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Art by Tine Paz Yap
senate acting challenge
June 23, 2026
6:00 am

The Senate acting challenge

Lights, camera, action!

Who would have thought that the Philippine Senate would be a magnet for actors? Some of them come out in run-of-the-mill action films; some are drama queens. Others have been starring for decades in a telenovela nobody asked for in the first place. All of them like to think they radiate main character energy. As if.

So let’s ride the current Instagram trend and put their mediocre acting skills to the test by picking out some of their most famous lines and challenge them to recite their own words while communicating four different and specific emotions by changing their tone of voice and facial expressions.

Let’s start:

Alan Peter Cayetano, on being ousted from his position: “I’m still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate President.”

  • Whiny
  • Angry
  • Delusional
  • Powerless

Camille Villar, when asked about her involvement in the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project: “I never participated in anything regarding that; I welcome any kind of investigation.”

  • Nervous
  • Dismayed
  • Self-righteous
  • Childish

Pia Cayetano, to the opposition after the Senate false flag shooting: “Wala ni isa sa inyong nangumusta sa amin.”

  • Tearful
  • Disappointed
  • Surprised
  • Hysterical
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Imee Marcos, on losing her Senate posts: “Kami naman ay never napikon; hindi kami entitled.”

  • Friendly 
  • Offended
  • Sarcastic
  • Unconcerned

Loren Legarda, on insisting she remains Senate President Pro Tempore: “I am not AI; I am alive.”

  • Robotic
  • Annoyed
  • Furious
  • Flirty

READ: The stage of the nation

Rodante Marcoleta, on the possibility of his arrest: “Even if they arrest and imprison me, I will not stop.”

  • Defiant
  • Cynical
  • Depressed 
  • Evil

Raffy Tulfo, reaching out to the minority: “Bosses, let’s forget what happened; it’s just part of the game.”

  • Apologetic
  • Authoritative
  • Pleading
  • Excited

Robin Padilla, on where fugitive senator Bato dela Rosa may be hiding: “Kahit alam ko kung saan, hindi ko sasabihin sa ‘yo.”

  • Wooden
  • Wooden
  • Wooden
  • Wooden

READ: For Senator Bato dela Rosa, farcical times call for farcical measures

Martin Romualdez (not a senator, but still), on continuing corruption allegations: “I will not be the fall guy.”

  • Evasive
  • Confident
  • Adamant
  • Tickled

And finally, let’s hear from 

The Filipino people: “We demand accountability.”

  • Unconvinced
  • Outraged
  • Begging
  • Hopeless

And the award goes to…

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