by Roberto M. Cabardo

Cebu City (November 19) -- While his ascent to the Senate presidency is a source of joy for his cohorts, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who spanned decades of political career may have yet a defining moment to excite the ordinary Filipino citizen.

This is what a political scientist from Cebu says when asked for her personal opinion on the new role the legislator has in the upper chamber.

Professor Gia Sayson who also chairs the Political Science Department of the University of San Carlos, says Enrile has yet to excite the Filipinos especially the youth, for while he may have years of experience as a politician, he still has so much to prove.

"His (Enrile) emerging platforms are not much of an excitement. In this times of crisis, he has to feel the pulse of the people and his being the Senate president does not bring any excitement for the people," said Sayson.

This Cebuana professor also shares that political scientists are more interested on how Enrile's term would impact on the masses where most of the Filipinos belong.

For she believes that while Enrile may be new in the Senate presidency, like government development programs like Ramos' Philippines 2000, Angat Pinoy, and Strong Republic, people now are more concerned about results.

"People now are so numb with what's new," she quips.

When asked what her unsolicited advice to the new senate president would be, Sayson says, "he will have to surround himself with a young team - a team that really looks at what tickles the 'masa' especially that election is coming, so he can rejuvenate (himself) by surrounding himself with young advisers. He can be a green man, for example, caring about the environment and other issues that are shared by the masses."

In a speech shortly after his installation, Enrile apologized for his shortcomings and dispelled fears that he would use his position for his own agenda.