Former senator Bam Aquino is making a bid for the Senate in the upcoming May 2025 elections, focusing his campaign on advocating for the youth sector, improving education, and generating more job opportunities.
A nephew of democracy icons—former President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.—Bam Aquino was born on May 7, 1977. He is also a cousin of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Aquino’s lineage connects him to both Luzon and the Visayas, with his father’s family hailing from Concepcion, Tarlac, while his mother was raised in Davao City.
He was exposed to politics at an early age, helping lead the fight for democracy along with other opposition figures.
At age 8, Bam’s impassioned speeches against Martial Law and the dictatorship served as fuel during opposition rallies in various parts of the country.
He finished his Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering in Ateneo with flying colors, graduating summa cum laude.
Before entering public service, Aquino tried his hand as a social entrepreneur by leading MicroVentures Inc., which runs the internationally acclaimed Hapinoy Program with thousands of women micro entrepreneur as members.
He bagged various awards in the process, including the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Awardee in 2012, Social Entrepreneur of the Year Co-Awardee in 2011, and was among the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 2010.
In 2013, he took a significant step as he entered the political arena, becoming the youngest senator elected in the 16th Congress.
Despite his young age, Aquino pushed for vital laws on issues close to his heart — education, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
As a senator, he championed several landmark bills, most notably the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provided free tuition in state universities and colleges for students from low-income families.
This law has provided hope for countless Filipinos, allowing them to pursue their dream college courses without the burden of expensive tuition fees.
He also championed the passage of 49 other laws, including the Go Negosyo Act, Fair Competition Act, and the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.
In 2019, Aquino suffered a setback when he failed in his re-election bid. He had a chance to run for a senatorial post anew in 2022, but he gave up his personal ambition to help former Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential run as her campaign manager.
In 2025, Aquino is gearing up for another Senate run, with the platform of expanding the Free College Law to cover more students and ensure that the subsidy for other school expenses under the law are provided. He has also committed to push for guaranteed employment for Filipinos.
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