House Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez
Like many children, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez grew up observing his father, Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, at work. It just so happened that his father’s occupation came with the responsibility of leading the province of Leyte as governor, and eventually representing the country as ambassador to the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia. “We were very much exposed at an early age, seeing my father, outside the house, in the field, either at the provincial capitol, or eventually, at the respective embassies where he served. So, we saw him with his constituents and with his colleagues in the embassies, so that definitely made us focus on a life of public service,” the proud son reminisces.
By observing not only his father, but also his uncles, grand-uncles, and other relatives, Romualdez received his early education in public service and avers that, while their clan was perceived to be powerful, they were in touch with the masses. “We learned that the priority was just not to be inward-looking, but also outward-looking, aware of those around us and those who may need more than we do. “We’ve been blessed in many ways, and so we were always taught to look out for others, and to uplift the lives of others who are not similarly fortunate or as blessed.
So that was something that was instilled in us.” Romualdez’s own exposure through joining the Kabataang Barangay, a precursor of today’s Sangguniang Kabataan, propped his vision to serve. “When this was founded in the mid-‘70s, it was definitely a popular movement that gave a sense of purpose and direction to a lot of the youth and there was a lot of value formation in the whole Kabataang Barangay institution.
We were very blessed and happy to be part of that, and to lead, not just the Municipality of Tolosa, but the Provincial Federation of Leyte.” That experience introduced him to like-minded young leaders, he says, many of whom he now sees in the halls of Congress or in the local government unit (LGU) offices of their provinces.
An advocacy from earlier days has led to what he calls one of his biggest accomplishments in Congress thus far, the bill on the amendment of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability (PWDs). “Here, we basically rationalized and made uniform the benefits and the privileges that persons with disability would have, similar to that of senior citizens. We felt that that went a long way in helping our PWDs.” He shares the reason why he made this his cause. “I’ve been exposed to a relative who also was afflicted with some disabilities and that led me to volunteering in East Providence, Rhode Island, near where I studied for my preparatory school in the United States.
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There, I worked with children with disabilities. Then, I came up with a coffee table book and that definitely helped in developing my interest in helping the less fortunate and marginalized.”
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CALMNESS AMIDST CALAMITY
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His biggest challenge was facing the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda in his province back in 2013. He shares, “When [Typhoon] Yolanda struck us, everyone felt hopeless, almost in despair.
There was like an exodus.” A lot of people wanted to leave because there seemed to be nothing left, not just in Tacloban, but in the better part of the region of the Eastern Visayan area, where the typhoon struck. “Everyone just wanted to leave.
There was no power, no utilities, and no signal. Basic services were all crippled.” Somehow, somewhere, he says, he found faith in God and found solace in the fact that this too will come to pass. “I just had to remain hopeful through all the sadness and trauma.” What bolstered his faith was the outpouring of help, which he describes as an immediate, spontaneous inflow of support from the nearby provinces. “That definitely boosted the morale of the Leyteños and the Samareños who were initially the hardest hit by [Typhoon]
“ INSTEAD OF BEING DESPONDENT, LOSING HOPE, AND BEING IN DESPAIR—JUST LIKE DURING YOLANDA, WE HAVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN CONVERT THIS MOMENT INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD FOR OTHERS.”
Yolanda. That, coupled with the international aid that was flowing in.
That basically inspired us and uplifted us. It really rallied us to keep the faith and remain hopeful.”
The experience led him to support the formation of a Department of Disaster Resilience, which he explains as something akin to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the U.S. “After Yolanda, we were told about these best practices and protocols that other countries have.
So this is not just a council that coordinates the existing Cabinet portfolios as with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), but a dedicated agency or department with its respective budget for the immediate response to any disaster, and the preparation and the preemptive measures that can be undertaken.
We need someone who’s there on a dedicated basis because, as you know, the Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world in terms of very difficult typhoons, earthquakes, and more recently, volcanic activities that wreak havoc on the communities.” THE VOICE OF THE MAJORITY Now, as majority floor leader of the House of Representatives, Romualdez also has the task of prioritizing measures to help Filipinos through the pandemic, particularly through the budget hearings that are crucial to ensuring funds for the country’s recovery.
He is especially focused on how Filipinos can overcome these challenges, as he himself tested positive for the Coronavirus in March 2021. Of the experience, he says, “I saw how difficult it was to be isolated, especially when you’re diagnosed with COVID-19.
