Romualdez tells House ‘SMART’ interns: Welcome to the heart of democracy

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday welcomed incoming college interns who are part of the Strategic Mentoring and Research Training (SMART) Internship Program of the House of Representatives.

Romualdez describes the internship program as “a visionary project that aims to groom the next generation of leaders.”

Romualdez was the guest speaker at the launch of the internship program held at the Women Legislators’ Lounge, which was also attended by Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, Isabela Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III, Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco, UP Chancellor Carlo Vistan, and deans and officials of partner higher education institutions.

“Our dear SMART interns, you are not just entering an institution; you’re stepping into the heart of our democracy. This is not merely an observational exercise but an avenue to understand the intricate machinery that drives our legislative body,” Romualdez told 32 college interns from UP, Lyceum, Trinity College, and UST.

The Speaker said Marcos was a former intern when he was the House Majority Leader during the previous 18th Congress.

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre also shared during the event that he started as ordinary congressional staff before being elected congressman this 19th Congress.

The participants in the internship program will be assigned to do immersion work within the secretariat of the lower chamber.