For families whose forerunners have made significant contributions in shaping a nation’s history, there is plausibly no higher calling than to serve the public. As it should be, they consider the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives a great privilege, in the same way it is almost expected of them to be patriotic and willing to sacrifice for country.
For Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th, these ideals remain compellingly true amid the reality of political chaos. No matter the current rhetoric often condemning statesmen for the ills of Philippine society, he is still consumed by unwavering pride and undiminished passion to ensure that the very ideals on which he was raised burn as bright for future generations.
“To this very day, my brand of politics is one of hope, and I believe that every Filipino should and can overcome poverty, with a government that provides them the right support and the right opportunities,” declared the 16th Congress’ youngest senator, whose political pedigree is buoyed by a martyred uncle and statesman and two former presidents, among a spattering of relatives in various elective posts, past and present.
Whether consciously or subconsciously, this fourth generation Aquino has followed a path as straight as a rule to prepare him for a prominent place in government.
An Atenean through and through, he was a consistent honor student from elementary through high school, finally graduating summa cum laude in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering.
The only time he left Ateneo de Manila for schooling was when he next enrolled at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University in 2008, where he completed an Executive Education Program on Leadership and Public Policy.
Stepping into the real world, Aquino unsurprisingly chose a socially-relevant career, eventually becoming president of MicroVentures, Inc., a social enterprise that manages the Hapinoy Program which provides micro-financing, training and access to new business opportunities for small-scale women entrepreneurs.
The project helped along 10,000 sari-sari stores toward success, lifting thousands of poor families from poverty. The program in fact bagged the United Nations Project Inspire Award in 2011, besting over 400 enterprises all over the world.
For his efforts, Aquino was deservingly named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in the category of Social Enterprise and Community Development. He was also chosen as one of Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World in 2012.
For Aquino, however, more valuable that the awards for the Hapinoy Program was the first-hand view it granted him in seeing the economic reality in the country—for the majority Filipinos—and the very ways he can help lift poor families out of poverty. These are what he took with him when he finally decided to run no less than as senator of the republic in 2012.
Aware of the advantages and challenges that come with bearing the Aquino name as a public servant, Sen. Bam, as he widely known today, has nevertheless managed to carve his own name in the political arena, with accomplishments all on his own, and most of all an identity free of corruption and abuse of power, the very things which he vowed to fight simply as a Filipino.
In today’s issue, The Sunday Times Magazine learns more about the man Bam Aquino as he continues to forge his own legacy in nation building.
The Sunday Times Magazine: What was the turning point in 2012 that finally compelled you to go into politics, and follow the prominent footsteps of your namesakes?
Senator Bam Aquino: The decision to run in 2012 came after a number of years working in social enterprise. After working for a non-government organization (NGO) after college, my second job was in the National Youth Commission (NYC) as a commissioner-at-large in 2001 where I stayed for about five years. And then for six or seven years, we focused on social enterprise which was basically supporting poor communities through business. I spent a lot of time there with micro-finance organizations and NGOs so we eventually put up the Hapinoy Program which in the mid-2000s we received a lot of awards as an innovative model to support poor communities.
A more specific turning point I remember was having a conversation with the founder of Gawad Kalinga (GK), Tony Meloto. We were both in a conference in Switzerland, and as we were having breakfast, our conversation turned into a four-hour meal where we talked about the country, the work he was doing in GK, the work we were doing in Hapinoy, working with the poor, housing and microbusinesses.
At some point he told me, “You know you should think about running.” Then I said, “Tito, are you serious?”
He replied, “Yes, I am sure many people raised that to you already, but you should really think about running because none of our projects would really reach the scale we wanted to reach unless we had someone in the government who understands what we are doing.”
He had a point, because in our case in Hapinoy, we saw that even if you’re a sari-sari store owner, or you didn’t finish high school or college, with the right program the right support system—meaning training and a good financing program—and support from larger companies, you can get yourself out of poverty.
So from then on, I thought about running more seriously and thankfully, I was included in the administration ticket in 2012 and won in 2013.
Back then, we ran on the platform of jobs, business, and education which until today is what our country still needs. If you look at the top surveys, the top issues of the Filipinos, they include the prices of commodities and regular jobs. And for the past five years, most of the things that we’ve done, focused around these very issues.
My first law was the GO Negosyo Act which thankfully became the premier program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in this administration. That was passed in 2014 but saw more implementation in 2016 to 2018. So those 900 Negosyo Centers all over the Philippines now exist to provide support for micro and small businesses in terms of the three Ms—money, marketing and mentorship. So that takes care of jobs and businesses.
And last year of course, we had a number of laws passed as well including the Free College Act or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” which is fully implemented now. In terms of access to education, this is a big reform.
Lately, what we’ve been fighting for is the lower cost of rice and commodities which is also connected to jobs and businesses—nagta-trabaho ka nga kulang naman yung kinikita mo para sa pamilya mo dahil mataas ang presyo ng bilihin.
So more or less, we’ve been very consistent about the issues we’re focused on, and hopefully, if I can make it [back to the Senate] next year, we can be given the chance to pursue these issues even more.
