CinemaBravo

Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the eldest child of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino, and sister of the late President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, has officially thrown her support behind her cousin, former Senator and independent candidate Bam Aquino, in his bid to return to the Senate.

In an endorsement video (watch it below), Ballsy called on the public to show the same support they once gave her parents and brother. “Sa darating na halalan, muling humihingi ako ng tulong sa inyo. Iyong pagmamahal na ipinaramdam ninyo kay Ninoy, kay Cory, kay Noy, at sa buong pamilya namin sa mahabang panahong magkakasama tayo, ang hiling ko po, sana iparamdam natin kay Bam.”

(In the coming election, I am once again asking for your help. The love you showed Ninoy, Cory, Noy, and our entire family throughout the years, I hope we can now extend to Bam.)

She emphasized Bam’s potential contributions if re-elected. “Marami pa siyang maitutulong sa ating lahat. Kaya sana po ibalik natin siya sa Senado. Number 5 sa balota, Senator Bam Aquino.”

(He still has so much more to contribute to all of us. That’s why I hope we can bring him back to the Senate. Number 5 on the ballot, Senator Bam Aquino.)

Ballsy said despite his young age, Bam—known in their family as Bam-Bam—joined their protests in the fight to restore the country’s freedom and democracy following Ninoy’s assassination.

“Anim na taong gulang siya noon, galing school, pupunta siya sa mga mini-caucus para humingi ng hustisya sa pagkamatay ni Dad,” Ballsy recalled, adding that Bam also helped during President Cory’s campaign for the presidency.

(He was only six years old then; after coming from school, he would attend mini-caucuses to demand justice for Dad’s death.)

She shared that Bam grew up with a deep sense of compassion for others, which he carried with him as a youth leader, social entrepreneur, and eventually as a senator.

“Nang maging senador siya noong pangulo si Noy, ang mahihirap at maliliit na negosyo ang kanilang tinutukan. At ipinaglaban niya na maging libre ang edukasyon para sa lahat ng Pilipino. Ngayon, libre na ang kolehiyo,” Ballsy said.

(When he became senator under Noy’s presidency, he focused on helping the poor and small businesses. He also fought to make education free for all Filipinos. Now, college education is free.)

Ballsy recently returned to their hometown in Tarlac to campaign for Bam. She visited the Tarlac Public Market in Tarlac City, where she handed out campaign materials such as tarpaulins, stickers, and leaflets, and personally spoke with vendors and shoppers about Bam’s accomplishments and what he aims to achieve if elected back into the Senate.