Press Release - Co-Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Joel Villanueva

Mr. President, my dear colleagues:

It is with great pride and honor to co-sponsor Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1070 honoring and expressing the Senate's sincere appreciation to one of the most hardworking, productive, and brilliant public servants of our time, the pride of Aurora Province, our seatmate and brother, Senator and now Secretary, Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara.

Mula po noong ma-appoint sa DepEd si Sen. Sonny, pakiramdam ko nagkaroon po ako ng "separation anxiety". Kaya kung pwede lang po, ibalik na si Senator Angara sa Senado!

Noong 2012, unang beses po akong naimbitahan ni Sen. Sonny sa kanyang hometown sa Baler, Aurora. Hindi ko po makalimutan nung pinag-surfing n'ya kami sa Sabang Beach sa Baler. Habang inaaral ko mag-surf, sinabihan ako ng instructor ko na, "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf".

Senator Sonny, the Department of Education is like a colossal wave, but I know in my heart that you are the most prepared to face it.

Mr. President, Sen. Angara's accomplishments over the past two decades speak volumes about his ability to address our education challenges.

Wala pong duda na nasa dugong Angara ang pagmamahal sa sektor ng edukasyon - ang kanyang ama na hinahangaan nating lahat, former Senator tito Ed Angara, ang nagsulong ng EDCOM 1, at si Sen. Sonny naman ang isa sa nanguna sa pagtataguyod ng EDCOM 2 na may mahalagang papel sa pag-aangat ng antas ng edukasyon sa bansa.

Senator Angara's unwavering dedication to serving the nation is exemplified by the more than 340 laws that he has authored and sponsored. In simple arithmetic, he averaged 17 laws for every year in service. Considering how hard it is to pass a legislation, this is an incredible feat Mr. President.

His achievements also embody the essence of "Alagang Angara." The quality of the laws passed by the gentleman from Aurora is equally outstanding - covering the important and urgent concerns of the education, health, labor, and sports sectors, and delivering social justice to the vulnerable sectors of society.

He authored landmark legislations such as the: Free Kindergarten Law, the Tatak Pinoy Act, and the recently signed New Government Procurement Act, among others.