Sen. Pia Cayetano: She’s called to serve

With the May 14 elections just a whisper away, the Filipino people, for the nth time, are bombarded with politicians who mouth inanities and who use their eloquence to fool people.

The allure of Sen. Pia Cayetano, aside from her height and luminous beauty, is her gift of gab, which she uses not to make empty promises and raise false hopes but to create awareness of the pressing issues confronting this country.

Pia is fully armed with the academic requisites to make it big in politics. She acknowledges the fact, however, that her famous last name has done her and her siblings immeasurable good in the past.

But who she is now and the kind of politician she has become after years of seeing her through the turbulent waters of politics are her own doing.

Compañera, as Pia is fondly called, finished a degree in Law and Economics. Her Senate profile claims she is the youngest female senator in the history of Philippine politics.

Early on in her lawyering career, Pia was exposed to the issues facing the country. Part of the credit goes to the late Sen. Rene L. Cayetano who hosted the top rating show Compañero y Compañera. With Pia as co-host, Pia had her share of media exposure as she assisted her father in giving free legal advice on national television.

After her father’s demise, Pia gunned for the Senate. Capitalizing on an illustrious name and a well-funded political campaign, Pia won.

Her legislative agenda is focused on health care reform and women empowerment.

"There is a need to review policies on the availability and affordability of medicines and basic health care services," she stresses.

More than reviewing policies, Pia wants to empower community health workers and to address the exodus of health professionals.

Taking cue from her mom who is a preschool teacher, Pia likewise advocates early childhood education.

Her being a fitness buff is anchored on her agenda to promote a healthy lifestyle among women, particularly mothers.

Her advocacy for the prevention of liver cancer is obvious because her father died of the disease. Regarded as one of the most productive lawmakers, Pia filed and sponsored Senate Bill No. 2027 which designates February as Liver Cancer and Hepatitis-B Awareness Month. The bill has been passed. Pia also seeks to amend the law on infant Hepatitis-B vaccination by filing and sponsoring Senate Bill No. 2012.

For environment preservation and protection, Pia is batting for the approval of bills on sustainable forest management and supports the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

"There is so much to be done in the environment. The clock is ticking," she points out.

Pia also lends her influence to bring to the fore gender issues such as domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and children caught in armed conflict situations.

Away from political arena, Pia is a hands-on mother to her two kids.

"I always look forward to bonding with my kids. It’s a real joy to be with them at the end of each day," she shares.

This mother of two — Maxine, 11 and Nadine, seven — fits the word to a T.

Pia literally grew up in sports as she was a former member of the Philippine Volleyball Team. She was also part of the training pool of the Philippine Duathlon Team.

The death of her son Gabriel inspired Pia to establish the Gabriel Symphony Foundation. Her son was diagnosed with multiple congenital anomalies. The foundation has been helping children afflicted with disabilities.

This early, rumors are going around that Pia is eyeing the mayoralty of Taguig. She reveals: "Let’s just say that I’m studying my options. But it is still too early to say."

One thing is sure though that when she returns to the Senate to complete her remaining three years, Pia won’t shortchange us.