Francis Escudero

"It has been said Mr. President, that while we can only read the prose in the laws we pass, he sees numbers in them, and imagine them in digits."

"While we simply see the provisions, he would see the costs hidden in each section, and then proceed to remind us of their burden to taxpayers."

"So whenever the tug of populism tempts us to pass measures without regard of their fiscal cost, he is there to ask us if those who will ultimately foot the bill can actually afford it."

"Mr. President, this ability – this ability to give us a reality check before we write a check charged to the people – to me is his value to this institution and the service he renders to the citizenry who sent him here."

"And because he believes numbers don’t lie, he minces no words in explaining them, and will not consult the political weather bulletin on when to expose them. So much so, that he sometimes sails against the wind, driven only by the motto set by his grandfather, who also once sat here, that one must do what is right over what is popular."

"Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, having logged eighteen years of service in the legislature, two years of hard labor in the Cabinet, and helping out in the local government unit of Batangas for nearly nine years on a pro bono capacity, the one I am nominating, Mr. President, today has certainly paid his dues and has earned his right to be promoted for a podium position."

"I think it is time for us to ensconce him in the rocking chair up there that we reserve for senior members of the chamber."

"Besides, Mr. President, distinguish colleagues, he has twenty years experience of being number two already, as he reportedly plays number two in matriarchal household with his wife."

"True or not, this man who is married to the Star for All Seasons will remain an all-weather friend to me, and to most of us."

"On this note, Mr. President, distinguish colleagues, it is my distinct honor and privilege to nominate Senator Ralph Recto as our President Pro Tempore."

"As a father, I will work hard to ensure that I teach them the right values in life and with the RH Bill, to arm them with knowledge so they can ably decide for themselves."

"It is not for any institutions or any foreign entities for that matter to dictate upon us what to and what not to tax. IMF and its chief has no business in even suggesting that we impose tax on text. The power to tax is inherent in Congress and any external intervention is already meddling with our sovereignty."

"I will be running for senator as an independent and I have no plans of joining any political party."

"Alliances are political certainties and there is rhyme and reason to that. The polls may be already next year but personally I think it’s not yet the right time to be busy about political shopping."

"The mismatch problem occurs as the workers required by companies for their vacancies are difficult to fill up due to shortage of talents in the labor pool. An Asian Development Bank study said labor mismatch is one of the culprits behind the country’s slow economic growth and that the mismatch may be caused by too many highly educated people chasing too few jobs in the country."

"The least that government can do for our athletes in general is to show that they have our support. We ask them to carry our flag and compete with the highest possible degree of sportsmanship and excellence while representing our country. Government should be able to ensure their safety."

"I believe that both sides of the RH debate genuinely want what is best for our people, we just differ in our experience, approach abd belief. Those who voted or will vote for or against the RH bill are not necessarily good and not necessarily evil."

"In victory and more especially in defeat, we should stand behind and be proud of Pacquiao. He has nothing to be ashamed of. Pacquiao gave it his all. It just so happened that Marquez was the better boxer, at least for today. My congratulations to him."

"IMF's Lagarde has no business in even suggesting that we impose a tax on text. I am against it and will oppose it! Our house is in order. If at all, she should make suggestions to her fellow Europeans who can perhaps learn a thing or two from us. Proud to be Filipino!"

"I love putting my kids to sleep. Cherishing every moment of it knowing that it won't be the same once they are all grown up."

"My father, Representative Salvador “Sonny” H. Escudero joined our Creator at 3:30 a.m today. He died in his sleep at home in Sanville, Quezon City after battling colorectal cancer for almost two years."

"Tatay has always been the center of our family. He was a father first and foremost and a man who deeply loved his country and his people second. He devoted his entire life to public service."

"While we mourn the passing of our father, we thank everyone who cared for him and supported him in life, and we thank those who continue to pour their love, support and prayers for him and our family in this most trying moment."

"Our father's remains now lie in state at the main chapel of Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City."

"His remains lie in state at the Mt. Carmel Church at Broadway corner 5th Street, New Manila, Quezon City until Tuesday."

"On Wednesday, his remains will be transferred to the House of Representatives at the Batasan Complex. The House of Representatives will be holding necrological services at the Plenary Hall at 9a.m."

"A final wake will be held on Thursday until Saturday in our hometown in Sorsogon City, province of Sorsogon."

"His remains will be transported back to Quezon City on Sunday morning. A mass will be held at the Arlington Memorial Chapel in Araneta Avenue, Quezon City where his remains will be cremated."

"His ashes will be brought to the columbary at Christ the King Parish in E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City."

