DEFINITELY no other woman in the Philippines is as hot in the news today as Senator Nancy Binay who continues to receive bashing from netizens after wearing on Monday’s Senate session—also the day of President Aquino’s State-of-the Nation Address (SONA)—what people considered as a hot air balloon-inspired gown by famous designer Randy Ortiz.
Two days ago during her very first appearance at the Kapihan sa Senado—a press forum with a guest senator organized by the Public Relations and Information Bureau of the Senate and held regularly on Thursdays — Senator Binay showed how unaffected she was with the heckling that is flooding social media up to this time. In fact, during previous interviews, she even gave a “Come on, bash me more!” challenge to her critics, although all these were said in jest, typical of her self-confessed no “NR” or No Reaction personality.
Bernadine Mahinay, a Committee Secretary at the Senate, attests to the carefree and cheery personality of her elementary-through-high school classmate at St. Scholastica’s College.
“She has a great sense of humor and a distinct ability to laugh at herself and her mistakes,” says Mahinay.
Stories about how funny the lady senator could get and about her cheerful nature have all the more drawn people to Binay’s side. Most of these anecdotes have to do with the color of her skin.
Mahinay recalls one time when the senator was having a “selfie” photo with some students where she said jest: “Teka, madilim dito, baka ‘di ako makita. Dito, dito tayo sa maliwanag.”
The adage that “bad publicity is still publicity” has and will work to the advantage of people like Binay who, according to people close to her, is an innately good individual. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT/Josephine Jaron-Codilla
