If surveys were to be believed and if elections were held today, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada would top in the list of winning senators. What a shame! Shame on us, a nation of ignoramus.

The bakya crowd will decide the fate of this country. Their number is so overwhelming no amount of education could caution them they’re making, as always, a wrong approach in electing national officials.

Pulse Asia, a reputable survey firm, says that behind Bong and Jinggoy are Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ralph Recto, Sergio Osmeňa, Vicente Sotto III, Lito Lapid, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and Joe De Venecia.

We are inclined to question, if not mourn, why Estrada and Revilla are topping in the senatorial surveys. The two are seeking reelection for whatever purposes they alone are aware of, but we beg to argue that the two are worthy to be reelected, let alone make laws for the country and for its people.

Our curiosity of these two senators as to why they dominate in the surveys would not have been invited had the two been known in public as hard working senators. Unfortunately they are not.

Their impending victory can only be credited to their immense popularity as movie personality and son of a deposed president. What else can the two senators show to the public and prove the Filipino vote has not been wasted upon them?

Gone are the days in Philippine political history when those elected into the Senate were people of highest degree of respectability and honor, in addition to their being expert in their chosen fields. That whenever these officials of old times speak their statements are treated with patriotic fervor.

What we have today is a mere list of rehashed names of senators. They’ve been there for the last 20 or so years. After their term expires they rest for one term and then they seek reelection thereafter. And it is easy for them to get back their senate seat because of their political machinery that was established during their incumbencies.

Without necessarily singling out Estrada and Revilla, the composition of the Philippine Senate today is a study of circus. One wants to be shot. Another fled abroad fearing unfair prosecution. Another is facing inquiry regarding alleged road project corruption. Another is detained at a police jail for rebellion and disloyalty to the duly constituted government of the republic. Two others are busy making movies and making money.

This is not the kind of senate setup the country needs. Aside from the fact that our country does not need new laws (we have enough of them), what the nation needs are senator who truly protect the interest of our people, and not merely puppets of the occupants at Malacaňang, senators who can decide for themselves without being reprimanded by their secret bosses, senators whose only claim to legacy are not their archives of poorly-made movies and sitcoms, or senators who have dark stories of the past.

It is not enough that we elect a good president. We should also elect able and respectable senators. And senators who truly represent the sentiments of our people. How can they represent our sentiments when these senators are nowhere to be seen in the Philippine provinces except during election campaign period?

If the composition of our current senators is something that tells us how immature, ignoramus, unenlightened, apathetic the majority of the Filipino voting populace is, then we should correct it in May 2010.