"I urge the AFP and also the PNP to aggressively go out there and fill the yearly quotas for new recruits. Spend the budget intended for hiring new personnel. Don't let the old system prevail again where the allocation for hiring new personnel is scrimped on so that the amount can be converted into savings and diverted to line the pockets of some unscrupulous individuals. This has already cost so many lives and has orphaned thousands of wives and children."

"I commend our soldiers for their gallantry and bravery and for fighting for our freedom. I want to know if our soldiers were killed in a legitimate encounter or were they again butchered like pigs like what happened with our five marines."

"As a country, which is unfortunately frequented by natural calamities many times over in a year, we should already build, establish and continuously strengthen the capacity of our rescue forces so we can easily mobilize forces to avoid loss of lives and properties."

"While it is true that we are recipients of certain aids from the US government and without making excuses for the misgivings of our law enforcement, it is not for foreign entities to rate us or grade us or whether we pass their benchmark or not, especially when no bases are given. We are not their students and they are not our teachers to say the least."

"Statistics and information has become the lifeline in policy-making the world over. We must be at par with our neighboring countries, if not the world, to be equipped with vital and current information on world trade, events and trends."

"We want people to remember what should be remembered on how fraud was committed to rob FPJ of his rightful place in history and on how people who voted for him of their political rights to install the president of their choice were also cheated."

"Let us not just bear witness to cases of involuntary and forced disappearances. These have caused our country big black eyes and have placed us under tight watch of both local and international rights groups and even foreign governments. We need to put this measure in place."

"It is high time that our government start to acknowledge that we have a labor-export policy and rid the industry of unscrupulous labor recruiters and protect our migrant workers. We already have enough, ripe reasons to initiate a government- to-government arrangement for labor migration since we have long seen the reality of labor exodus of Filipinos to other countries. The Philippine government can no longer deny this."

"The issue of prisoner swap is highly emotional and delicate. We have to carefully tread within the ambit of a particular country’s laws, which we would also like other countries to respect ours. But as a government, it behooves us to do everything within our capacity to give our people what the government should – to protect its people in and out of the country."

"I still believe that majority of our officers and men in uniform are honest and hardworking. It would be a disservice to lump them together with those crooked individuals."

"Home is my sanctuary; once inside, anything that happened outside is already forgotten. To be able to play with my twins and read stories to them is always a pleasure, especially when they amaze me with their new found words or phrases. Kids are amazing spirit boosters!"

"That whatever position I'm holding right now won't last forever. It will come to an end, and so I better be sure that at the end of it all I'd still be able to hold my head up high and still be able to live and breath freely."

"Let an hour of darkness enlighten us of the need to change our lifestyles if we are to arrest the continuing degradation of the planet. Let it also remind us of the dark future we are facing if we don't act now."

"This bill, if passed into law, will serve as a deterrent to those who will take advantage of the poverty situation in order to profit from selling our women and children. This is one of the most repulsive crimes in society today, and we must not allow our women and children to fall prey to these vultures."

"I encourage you to visit the devastated areas and talk to the people and listen to them... Not just distribute relief and then leave. I encourage you to visit the devastated areas and talk to the people and listen to them... Not just distribute relief and then leave. I assure u that you will learn a lot by being able to see things from their eyes... and perhaps those who criticize would understand. Beyond receiving relief goods, sometimes they also need someone who will listen to them. Try it. I promise that u will learn a lot."

"Typhoon-prone areas in our eastern seaboard should have rescue units, pre-positioned relief and safe/dry evacuation centers (not just schools)."

"If Fernando Poe, Jr. were with us today, he would have celebrated his seventieth birthday, as always, with family, friends, and his legion of fans."

"One of the most influential figures in Philippine cinema, Da King touched the lives of many people even before running for the presidency in 2004. A prolific and outstanding actor who won the most best actor awards from FAMAS, he would not need his acting skills in 2004--as his genuine concern for Filipinos of all walks of life was apparent as he went around the country to campaign against a government that was as crooked and menacing as the villains he faced in his movies."

"It is said that life imitates art, and in FPJ's case that was true. He played tough, honest heroes who fought for the common tao; and as someone aspiring for the most powerful office in the land, he exhibited those same qualities, and was supported by millions of his countrymen."

"There are those who would say that it is unfortunate that his campaign for the presidency did not turn out like one of his movies--for in 2004, it appeared that the villains had won the day. As his spokesperson then, I know that he would have told us not to lose hope for, like in the movies, good will ultimately triumph over evil."

"Happy birthday, Idol. You can be assured that, as one of your movies says, "Hindi Pa Tapos Ang Laban!""