Years after the restoration of the Senate under the 1987 Constitution, a move to house it in its more or less proper place, is again being considered in hopes it would recapture its old glory.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the other day made it known that negotiations were under way on the possibility of leasing the abandoned Manila Film Center within the Cultural Center of the Philippines area for the purpose.

"We are already in the process in negotiating with the CCP," he said, explaining that in fact, "we are looking at closing the negotiations before Christmas."

Zubiri hopes to start renovation of the building by next year to suit the needs of the upper chamber of Congress.

The Philippine Senate with its composition of 24 members including the Senate president, is probably the most influential among the branches of government.

For one, its members enjoy senatorial courtesy, an unwritten agreement among senators that requires the president of the Philippines to confer with the senator or senators of his party before making any appointments from among their constituencies.

Failure to do so would invariably result in the rejection of the presidential nominee when the senator or senators involved raise a personal objection.

Also, senators are generally accorded greater prestige than their House counterparts mainly because of their nationwide bailiwick and greater influence in national affairs.

So, why is it languishing in a rented wing at the back of the Government Service Insurance System building with the lettering identifying it as "Senate of the Philippines"?

For years before the declaration of martial law, the Philippine Congress was housed in the original National Museum building with the House of Representatives at the main floor and the Senate above it. It was a more respectable place both in location and in architectural appurtenances but the abolition of the Senate and the change into a fake parliamentary form of government altogether demeaned the concept of our democratic ideals, including those that defined its finest exemplars.

Now it appears the senators are serious about the refurbishment of their chambers – and for good reason – except that the Manila Film Center that they want to occupy is said to be haunted by the shadowy eeriness of the cabala, whatever that means. The scuttlebutt was that during the construction of the building, the scaffold being used by the workers collapsed causing them to fall into the fresh cement and burying them alive.

Until now, it is said agonizing voices and wailings are heard around the place at certain times at night.

But the senators are not concerned about all those, it seems, as they foresee a long-term contract to use it as the next venue of the Senate of the Philippines.

For now, that's a decidedly better alternative to its present location, but when will the government provide a permanent legislative building that the country deserves and hopefully inspire brilliant and patriotic Filipinos to be its honorable members?

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)