Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano trade sweet words over maja blanca, suman

Senator Lito Lapid's unrelenting acts of generosity towards Senator Pia Cayetano has earned her gratitude, but he didn't stop there.

With both of them at the Senate plenary on Tuesday, Cayetano thanked Lapid for regularly sending her Filipino delicacies—namely maja blanca and suman—even if they have ended up in different political blocs over the years.

"Gusto ko lang magpasalamat kay Senator Lito Lapid na kahit magkaiba na tayo ng partido, I think we are batchmates so magkasama kami since 2004, majority or minority, buwan-buwan nagpapadala pa rin sya sa akin ng maja blanca at suman. Maraming salamat po," Cayetano said.

(I just want to thank Senator Lito Lapid that even if we belong to different political parties, he sends me maja blanca and suman every month. I think we are batchmates so we have been colleagues since 2004. Thank you very much.)

Lapid was generous with his kind words as well. He told Cayetano: "Gusto kong malaman mo na mahal kita."

(I want you to know that I love you.)

Cayetano and Lapid were both first elected to the Senate in 2004, and are serving their fourth terms in the upper chamber. They are currently on the Senate majority and minority blocs, respectively.

Their exchange drew laughter in the chamber and briefly lightened the mood amid the ongoing political tensions in the Senate.

This came after Lapid clarified to the Senate body that he remains with the minority bloc amid speculation that he was planning to join the majority.

Lapid, who rarely takes the floor during plenary sessions, made the clarification through a manifestation.

"Tungkol sa nangyari kahapon ay kumakalat sa social media na ako ay lilipat na sa majority. Hindi po totoo 'yan. Mananatili ako sa minority group, hindi po ako aalis dito," Lapid said during the plenary session.

(Some social media posts are speculating I am moving to the majority bloc. That is not true. I will remain with the majority.)

The issue stemmed from Monday's debate over a controversial video presented by Senator Imee Marcos during a privilege speech.

During the session, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri moved to strike the video from the Senate record, describing it as propaganda. The motion was seconded by some senators but opposed by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who later claimed that Lapid had supported his objection.

Marcos eventually agreed to withdraw the video, prompting Zubiri to withdraw his motion as well.

"At 'yung motion ni Senator Zubiri kahapon ay sinusuportahan ko. Hindi lang ako nakapagsalita kahapon dahil akala ko ay may botohan kaso wala naman," he said.

(I support Senator Zubiri's motion yesterday. I simply did not get the chance to speak because I thought there would be a vote, but there wasn't.) — VDV, GMA News