Bam Aquino

Sen. Drilon to fellow Ilonggos: Make Sen. Bam No. 1 senator in Iloilo City

Sen. Bam Aquino’s re-election bid in the May elections received a major boost after he was endorsed by Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon in his hometown of Iloilo City.

In a rally in Iloilo City on Wednesday, Drilon called on his fellow Ilonggos to make Sen. Bam their No. 1 senator in the upcoming polls.

“Dapat No. 1 si Bam dito sa city. Iyan ang hinihiling ni Sen. Drilon sa inyo dito. Dahil makakatulong siya sa kapakanan ng mga Ilonggo,” Drilon told the crowd at the North Fundidor Gym in Molo.

“He’s one of the brightest Senators I’ve worked with. He’s sincere. He’s a man who is sincerely concerned for our welfare- especially sa future ng kabataan,” added Drilon, saying Sen. Bam is the first senatorial candidate in the May elections that he’s endorsed.

Drilon described Sen. Bam and the Aquino family as a dependable ally in the development of the province of Iloilo, citing some projects that were funded during the previous administration.

“Sa aking pananaw, ang ating city kailangan pa ng tulong. Kailangan ko si Bam. Kasi 24 kami. Kung ako lang, mahihirapan ako. Kailangan ko ng maaasahan sa Senado. At si Senator Bam ay maaasahan,” Drilon emphasized.

Drilon also laid down Sen. Bam’s legislative accomplishments, saying he pushed for the passage of several important laws that focus on the welfare of the Filipino people, including the free college law that is being enjoyed by thousands of Ilonggo students.

In a separate interview, Sen. Bam thanked Sen. Drilon for his overwhelming support for his candidacy.

“Napakalaking bagay ng endorsement ni Sen. Drilon dito sa Iloilo. Mahal na mahal sya at nirerespeto ng mga Ilonggo,” said Sen. Bam, who has 40 laws to his name in his almost six years as senator.

Sen. Bam: Only an independent Senate can push country forward, protect its citizens

Only an independent Senate that is not beholden to anyone will push the country forward as it will work for the interest of the Filipino people, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed.

“Kung ang Senado ay sunud-sunuran lamang sa kagustuhan ng administrasyon, walang pipigil sa mga polisiya na nagnanais taasan ang buwis ng mga mamamayan, mga batas na nagpapataas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, who is running for re-election under the Otso Diretso coalition.

 Sen. Bam said an independent Senate will prevent the passage of any law that is detrimental to the welfare of the public, like the controversial Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law that burdens the Filipino people with high prices of food and other goods.

An independent Senate also ensures check and balance between branches of government and serves as watchdog against corruption, guaranteeing that those involved in anomalies will be punished.

“Ang isang independent Senate ay magbabantay laban sa mga magnanakaw sa pamahalaan at maniniguro na ang mga ito’y mapaparusahan,” stressed Sen. Bam.

An independent Senate will also guarantee that the will of the people is being followed, and not just serve as a rubber stamp of the administration.

 “Napakahalaga ang ibang boses sa Senado dahil ito ang maninigurado na ang sinusunod ay di lang ang kagustuhan ng administrasyon kundi ang kagustuhan ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Also, attempts to change the 1987 Constitution to remove term limits of elected officials and change the system of government to fit their political agenda will have no chance under an independent Senate.

 Sen. Bam stressed that an independent Senate can be achieved by selecting candidates that will work for the welfare of the people and not serve the interest of the administration.

“Sa darating na Mayo, kilatisin nating maigi ang mga kandidato para matiyak na sila’y magsisilbi para sa interes ng bayan at hindi para sa kapritso ng administasyon,” said Sen. Bam.

In his almost six years as senator, Sen. Bam has 40 laws to his name, including the landmark Free College Law that he pushed as principal sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t can fund free college even without TRAIN Law, Duterte being misled by economic managers

Sen. Bam Aquino believes the government can fund free college even without the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, insisting that President Duterte is being fed wrong information by his economic managers.

“Hindi po totooong walang pagkukunan ng pondo ang gobyerno para sa libreng kolehiyo at ibang serbisyo kung ititigil ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who opposed the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Mali ang ibinibigay na payo ng economic managers ng gobyerno kay Pangulong Duterte,” added Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law.

