BY FARAH G. DECANO
Senateflex
Some netizens have dubbed the series of highly emotional events in the Upper House of the Philippine Legislature as “Senateflix,” aportmanteau of Senate and popular streaming app, “Netflix.”
The latest of these dramatic episodes was the tearful, passionate outburst of Senator Pia Cayetano during a Wednesday session. She questioned her colleagues from the minority, asking why there hadn’t been even a single expression of concern from them. This was in response to Senator Risa Hontiveros’ earlier statement regarding a controversial shooting incident the previous Wednesday, where she remarked, “parang walang nangy
Displaying intense emotion is a natural human response. What caught the public’s attention, however, was the disproportionate nature of Senator Pia’s reaction to Senator Risa’s comment. In fact, three senators were photographed looking at Senator Pia in disbelief and confusion, as if wondering, “What is eating you, Pia?”
While many social media influencers have written about this uncharacteristic display from the usually composed senator as a political gimmick orchestrated by her brother, Senate President Alan, I prefer to view it differently. I believe her reaction was genuine.
—————————
Much like the streaming platform it is named after, “Senateflix” offers a wide variety of genres: action, thriller, and, with Senator Pia’s recent outburst, psychological drama.
Former FBI agent Charles Hugh claims that poor reactions to events often stem from grief patterns learned during childhood. He references The Behavior OPS Manual, which states that children are confronted by three fundamental questions as they begin to socialize:
Will I be liked? Will I be safe? Will I be chosen? These questions can be translated into what might be called “triangular needs”: I need to be liked. I need to be safe. I need to be chosen.
The child’s experiences become deeply embedded into their psychological framework, dictating how they behave. “No, it is not a dysfunction,” Mr. Hughs
To spot this hidden grief and understand someone’s behavior, one must: pay close attention to disproportionate reactions and identify the probable loss behind them.
Senator Pia Cayetano built her political career as a champion of women’s and children’s rights. Alongside the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and then-Congresswoman Risa Hontiveros, she successfully pushed for the enactment of the Magna Carta of Women in 2009. She even served as the president of the Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, earning widespread respect.
However, her decline in popularity and credibility began when she fumbled in her defense of her political benefactor, President Rodrigo Duterte. In doing so, she mimicked one of the most outdated defenses of abusive male behavior: “boys will be boys.”
Consequently, she was no longer perceived as an independent woman guided by her own moral compass, but rather as someone willing to compromise her principles to maintain power. For ten years, Senator Pia toed the line drawn for her by the Dutertes, even though deep down, she possessed the capability to forge her own path, as she had so often done before.
——————————
Recently, she aligned herself with the faction of Duterte allies led by her brother, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. She effectively turned her back on her previous coalition to join the majority bloc. Despite pronouncements of attack by her brother during that controversial Wednesday shooting, she was pictured sitting comfortably in a room surrounded by her new allies. No one, including her, appeared afraidat all.
On that fateful day of the shooting, she shed whatever remained of her credibility and integrity. She was unmasked before the very public she wishes to serve and please. And the latter started detesting her. Her triangular needs have been shaken to their very core: she is no longer liked, she is no longer safe, and she is no longer chosen.
Yes, her emotional outbursts are genuine. They stem from a profound place of personal loss. Hence, her grief. Hence, her overreaction.