What adjustments did you have to make when you hit the ground running at the Senate?
Actually my job before was not too different from what I have today in a sense that I entered politics with the same agenda. So I had a good first day being senator because we pushed the Go Negosyo Act immediately to address some of those concerns and like I said, it was passed in 2014. Within a year, we were able to pass the Go Negosyo Act and the micro-finance NGO Act, the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, Cabotage Policy which is related to shipping, and the Competition Law.
of commodities.
More or less, for the first few years of being senator, the focus was really on support systems for micro and small enterprises.
And then when I became Committee on Education Chairman in 2016, that’s when we focused on the Free Tuition or the Free College Act.
In that sense, in carrying out what I was doing before in the capacity of a senator, the transition was quite easy. What was hard is the fact that when you’re working in an NGO or social enterprise, all of them there are your friends. But when you’re in politics, you immediately have opponents. That part was new to me.
But in terms of the actual work, it was important that the sectors I came from and the issues that we’ve been pushing for were very similar, if not the same. It’s all about uplifting the lives of the Filipino people.
Among the laws you passed, which one has made you most fulfilled?
The biggest I think is the Free College because even in the National Youth Commission, we were already fighting for that. In 1987, high school became free but not college, so this has been an impossible dream of so many generations, which became possible and is now happening.
Honestly, 20 years from now, when I’ve retired from government, I think people will most likely remember me for that because that’s the one with biggest impact.
However, the nearest to my heart is the Go Negosyo Act because that’s the first law that we passed, and it’s an example of how a law can become a flagship program of government na naibababa nila talaga sa mga tao. If I’m not mistaken, by now, over a million people have already received support for their small businesses.
Was it difficult to be the youngest Senator of the 16th Congress?
To be fair, my fellow senators treats one another with respect, so age has never been a problem. But of course, as a young senator, you should be humble enough to understand that you have to learn from those who are more senior to you. So I learned a lot from Serge Osmena, Frank Drilon, Tito Sotto and Juan Ponce Enrile when I came in. They are the ones who are genuine in helping out. Kapag coffee break tinatanong ko talaga sila; I ask for their help and advice and they willingly give it.
As a new senator, you have to be cognizant of the fact that you also have to learn. But in terms of the issues we’re fighting for, we treat each other with respect like I said, so there’s no discrimination because I am young.
On the other hand, the advantage of being young is that I am more plugged into the more current issues of the day. For example, we had a series of fake news issues if you remember, and [at the hearings] it was the younger senators who were engaging because it’s more relatable to us.
Right now, I’m the Chairman of Science and Technology and I think the portfolio is a very good fit with the environmental issues of the day to deal with.
And then we also look out for the welfare of our Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) workers who are also mostly young, so nag-kakabit-kabit naman siya.
I guess the only disadvantage being young in the Senate is that kung mayabang ka and you feel that you don’t need to learn anything from anyone, you’re not going to get anywhere.
How different was your life as senator under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd and then President Rodrigo Duterte six years later?
The experience was very different because suddenly, you’re no longer in the majority. But in saying that even during the time of President Noynoy, I was always an independent voice. There were times [in the majority] we would agree and disagree in certain matters. If there are things I see that are right to be pushed— like the Free Education—I go for it. But if there are things that I think would affect people in a wrong way, like the Train Law, I oppose that. You cannot always say yes.
In that sense I don’t think anything really changed when it comes to the positions I take on issues. Everything else has changed of course, like the political environment which is really like that [under a new administration].
As senator, sometimes you’re in the majority, sometimes you’re in the minority, but you just have to keep doing your work. At the end of the day, what you are pushing for is what’s important for the people, not your political party.
How about your private life?
I guess it’s the simple things that changed, but I don’t want to seem like I’m whining.
Although I still go to the mall with my family, people will recognize you of course, and I still get shy sometimes. But like I said, those are little things, and what’s important is the bigger picture which is the opportunity to create real change in people’s lives.
But I think what I really noticed more being Senator is how the online environment has become really toxic. There’s lot of fake news, fake quotes—everything from what I wear, to my haircut inaaway!
How do you handle social media bashing?
Yung mga bagay na hindi naman talaga issue-based, hindi ko na sinasagot. There will always be people who won’t be satisfied with what they see about and it’s very hard to live your life according to what they want.
Of course, if it’s an issue about our laws, you have to reply.
I also don’t engage especially when they talk about my family—when they talk about our family’s track record. No one is perfect, obviously, but I think genuinely, you’ll see that there’s no corruption in that track record and it’s always been clean. I can honestly say that every step of the way, they did what they could do for the people. I don’t think anyone can really question that but obviously some people will never be satisfied with what they did and what we continue to do.
For me it’s clear and it’s this simple: those who have come before me—my uncles, my aunts, my cousins—I try to learn from what they did, learn from their successes and their failures, and be better. Ganun lang naman yun eh. There will be things that they did that history will show were really important and maybe there are things that maybe they could’ve done another way and it’s those things that I should learn from that. Ikaw na yung nandiyan so you build on the good things they have done, and you avoid the things they could’ve improved.
