The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — A lighthearted exchange briefly eased tensions in the Senate on Tuesday after Senators Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid expressed thier appreciation for each other during the plenary session, as the chamber remained divided following recent leadership changes. The session opened with a manifestation from Cayetano, who thanked Lapid for calling on senators to unite and avoid further conflicts. Lapid, who rarely speaks during plenary proceedings, made an emotional appeal to his colleagues to preserve unity and restore the dignity of the institution amid political tensions that have persisted since the May 11, 2026 leadership change. He also urged guests attending the session to pray for the senators as they worked through internal disagreements. At the same time, Lapid denied rumors that he was planning to leave the minority bloc to join the majority. “I will never leave the minority,” Lapid said, putting to rest speculation surrounding his political alignment. Cayetano, meanwhile, expressed appreciation for Lapid’s friendship despite belonging to different political groups. She cited the senator’s monthly gifts of homemade delicacies such as maja blanca (pudding) and suman (rice cakes). The exchange drew laughter from senators and guests after Lapid responded in Filipino by saying he wanted Cayetano to know that he loved her, drawing cheers inside the session hall. Cayetano responded with a playful “flying kiss.”
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