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You don’t have as much interaction, and it aggravates your situation because your morale goes down. You derive a lot of strength and inspiration from having your wife and your children around you all the time.
This becomes limited because of quarantine protocols. Malaking sakripisyo, that’s why we’re hoping that humupa na itong pandemya. Talagang agrabyado lahat dito, hindi lang yung kalusugan ng tao, pati ang ekonomiya ng bayan (It’s a huge sacrifice, that’s why we’re hoping that this pandemic will end soon.
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Everything and everyone is aggrieved, not just people’s health, but also the country’s economy).” He says that while the position of majority floor leader was not something he sought out, he accepted the challenge, grateful for the trust and honor that was given to him by his peers in Congress. “The work that it entails is actually beyond your scope of focus or concern as a district congressman.
You’re usually focused on your respective district, in your province, and you try to just limit yourself to that. So, all of a sudden, from focusing on your district, you have to be attuned to the concerns of the other congressmen’s areas of responsibility—their districts, their jurisdictions, and their advocacies, as well. You have to be ready to accept and embrace all of that.”
In his capacity, he helps to direct the discussions on the floor, and he says it is no easy task. “Here you’ve got to be a little bit more knowledgeable of everything, because that seems to be the order of the day.
You set the agenda, you set the flow, and you prioritize.
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You manage the floor in terms of what do you take up first, which measure is going to be sponsored, which one will be interpellated, and which one will be prioritized.” Despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic, Romualdez happily reports that things are on track. “We’ve used technology and we’ve made it as efficient as possible. We are actually achieving record measures.
The House of Representatives has actually generated more legislation than the previous Congress.” Online meetings have helped to move things along. “We’ve become very, very efficient, and thorough, nonetheless, because the ability for us to even meet more often via Zoom facilitates fast-tracking decision-making.
We still miss the personal interaction among our fellow legislators and with the stakeholders. But nonetheless, under the circumstances, and the limitation of the protocols from these quarantines that we have, we’ve been able to manage and we’ve been able to do the job well.” One thing he is mindful of as part of the majority is the minority’s voice, and he gives an idea of how they fit into the grand scheme of things. “I start every Rules Committee meeting with the statement, ‘In this Congress, the minority is the priority,’ because while they might comprise about only 10% of the House, their presence—by tradition—is always required.
We always wait for them, and they actually help us to ‘fiscalize’ the House.” He reveals that the minority voices are actually the most dominant and get about 90% of the “airtime” during budget deliberations. Perhaps due to his track record, Romualdez was touted as a possible vice presidential candidate by President Rodrigo Duterte. “It came to me as a great surprise—a pleasant one at that. I’m 30 LEAGUE very grateful, as well as honored and humbled at the same time. Similar to the majority leader position, it was something that I wasn’t really thinking of.” “For the President to believe that I have the capability or the capacity to actually fill that position is definitely a great honor and definitely a big challenge.
To be honest, it’s still something that I have to deliberate over… I will consult the constituency, the party, and the other leaders whom I respect before I throw my hat into the elections.” With only a few more months before the start of the campaign period, Romualdez is focused on his family, which is always his top priority. “Without them, the inspiration to serve the constituency and the country may not be as readily apparent.” His wife, Yedda, is also in Congress, representing the party-list group Tingog Sinirangan. “And it’s great to have her there, because she has a deeper understanding of the work that I initially got into.
Now that she’s more involved, she knows what’s going on, so we understand one another. We discuss, but never heatedly, at home. I learn a lot from her, in her own advocacies.” The couple also make sure that their children are given as much time as possible, particularly now that they’re able to spend a lot of time at home, working out of the house. “We get to see the children, maybe more so than they want to see us,” he grins.
As with his experience with natural disasters and other health crises, he sees the current situation with a glimmer of hope. “There’s a Chinese saying that sheds light on how to turn crisis into opportunity.
So definitely, we are all in this crisis and we have to take advantage of it. Instead of being despondent, losing hope and being in despair—just like during [Typhoon] Yolanda, we have to see how we can convert this moment into an opportunity to do good for others. I think our collective and personal experiences of this COVID-19 pandemic has made us want to strive to become better people, despite the challenges.” The way Filipinos come together in difficult circumstances is a point of pride, he underscores. “When [Typhoon] Yolanda struck, I was very proud that our countrymen jumped in to help us recover.
