This was the most notable outcome of the last election which promises to make the incoming 14th Congress challenging, trying, and unpredictable.

It will be a younger Congress; more forceful; not necessarily more idealistic; more dynastic; more militant coming from left — leftof-center victorious party-list nominees; and aging "trapo" politicians.

First, in the Senate, while bidding farewell to outstanding senators, such as, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Serge Osmeña III, and Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. after their six-year term shall have ended, the remaining 12, namely, Sens. Mar Roxas, Juan Ponce-Enrile, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Rodolfo Biazon, Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Aquilino Pimentel, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Ejercito, Mayor-elect of Manila Alfredo Lim, and Lito Lapid, respectively, will be joined by comebacking Loren Legarda, Gringo Honasan, re-electionists Panfilo Lacson, Manny Villar, Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Kiko Pangilinan; young guns Francis Escudero, Noynoy Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, Migz Zubiri, and Antonio Trillanes.

The 14th Congress promises to be more energetic with the injection of young blood; consistently critical of the Arroyo administration and the First Family; and presumably will be preoccupied by the Presidential ambitions of Senate President Manny Villar, Sen-elect Loren Legarda, enigmatic Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and wishy-washy Sen. Mar Roxas, and others with closet ambition of becoming President in 2010.

Fortunately, for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she continues to have the critical support and sympathy of three worthy quarterbacks in Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Sen. Dick Gordon after the landslide victory of the Genuine Opposition.

We doubt very much if the young ones are ready to do battle with these battlescarred, acerbic and erudite lawmakers other than Sen. Nene Pimentel whose running feud with JPE they will carry to their graves.

Second, it is the remaining three years of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which will demand the highest degree of competence, resoluteness, and creativity and political courage if she expects to sail smoothly into the sunset.

To start with, with the Opposition enjoying euphoria and renewed exuberance, and the administration coalition, in particular, the feuding Lakas-CMD and upstart KAMPI, at each other’s throat, the next three years does not augur well for the administration.

When all is said and done, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will have to dig deep into her experience and intellect, and court her loyal allies — without offering unsolicited reconciliation or power-sharing which is a sign of weakness — to come up with a plan of action that will restore her credibility and trust ratings.

However, at this point in time, she needs to cast the net farther out to attract new recruits of integrity, competence, and nationalism.

Last, there is the culture of corruption — which is no administration’s monopoly — which must be addressed and visibly reduced by example.

There is much toil and sacrifice to be undertaken by the Arroyo administration between now and 2010.

You be the judge. (For comments & views, please email: chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)