CHAPTER 4

Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data

This chapter is concerned with the presentation, analysis and
interpretation of data gathered from the respondents through
questionnaire.
1. Perception of the Respondents on the Existing
Constitutional Requirements to become a Senator
The tables below present the perception of the respondents to
become a senator based on the set criteria such as attainability, fairness,
timeliness and relevance.
Table 1
Respondents Perception on the Existing Constitutional
Requirements to become a Senator Based on its Attainability
ATTAINABILITY
Requirements to become a
Mea
Senator
1. Natural-born citizen of the

Verbal

Interpretatio

4.6

n
Strongly Agree

Philippines
2. Able to read and write

SD

4.40894267
5

4.6

4.45132404
1

Strongly Agree

3. At least 35 years old at the

3.8

time of election
4. A registered voter

5. A resident of
the Philippines for not less

3.5

2.2

3.73756441

Somewhat

Agree

2.54908163

Somewhat

Agree

1.76418367

Disagree

than two years immediately

preceding the day of the
election

1.1

Attainability
On the requirement that a senatorial candidate must be a

natural-born citizen on the Philippines, with a weighted mean of 4.8, the

respondents strongly agree that it is attainable.
The respondents strongly agree that the requirements to become
senator natural-born citizen of the Philippines, able to read and write, a
registered voter and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two
years immediately preceding the day of the election are attainable. The
respondents perceived such requirement to be highly attainable because
to become a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, one needs only to be
a biological daughter or son of a Filipino citizen.

As regard to the constitutional requirement that a senatorial

candidate must be able to read and write, with a weighted mean of 4.9,
the respondents strongly agree that it is attainable. With the high
literacy rate of the Philippines compared to other third world countries,
the perception of the respondents agree with the fact that it his highly
attainable for a candidate who wants to run for a senatorial seat.
Another requirement to become a senator is that a candidate must
be at least 35 years old at the time of the election, and with a weighted
mean of 3.3, the respondents showed indifference on its attainability.
The indifference of the respondents to this requirement reflects the
general sentiment of the empowered youth.
With a weighted average of 4.5, the respondents strongly agree on
the availability of the requirement that a candidate must be a registered
voter. The respondents strongly agree to this requirement for voters are
the only ones allowed to participate during elections.
As regards to the requirement that a senator must be a resident of
the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day
of the election, with a weighted mean of 4.5, the respondents strongly
agree that it is attainable. For the respondents, 2 years of residence in

the Philippines is attainable because it allows the prospective senator to

experience and indulge him/herself in the complexity of the needs of the
Filipinos.
Table 2
Respondents Perception on the Existing Constitutional
Requirements to become a Senator Based on its Fairness
FAIRNESS
Requirements to become a
Mea
Senator
1. 1. Natural-born citizen of the
Philippines
2. Able to read and write

SD

Verbal
Interpretation

4.7

4.46231385

Strongly Agree

4.5

4.37268889

Strongly Agree

4
3. At least 35 years old at the

3.9

time of election
4. A registered voter

5. A resident of
the Philippines for not less
than two years immediately
preceding the day of the
election
1.2

Fairness

4.4

4.0

3.80788655

Somewhat

Agree

4.33613201

Somewhat

Agree

3.94063084

Somewhat

Agree

On the requirement that a senatorial candidate must be a

natural-born citizen on the Philippines, with a weighted mean of 4.7, the
respondents strongly agree that it is fair. The requirement is also rated
as highly attainable because the country follows (Jus Sanguinis)
citizenship by the blood.
The respondents strongly agree in the requirement that a
senatorial candidate must be able to read and write. The respondents
reaction mirrors the growing number of middle class in the Philippines.
The country enjoys economic growth and it allows more Filipinos to
send their children to college and even pursue graduate studies.
On the requirement that a senator must be at least 35 years old at
the time of election. The respondents answered somewhat agree that is
fair. The respondents viewed the age of 35 yrs as an adequate age for an
individual to finish his/her studies, pursue his/her career and gather
enough experience to guide him in his/her legislative work.
The respondents somewhat agree on the requirement that a
prospective candidate must be registered voter is fair. The respondents
view voting as a responsibility of an adult Filipino citizen.

In the requirement that a prospective senator must be a resident

of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the
day of the election the respondents somewhat agree. The subjects view
the requirement as an essential pre-requisite to allow them to see what
is happening in the Philippine setting and what the problem on the
ground is.

