Senate President Win Gatchalian shares lesson he learned from ex-SP Chiz Escudero: 'Importante ang image'
Senate President Win Gatchalian shared that he learned the importance of the Senate's image from Sen. Chiz Escudero.
During a press conference on June 18, Gatchalian answered hard-hitting questions like queries on Vice President Sara Duterte's upcoming impeachment trial and more light-hearted ones about his leadership style. He even paused in the middle of the presser to take a sip of water, as he hadn't had time to drink after coming from the gym.
The Senate President then mentioned that going to the gym helps him decompress. "Para mawala 'yung stress," he said.
He then quipped about the changes to expect with him as the upper chamber's leader, including bringing back some of Escudero's implementations when the Sorsoganon lawmaker was Senate president.
"Gusto ko style ni Sen. Chiz, malinis 'yung banyo, malinis 'yung garden, mabango 'yung Senate," he said. "In fact, kausap ko na nga siya. Hiningi ko kung saan supplier niya ng pabango."
Kidding aside, Gatchalian noted that visitors first perceive the image of the legislative body.
"'Di naman nila alam 'yung rules of the Senate. First impression nila, malinis ba yung banyo, maganda ba yung garden, maliwanag ba yung Senado? Those are the basics. Noong mayor ako, ganun din ginawa ko kasi image ng Senado yan eh," the Senate President, who served as mayor of Valenzuela from 2004 to 2013, said.
"That’s one thing I’ve learned from Sen. Chiz na importante ang image. It might be trivial, parang hindi importante, pero in the eyes of the public, importante 'yan."
Asked to describe his leadership style, Gatchalian deferred and instead said to let his work stand for itself.
"I think most of you have witnessed my last 10 years here. Pati [Technical Working Group] pinupuntahan natin. Kasi para sa'kin, TWG mas importante sa hearing kasi nandoon 'yung nitty-gritty ng bill-making, but I enjoy it. Natututo ako at nakikilala ko mga resource persons," he said.
Gatchalian has served as senator since 2016. On June 17, he was elected Senate President, replacing Alan Peter Cayetano, in a special Congress session.
The Senate constituted a quorum with 13 senators present, including Escudero and Sen. Joel Villanueva, who were previously part of the Cayetano bloc.