SENATE President Francis Escudero wrapped up the third regular session of the 19th Congress on Wednesday night with a message of appreciation and unity, thanking colleagues and Senate staff for their dedication while calling for respect and cooperation beyond politics.
During the sine die adjournment, Escudero delivered a brief but heartfelt speech, laced with humor.
“Bugbog tayo sa trabaho, bugbog tayo sa labas, bugbog pa rin tayo sa loob,” he quipped, referring to the Senate’s demanding workload in recent weeks.
He offered light, personalized farewells to fellow senators—commending Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel for his probing interpellations, Senator Nancy Binay for her quiet hard work, and Senator Bong Revilla for his friendly advice. He grew sentimental when mentioning Senator Grace Poe, admitting he’d miss her the most for constantly keeping him on his toes.
Escudero also recognized the vital role of the Senate secretariat and staff, praising their tireless behind-the-scenes work.
He urged senators to move beyond past political allegiances, saying, “We must not be judged by who we supported in the last election, but by how we serve today.”
Ending on an optimistic note, he said, “I won’t say goodbye… just, until we meet again.”
