their offices.
Pork and perks
Aside from lawmaking, congressmen also get Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) worth P70 million a year for projects in their constituencies. They also get budgets for the maintenance of their staff.
They earn P35,000 in salaries monthly, on top of a P200,000 monthly budget for their district staff. They are entitled to a maximum of 6 personnel for their staff.
They also get diplomatic passports and travel allowances subject to the approval of the Speaker of the House.
Congressmen also get to exact favors and deals for their district from line agencies during committee hearings on matters relating to specific line agencies.
There are 286 Congressmen in the 15th Congress. A total of 57 are party-list lawmakers, 229 from districts;144 constitute a quorum.
Of the district representatives, 119 are on their first term, 75 on their second term, and 35 on their third term.
In the May 2010 elections, 108 ran under Lakas-Kampi-CMD, 20 under the Naconalista Party (NP), 28 under the Nationalist People?s Coalition (NPC), 40 under the Liberal Party (LP), 6 independents, 4 under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, 2 under the PDP-Laban and 1 under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.