In fact, Sen. Bam said that in 2017, the Senate allocated funds for the first year of implementation of the free college law for 2018, even before the TRAIN Law was passed.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the government economic managers are trying to divert funds for other purposes, based on an earlier pronouncement by Sen. Panfilo Lacson that he has identified around P410.98 billion from the 2019 national budget allotted for pork barrel.

“Sapat ang pondo ng gobyerno para sa mga proyekto. Ang problema, ang ibang pondo, nagagamit sa ibang bagay para sa kapakinabangan ng iilang tao,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension of excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law, filing the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May 2018 to help ease the burden of Filipino people on high prices of food and other goods.

Sen. Bam’s  measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

“Tama na po dagdag-pahirap sa mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo. Bigyan naman natin ang mamamayan ng ginhawa,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Like EDSA, May elections give Filipinos chance to fight for future, welfare of families

While the 1986 EDSA Revolution paved the way for millions of Filipinos to fight for the future of their families, the May elections will give voters a chance to advance the welfare of their loved ones through the ballot, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Milyun-milyong Pilipino noon ang dumagsa sa EDSA alang-alang sa kinabukasan ng kanilang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the EDSA People Power 1 revolution that happened 33 years ago today and toppled the dictator.

“Ngayon, milyun-milyong Pilipino ang boboto sa Mayo. Sana, gaya ng dati, ang batayan ng taumbayan ay ang kinabukasan ng kanilang pamilya,” added Sen. Bam, who is seeking re-election under the Otso Diretso slate.

Instead of using popularity as basis for voting, Sen. Bam said Filipinos should pick candidates who will help improve their lives and push for the welfare of their families.

“Gawin nating sukatan ang track record at iba pang magagawa ng mga kandidato para sa atin at sa ating mga pamilya, hindi dahil matunog ang kanilang pangalan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam is confident that his track record in his first term will convince voters to give him a fresh six-year mandate in the Senate.

In his almost six years as lawmaker, Sen. Bam worked for the passage of 40 laws, including the landmark free college law, which he pushed as principal sponsor during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam fulfilled his 2013 campaign promise to help boost micro, small and medium enterprises by pushing for the passage of the Go Negosyo Act.

The first law passed by Sen. Bam, the Go Negosyo Act has established more than 1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country, serving Filipinos who want to start or expand their own business.

Sen. Bam has committed to push measures that will ensure good jobs for all college and K-12 graduates and other educational reforms such as improvement of educational facilities and additional benefits for teachers.

Sen. Bam: People Power via ballot needed against corruption

Thirty three years after a corrupt dictator was ousted, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that another People Power is needed, this time through the ballot, to ensure that no corrupt candidate will be elected to the Senate.

“Kailangang ng People Power sa balota para walang magnanakaw na maluluklok sa posisyon,” Sen. Bam as the country commemorates the 33rd anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 that toppled a corrupt dictator.

“Ang laban ng EDSA noong 1986 ay laban sa mga magnanakaw—mga magnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, magnanakaw ng buhay at karapatan, magnanakaw ng magandang kinabukasan sa mahigit dalawang dekadang pamumuno ng diktador,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the spirit of EDSA 1 should be rekindled amid the corruption issues hounding the government despite the administration’s promise to stay away from officials with even a ‘whiff of corruption’.

“Hindi pa tapos ang laban ng EDSA dahil hindi pa tumitigil ang mga pagnanakaw. Kailangang buhayin ngayong 2019 ang People Power para labanan ang mga magnanakaw para gumanda ang kinabukasan at di na tayo bumalik sa dating kadiliman,” the senator added.

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on voters looking for better governance to air their sentiment by selecting right candidates in the May elections.

The senator is optimistic that voters will elect senatorial candidates who have the people’s welfare in mind and will work to uplift the lives of Filipino families.

“Magsisilbing boses ng taumbayan ang kanilang mga boto sa Mayo. Tiwala ako na pipiliin nila ang mga kandidatong magsusulong ng kanilang kapakanan,” said Sen. Bam, who is eyeing a second term under the Otso Diretso slate.

Sen. Bam: Today’s People Power is Vote Power

The People Power of today is Vote Power!
 
