Metro Manila, Philippines – Senators described their dinner with the president on Monday, Jan. 13, as a light New Year’s gathering, though even First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos herself acknowledged the controversial timing.
“Sabi nga ni first lady, parang every time nagpapa-dinner, nagkakaroon ng event kasi I think yung last dinner was after the Senate change in leadership. ‘Yun ‘yung last,” Senator JV Ejercito, one of the 19 senators present during the dinner, shared to reporters on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
“Tapos ngayon naman… kasabay nung INC (Iglesia ni Cristo) rally. Although hanggang dun lang hindi naman pinag-usapan ‘yung about the INC rally,” Ejercito added.
[Translation: The First Lady mentioned that it seems like every time there’s a dinner, it coincides with an event. I think the last dinner was after the Senate leadership change – that was the last one. And now, this time… it coincided with the INC rally. Although that’s as far as it went; the INC rally wasn’t discussed.]
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife also hosted the senators at Malacañang on May 21, 2024, a day after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero replaced Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri as chamber leader.
The latest dinner took place on the same day an estimated 1.8 million members of the INC held a peace rally in support of Marcos’ stance against efforts to impeach former ally, Vice President Sara Duterte.
The first lady posted photos from the dinner on her social media accounts Tuesday night, saying she had a “lovely time catching up with our senators and their spouses.”
“Here’s to a year filled with unity, progress, and hope for every Filipino,” she captioned.
She also disclosed that the dinner was held at the Bahay Pangulo, the President’s official residence in the Malacañang compound in Manila.
In a text message to reporters, Escudero described it as a “chillax dinner.”
“It was purely socials and part of the regular/seasonal gathering between the members of the Senate and the President. There was no formal program nor official matters discussed,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the dinner was scheduled months ago and was “not predetermined or influenced by any other event.”
Ejercito said he received the invitation a week before.
Absent
The president’s sister, Senator Imee Marcos, was conspicuously absent. She noted that she did not receive an invitation and isn’t bothered by her absence.
“I don’t fuss over social events,” she said in a separate text message. Sen. Marcos is a known close friend of the vice president.
Also absent were Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, and known Duterte allies Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Senator Grace Poe was not in the initial photos but later joined the gathering.
Two-hour dinner
Ejercito said the dinner lasted two hours, with mostly casual discussions.
He said Escudero told the president that many of the priority bills could still be passed in the remaining months of the 19th Congress.
Ejercito also raised the need for a revamp and potential leadership change in the state health insurer PhilHealth to fully implement the Universal Health Care Act.
“Syempre I shared my frustration ako ang principal sponsor nito sabi ko i think there has to be a radical change that has to be done [Of course, I shared my frustration as I’m the principal sponsor of this. I said I think there has to be a radical change that needs to be done]… I think he agrees, he nodded eh,” Ejercito said.
