The 14th Congress will open on Monday as mandated by the 1987 Philippine Constitution with the Speakership issue in the Lower House very much at stake coupled with a Senate new looks.

The belated victory of Benhur Salimbangon as congressman in one of Cebu's legislative districts definitely gave a boost to Pablo Garcia's speakership bid.

So far, we only saw the name of Rep. Edgar Chatto of Bohol's first district as among those who backed up the re-election bid of Jose de Venecia.

* * * * * * * *

While of course, we would not be surprised if de Venecia will set a record-breaking re-election as Speaker of the Housae with his ultra-traditional politics akin to his rainbow coalition, administration coalition and so forth and so on.

But Cebu's Pablo Garcia has more cards up on his sleeves as practically wrought havoc even in the ranks of the President's own political party, Kampi.

The next few days would be the most abundant period in the live of our beloved congressmen as de Venecia has been known to be dispensing logistics nowadays as if he is an automated teller machine. Let's see when the smoke clears on Monday.

* * * * * * * *

IN the Upper House, which congressmen prefer to call as the Smaller House, the new breed of Generation X senators will be in the Hallowed Halls of the Senate known to be the bastion of the ultimate legislation.

The likes of Chiz Escudero and Allan Peter Cayetano will definitely spell the difference to the images of senators who are trying to uphold the Senate tradition in every aspect they could including fashions.

Cayeteano and Escudero attended their COMELEC proclamation in denim pants and body fit clothes unlike the traditional senators who prefer suite and barong tagalong.

Migz Zubiri projected during his proclamation as the 12th senator-elect last Saturday noon that he prefers to do the old fashion way by wearing a barong tagalong.

* * * * * * * *

In the local front, we are also excited how Cong. Adam Jala, fresh from Ateneo law school, would carry on the weight of being the representative of Bohol's third district.

We learned from reliable sources that the older Jala, who promised to kowtow his son up to the August Halls of Congress, is not in the pink of health nowadays.

IN the meantime, so much is brewing for the barangay elections this coming October. Filipinos really don't run out of its favorite past time, politics.

* * * * *

For comments and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail addresses: obiter@boholchronicle.com