This was emphasized by Sen. Bam Aquino as he called on the Filipinos to air their grievances with government through the ballot in the May elections. 
 
“Alam kong nakakatakot ngayon, pero kailangan nating ipakita ang ating tapang sa pamamagitan ng ating boto,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“I’m hoping come May, iyong lakas ng taumbayan, mapakita ulit,” said Sen. Bam, who is running for re-election under the Otso Diretso slate.
 
Sen. Bam admitted that being part of the opposition is very difficult during these times, but somebody has to put the government in check and making them accountable for their actions.
 
“This is a gargantuan task, but still it ought to be done. And somebody has got to do it,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam is hoping that voters will select senatorial candidates who will work for the people’s welfare and will uplift lives of Filipino families. 
 
The senator said he’s banking on his legislative accomplishments to earn him a second term in the Senate.
 
In his first term, Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law, which he pushed as principal sponsor during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.
 
Sen. Bam also pushed for the passage of the Go Negosyo Act, which has established more than 1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country, catering to the needs of Filipinos who want to start or expand their own business.
 
“Unang-una, iyong track record natin, nandiyan naman. Iyong mga natulungan natin sa Free College Law, naririyan na rin po yan,” said Sen. Bam
 
If he wins a second term, Sen. Bam said he will push for reforms that will ensure good jobs for all college and K-12 graduates and other education reforms such as improvement of educational facilities and additional benefits for teachers.

Manay Lolit, Tita Cristy set aside political leaning, warm up to ‘dilawan’ Sen. Bam and wife

Despite being on the opposite side of the political fence, Sen. Bam Aquino and his wife Timi were warmly welcomed by showbiz talk show hosts Cristy Fermin and Lolit Solis as guests in the initial airing of their online talk show “Take It…Per Minute!” on Tuesday.
 
Sen. Bam and his wife thanked the veteran talk show hosts for the chance to connect with their avid online followers.
 
“Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat kay Manay Lolit at Tita Cristy sa pagkakataon na makausap sila at ang kanilang mga tagasuporta. Salamat po sa inyong pagiging bukas na makinig sa aming mag-asawa,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Manay Lolit and Tita Cristy are known administration allies and close friends of former President Joseph Estrada’s sons Jinggoy and Jude, but they set aside their political inclination and received with open arms the lawmaker and his wife. 
 
“Kasi noong una, siyempre pag sinabing ‘dilawan’, alam niyo naman kung saan kami naroroon. Iba iyong nasasalat mo ang senador at kanyang wife, nababasag ang pader sa gitna,” Tita Cristy said during the latter part of the show.
 
During the show, Sen. Bam and his wife gamely answered the controversial questions thrown by the veteran talk show hosts about issues on trolls, fake news and being part of the opposition.
 
“Noong una, pinapalitan lang ang Wikipedia page ko. Pero noong 2016, lumala na dahil may violence na. Ang worse niyan, noong tinawag akong terorista, na may kinalaman tayo sa Marawi, iyon ang pinakamalala,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sometimes, Sen. Bam said trolls twist some of his measures to make them appear negative and resort to name-calling to destroy his credibility, but he always side with the truth to ward off fake news.
 
“Magandang panlaban sa kasinungalingan ay ang katotohanan,” said Sen. Bam, who said that the attacks against the so-called “dilawan” began when the current administration assumed power in 2016.
 
“Lahat ng nagawa ng previous administration ginawang mali. Nag-focus doon sa mga mali at mga kakulangan at tinakpan ang mga magandang nagawa,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Timi, for her part, admitted that she was sometimes affected by the “dilawan” tag, but she managed to get over it once she’s with Filipinos in poor communities who are desperate for help.
 
“Kahit 30 minutes ka lang nandoon, makikita mo na mas malaki ang problema ng mga kababayan natin, kaya balewala ang mga atake sa inyo sa Facebook,” said Timi.
 
“Take It…Per Minute!” airs live every Tuesday, 12 noon to 1 p.m. via Pilipino Star Ngayon’s Facebook account.

Sen. Bam: Unabated sugar importation to kill sugar industry, deprive small farmers of livelihood

Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that unabated importation of sugar would lead to the death of the sugar industry and affect the livelihood of 90 percent in the sugar farming industry who are land reform beneficiaries.
 