Table 3
Respondents Perception on the Existing Constitutional
Requirements to become a Senator Based on its Timeliness
TIMELINESS
Requirements to become a
Mea
Senator
1. Natural-born citizen of the

n
4.6

Philippines
2. Able to read and write

SD

Verbal
Interpretation

4.45224

Strongly Agree

1
4.5

4.39596

Strongly Agree

3
3. At least 35 years old at the time

4.1

of election
4. A registered voter

4.5

3.99617

Somewhat

Agree

4.40060

Strongly Agree

5. A resident of the Philippines for

not less than two years

4.1

3.97877

Somewhat
Agree

immediately preceding the day

of the election
The respondents strongly agree that the requirement that a prospective
senator must be natural-born citizen of the Philippines is Timely. The
subjects view this as timely as the country is facing multiple problems
when it comes to foreign affairs. Most especially as China continues to
grab islands in the Spratlys and threatens to strain economic
partnership with the Philippines.
On the requirement: that a prospective senator must be able to read and
write. The respondents strongly agree that the requirement is Timely.
They view this requirement as an important pre-requisite as the country
is having a growing number of middle class citizens who can afford better
education.
The respondents somewhat agree that a prospective senator must at
least be 35 years old at the time of election is timely. The subjects are
torn between the idea of having a young senator who can offer fresh
ideas and new perspectives in tackling problems and an old senator who

is well versed in politics and well experienced in finding solutions in the

status quo.
The subjects strongly agree that a prospective senator must be a
registered voter requirement is timely. They view this as an exercise of
right of an individual Filipino who must cast their votes every six year to
elect their leaders.
On the requirement: that a prospective senator must be a resident of
the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day
of the election. The respondents strongly agree that the a prospective
senator should at least live in the Philippines for two years to allow them
to immerse to the people and for the people to familiarize about the
candidate to allow them to know him/her better.

Table 4
Respondents Perception on the Existing Constitutional
Requirements to become a Senator Based on its Relevance
RELEVANCE

Requirements to become a

Mea

Senator

1. Natural-born citizen of the

4.6

Philippines
2. Able to read and write

SD

Verbal
Interpretation

4.40245

Strongly Agree

8
4.5

4.33236

Strongly Agree

5
3. At least 35 years old at the time

4.0

of election
4. A registered voter

5. A resident of the Philippines for

not less than two years

3.95200

Strongly Agree

8
4.4

4.1

4.27641

Somewhat

Agree

4.01654

Somewhat

Agree

immediately preceding the day of

the election

The respondents strongly agree that the requirement that a prospective

senator should be a natural born citizen of the Philippines is relevant.
The figures show that although Philippines is on the for front of
globalization with millions of Filipinos living abroad and an increase of
influx of foreigner in the country.
The data shown in table 4 concluded that the respondents strongly
agree on the requirement: that a prospective senator should be able to
read and write as relevant. It shows that Filipinos view the ability to read

and write as an essential skills as an adult citizen of a country that has

almost 98% literacy rate based on UN standards.
The respondents strongly agree that the requirement that a prospective
senator should At least 35 years old at the time of election is relevant.
The respondents range from age 18-21 college student and most of them
are still reminiscent of their lesson from Psychology and Sociology.
The table 4 showed to us that the respondents are somewhat agree to
the requirement: that a prospective senator should be a registered voter
is relevant. Voting is viewed as a rite of passage for Filipinos and a citizen
who cast his/her vote is viewed as a politically aware citizen who
partakes in activities that will shape the political aspect of the country
for the next six years.
The data shown in table 4 showed to us that the respondents somewhat
agree that a prospective senator should be a resident of
the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day
of the election is relevant. The respondents answer showed that it is not
enough that a senator is a natural born citizen it is also important that
he/she is immerse himself with the Filipino people and share with them
their daily struggles and experience.

2. Perception of the Respondents on Possible Additions to

Improve the Qualifications of Senators
The tables below present the perception of the respondents on the
possible additions to the requirements to become a senator based on the
interview conducted by the researchers.

Table 5
Respondents Perception on the Possible Additions to Improve
the Qualifications of Senators in Terms of Academics
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

Mea

Verbal

Interpretatio

4.6

n
Strongly Agree

College degree holder

Civil service exam passer

SD

4.42373007
3

3.3

2.31806122

Indifferent

4
Knowledgeable in Parliamentary
Procedures

3.6

2.285

Somewhat
Agree

Table 5 shows to us that the respondents strongly agree to the

proposed additional requirement: that a prospective senator should be a
college degree holder. College is a place where specialized learning is
taught to an individual and makes sure that a student knows a little on

every academic subject essential to daily life. Entering college and having
a degree does not automatically make a person smart, but it reflects the
persons strong character, resourcefulness and willingness to spend 4
years of his/her life for the pursuit of knowledge.
The respondents are indifferent on the proposed additional
requirement that a prospective senator: must be a civil service exam
passer. The respondents are indifferent because they perceived exams
not as a measurement of intelligence and mental acuity but a
measurement on how good an individual is at memorizing things and
how good he/she at answering examinations.
The data on table 5 concludes that the respondents somewhat
agree to the proposed additional requirement on becoming a senator of
the Philippines that a prospective senator must be knowledgeable in
Parliamentary

Procedures.

Parliamentary

procedure is

the

body

of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations

of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies.
The respondents view this as an essential requirement in law making
practices as their knowledge on parliamentary law enables a senator to
function, debate and speak out during formal sessions.