All the Filipinos from different regions came over to help us, completely spontaneous. The spirit of altruism, compassion, and malasakit, was so evident. It inspired us all.” Now faced with another crisis, the country is tested once again. “What makes this time different is that it is not just nationwide, but it’s global,” he adds. “What we Filipinos need now is more patience and more unity.
We need more inspiration to carry on, to band as one country, as a people, and to uplift the spirits of those who have been afflicted and affected by COVID-19.” Romualdez indeed aims to inspire hope. “We just have to realize and have faith in God that we will overcome and that we will succeed.
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We will bounce back stronger than ever before!” In his capacity, he helps to direct the discussions on the floor, and he says it is no easy task. “Here you’ve got to be a little bit more knowledgeable of everything, because that seems to be the order of the day.
You set the agenda, you set the flow, and you prioritize. You manage the floor in terms of what do you take up first, which measure is going to be sponsored, which one will be interpellated, and which one will be prioritized.” Despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic, Romualdez happily reports that things are on track. “We’ve used technology and we’ve made it as efficient as possible. We are actually achieving record measures.
The House of Representatives has actually generated more legislation than the previous Congress.” Online meetings have helped to move things along. “We’ve become very, very efficient, and thorough, nonetheless, because the ability for us to even meet more often via Zoom facilitates fast-tracking decision-making.
We still miss the personal interaction among our fellow legislators and with the stakeholders. But nonetheless, under the circumstances, and the limitation of the protocols from these quarantines that we have, we’ve been able to manage and we’ve been able to do the job well.” One thing he is mindful of as part of the majority is the minority’s voice, and he gives an idea of how they fit into the grand scheme of things. “I start every Rules Committee meeting with the statement, ‘In this Congress, the minority is the priority,’ because while they might comprise about only 10% of the House, their presence—by tradition—is always required.
We always wait for them, and they actually help us to ‘fiscalize’ the House.” He reveals that the minority voices are actually the most dominant and get about 90% of the “airtime” during budget deliberations.
Perhaps due to his track record, Romualdez was touted as a possible vice presidential candidate by President Rodrigo Duterte. “It came to me as a great surprise—a pleasant one at that. I’m LEAGUE Magazine Sept 2021 INSIDE.indd 30 09/09/2021 12:28:22 pm very grateful, as well as honored and humbled at the same time.
Similar to the majority leader position, it was something that I wasn’t really thinking of.” “For the President to believe that I have the capability or the capacity to actually fill that position is definitely a great honor and definitely a big challenge.
To be honest, it’s still something that I have to deliberate over… I will consult the constituency, the party, and the other leaders whom I respect before I throw my hat into the elections.” With only a few more months before the start of the campaign period, Romualdez is focused on his family, which is always his top priority. “Without them, the inspiration to serve the constituency and the country may not be as readily apparent.” His wife, Yedda, is also in Congress, representing the party-list group Tingog Sinirangan. “And it’s great to have her there, because she has a deeper understanding of the work that I initially got into.
Now that she’s more involved, she knows what’s going on, so we understand one another. We discuss, but never heatedly, at home. I learn a lot from her, in her own advocacies.” The couple also make sure that their children are given as much time as possible, particularly now that they’re able to spend a lot of time at home, working out of the house. “We get to see the children, maybe more so than they want to see us,” he grins. As with his experience with natural disasters and other health crises, he sees the current situation with a glimmer of hope. “There’s a Chinese saying that sheds light on how to turn crisis into opportunity.
So definitely, we are all in this crisis and we have to take advantage of it. Instead of being despondent, losing hope and being in despair—just like during [Typhoon] Yolanda, we have to see how we can convert this moment into an opportunity to do good for others.
I think our collective and personal experiences of this COVID-19 pandemic has made us want to strive to become better people, despite the challenges.” The way Filipinos come together in difficult circumstances is a point of pride, he underscores. “When [Typhoon] Yolanda struck, I was very proud that our countrymen jumped in to help us recover.
All the Filipinos from different regions came over to help us, completely spontaneous. The spirit of altruism, compassion, and malasakit, was so evident. It inspired us all.” Now faced with another crisis, the country is tested once again. “What makes this time different is that it is not just nationwide, but it’s global,” he adds. “What we Filipinos need now is more patience and more unity.
We need more inspiration to carry on, to band as one country, as a people, and to uplift the spirits of those who have been afflicted and affected by COVID-19.” Romualdez indeed aims to inspire hope. “We just have to realize and have faith in God that we will overcome and that we will succeed. We will bounce back stronger than ever before!”
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