“Nakababahala ang planong ito ng gobyerno na bahain ng merkado ng inangkat na asukal dahil talo ang ating maliliit na magsasaka at kanilang mga pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, who is running for re-election under the Otso Diretso coalition.
 
“Sa walang habas na pag-angkat ng asukal, ninanakawan ng kabuhayan ang mahihirap na pamilyang umaasa sa pagtatanim ng tubo,” the senator added.
 
According to Sen. Bam, if the government pushes through with its plan to liberalize sugar importation, the livelihood of around 84,000 farmers and 720,000 industry workers will be in peril.
 
Instead of pushing for the liberalization of sugar importation, Sen. Bam said the government should give small farmers the needed resources to improve their livelihood. 
 
“Kailangan natin silang tulungan at alalayan, lalo na at marami sa kanila ay benepisyaryo ng repormang agraryo,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam recently requested to be a co-author of Resolution No. 1014 requesting the government to shelve its plan to import sugar.

Mother of Sen. Bam reveals secret advice to son

The mother of Sen. Bam Aquino revealed the secret campaign advice that she has given her son for almost 40 years.

According to the 74-year-old Melanie Aquino, the secret language of encouragement that she has always told Sen. Bam, especially when the going gets tough, is “Day one– Unang araw! Bagong araw!”

“Makaraan ang halos 40 taon, ito pa rin ang payo ko kay Bam, ang bawat araw ay bagong simula, tuloy ang laban,” she stressed during the inauguration of Sen. Bam’s volunteer headquarters in Katipunan, Quezon City.

Melanie is no stranger to politics as she accompanied Sen. Bam, who was six years old then, to different opposition rallies where he was invited as speaker.

“Anim na taon pa lang si Bam, volunteer na ako sa kanyang pangangampanya para sa demokrasya,” said Melanie.

“Kapag mahirap ang laban, sinasabi ko sa kanya anak, isipin mo unang araw ngayon. Ito ang unang araw para sa bagong sigla, bagong sikap, bagong tapang at bagong lakas,” she added.

Melanie acknowledged that this campaign will be an uphill climb for his son due to the black propaganda and fake news propagated by his online critics, but she encouraged her son to continue the fight.

“Noon, mahirap ang laban para sa demokrasya. Ngayon, mahirap pa rin ang laban dahil sa tindi ng mga paninira at kasinungalingan,” said Melanie.

Sen. Bam calls for independent Senate, asks voters to pick candidates who will amend TRAIN Law

Sen. Bam Aquino stressed the need for an independent Senate that will protect the interest and welfare of the Filipino people, and not beholden to those in power.

“Ang kailangan po ng ating bayan ay isang Senado na independent, hindi po sunud-sunuran sa mga taong nakaupo at bagkus, kinakampihan ay ang tao po mismo,” Sen. Bam said during the ABS-CBN senatorial debate.

“Kailangan natin ng isang Senadong magsisigurado na ang pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino ay matutugan — edukasyon, kalusugan, pagbaba ng mga presyo ng bilihin at hustisya,” added Sen. Bam.

Aside from working for the welfare of the Filipino people, Sen. Bam pointed out that an independent Senate will fight the passage of any measure that will burden the public.

“Kailangan natin sa Senado na iyon ang itataguyod, at siyempre kailangang lumaban din sa mga panukalang magsisilbing pabigat sa taumbayan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 During the debate, Sen. Bam encouraged voters to choose candidates who will work for the amendment of the TRAIN Law to help lift the burden of high prices of food and other goods on the public, especially the poor.

“Iboto natin ang mga senador na willing mag-commit na amyendahan ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, who, as early as May 2018, filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law, but he stressed that more work needs to be done to ensure employment for all graduates.

“Kung papalarin, we will build on reforms on education. Naipasa natin bilang principal sponsor ang libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa. Ngayong mas madali nang mag-graduate ang ating kabataan, siguraduhin natin na ang bawat graduate ay may magandang trabahong naghihintay sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also committed to work on other education reforms, such as improvement of facilities and benefits for teachers.

Scroll to top