Thelma Bueson stole the spotlight from Education Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo when Estrada barraged her with questions for nearly an hour over her Division Letter No. 4 dated June 17, 2004 urging elementary students not to vote, when they reach voting age, for showbiz and sports personalities.
A visibly irked Estrada, an actor himself, said Bueson should have not "singled out" showbiz and sports personalities in her memorandum.
"Lahat ng artista na humahawak ng position sa gobyerno ay nasasaktan (All actors who hold positions in government are hurt)," he said.
Bueson, however, said her memo could have been taken out of context, explaining that it was supposed to be a guide for teachers.
Referring to Catanduanes students, she said, "Yun ang reality, wala silang nakikita (That’s the reality, they don’t see any role models). Their only idea of a professional is a teacher and a parish priest."
She, however, was forced to apologize to Estrada when the senator refused to accept her explanation on why she "singled out members of the entertainment industry" in her memo.
Apparently feeling the pressure, Bueson said she understood the senator’s feelings and that she might have erred in writing the memo.
Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. was apparently not impressed with Estrada’s moves.
"Some of our senators are oversensitive. There is actually no need for Ms. Bueson to apologize," he said.
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. was disappointed that the hearing went too long because Estrada did not follow the five-minute time allotted for each senator.
Before the hearing was over, Estrada invited Bueson to a lunch of menudo and beef strips at the Senators’ Lounge.
In a privilege speech last Monday, Estrada expressed his anger over Bueson’s memo which he said discriminated actors like him.
"When I am already a voter, I will not vote into office actors, actresses (and) basketball players who do not know their work in Congress because they are not educated for the positions of senator, vice president and president," Estrada quoted an excerpt of the memo. — With Sandy Araneta