THERE is an old saying that goes, 'Those who can play, play. Those who can't play, coach. And those who can't do either get themselves elected to Congress.'

OK, I made that last part up. However, the characterization seems appropriate often enough, especially since an alarmingly high percentage of Philippine legislators in both houses seem to think the first item in their job description is to 'say things.' Long gone are the days when the honorific sobriquet 'solon' was at all applicable, because most of the things they say are either restatements of the obvious or just plain dumb.