Manila Bulletin

Rookie solon Sandro advised to ‘shut up,’ be a sponge

By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO

Don't talk, just listen. That's basically the advice that Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos received from his esteemed father and uncle as he begins his journey in the House of Representatives.

"Shut up the first four months," Marcos told reporters on Monday, July 4, on the second day of the executive course on legislation for new members of the 19th Congress.

"Makinig ka lang sa mga tao dahil maraming magagaling dito (Just listen because there are a lot of smart people here). So first few months just make sure that you are absorbing everything and learning as much as you can," the neophyte solon said.

He said he received this tip from his father, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and uncle, Leyte 1st district

Rep. and former House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

Suffice it to say that the two have a huge influence on the fledgling political career of the younger Marcos.

The 19th Congress begins on July 25, the day that President Marcos delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

‘I'll make coffee for them’

Sandro may be a presidential son, but he still wants to be treated like the rest of the congressmen.

In a chance interview, the newbie solon was asked if he has been treated differently by his House of Representatives colleagues being the son of President Marcos.

"I don't think so. Nung may konting dinner...noong nag-dinner ako, sinabi ko naman sa karamihan ng mga congressman na sana they treat me just as their equal (During a dinner with congressmen, I told most of them that I hope they treat me just as their equal)," he said.

"I understand naman that being the presidential son puts me in this unique situation as well as being a representative of Ilocos Norte," said the 28-year-old.

"But so far, karamihan naman ng mga tao dito ay nakikila ko na noong ako ay nagtrabaho bilang staff ni (I've already met most of the people here when I worked as a staff of) majority leader and incoming Speaker Martin Romualdez," he said.

"Kaya ang biro ko sa kanila, eh noon, ako ang gumagawa ng kape nila, ako gumagawa ng bills, ako nag-aayos ng kung anu-anong batas. Eh kahit congressman ako, ako pa rin gagawa ng kape nila (I tease them that back then, I used to make them coffee, I prepare their bills, and fix whatever laws. Even if I'm a congressman now, I'd still make coffee for them)," he said in jest.

Romualdez mentored the young

Marcos.

National News

en-ph

2022-07-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

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