You are right to say that your track record is clean, free from any issues on corruption and abuse. How have you kept your integrity with these very realities happening around you?
It’s not hard really. Wag kang gagawa ng masama, ganun lang yun. That is expected [of me]. I have a picture of Tito Ninoy (assassinated statesman Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.) here to remind me to always be brave. This picture was taken when he was sentenced to death and was pleading for his life, and I think yan ang bagay na nakakalimutan ng mga tao, but for a long time kami ang nagparaya. Tito Ninoy was in jail for eight years.
Sabi ng tatay ko who was never in politics but in business, lahat ng clients niya iniwan siya, very few stayed with him [because we’re Aquinos]. Public service has its ups and downs, and we as a family know that. We’ve been through that.
There was a time Tita Cory (the late President Cory Aquino) was the most loved leader of the land but at some point, a lot of people were mad at her. So that’s how the world is—people will criticize you every day but we’re used to that. And whatever happens, you just have to continue doing your work—your work for the people. In the end, your work will speak for itself, no matter what others say, and the things that you’re able to reform or change or laws you pass, they should all speak for itself.
Is it important for you to make your own name in government and not be tagged as just “another Aquino?”
Hindi naman, wala akong ganoong klaseng chip on my shoulder. Again, we just do what needs to be done for the Filipino family. Palagay ko kasi, there are still a lot of things that need to be done for the Filipino family na hindi pa nabibigyan ng pansin. We have a problem in the prices of commodities—it happened because the focus wasn’t on the needs of the people. Kung ano-ano ang mga iniisip, kung ano-ano ang binigyan ng pansin. Hindi nabigyan ng tamang pansin ang pinakamahalaga which is food, so we need to go back to the place where our leaders were focused on what is important.
Here in my office our goal is, “Isang bayang maunlad na walang maiiwan,” and it can be done. Hindi lang siya maunlad, pero walang maiiwan. Lately we’ve been having economic growth pero marami pa ring mahihirap. May mga panukala na in the end makes people poorer. There are decisions that affect the lives of the working Filipinos. Taliwas yan sa gusto naming gawin. Our plan is to push for reforms na makakaangat sa bayan pero sabay-sabay tayo aangat. Yung tutok sa mahihirap na pamilya dapat nandiyan.
So again if you look at jobs, education and businesses, our laws on Go Negosyo, our laws on Free Tuition Act, all those are focused on how to make the lives of the people easy.
In saying that, what are the pros and cons of being an Aquino?
A lot (laughs). Lahat ng pro may con. Wala namang puro pro, wala namang puro con sa lahat ng tao dito sa politics. You don’t even dwell on that because that’s really life. Kung Aquino ka in 2013, dahil popular si PNoy noon, maraming bumoto sa akin dahil sa kanya. Ngayon, maybe because hindi na siya ganoon ka-popular, baka ganoon din. But at the end of the day, what is important is to communicate what you want to do to the Filipinos.
There will be biases for and against you. I think in the end it just balances. What is important is you give something for the nation. You cannot just follow on the successes of the past, what is better is you also have something to talk about, may sarili kang ibubuga.
And I think if you look at my track record, you will see that there are a lot of issues na ito talaga ang gusto ng aming opisina na gawin—the focus on education, the focus on prices—that is something I think is unique for us.
How would you describe your leadership style?
A lot of my staffers are young. I always lead by example. I think everybody will work hard if they see that the principal works hard.
Two, I always say that kahit pangalan ko lang ang nasa harap ng pinto, it’s the whole office that creates the reform, not only me. We all have a role to play to push for the reforms that we want to push for the people. It’s not just centered on me, but it’s a team effort.
I also try to make work fun. I don’t think I’ve ever raised my voice in my five years here. We try to treat each other with respect and dignity.
I’d like to think they like to work here that’s why no one’s left yet, but what’s most important is that we work hard—that’s my only request. Everyone puts in the time, and if needed, more time because it’s for the country. I think that everyone here has their own talents and I want them to use them, and I credit them for doing so.
How do you make time for your family given the demands of the Senate?
It’s hard. It’s really hard to find enough time for your family, especially since I live in Quezon City. Traffic pa lang malaking bagay na. So you overcompensate when it’s the weekend. In the morning, bawi ka na lang.
But I remember the late Jessie Robredo, when I was a young leader and he was the Mayor of Naga and eventually Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, he would always tell us, people in public service can get very caught up with their work because of the higher purpose, but you should never ever use that as an excuse to leave your family. In fact in his case, of course Naga has no traffic, he would have dinner at home every night. And napaisip ako diyan kasi it’s easy to make an excuse but you just have to find a way to balance things. Especially now my children are still very young—three years old and eight months old. It’s a struggle but kami ng asawa ko—my wife is also working—we just have to find ways to make sure we have presence even though we are both busy.
What motivates you run anew as Senator?
The fact that you have so much opportunity to create positive change. Getting to this level—in the Philippines 24 lang kayo sa Senate—is really a huge privilege. Ang tanong, anong gagawin mo with that privilege? If you’re there already, you are expected to push for reforms that people want and need. You are expected to work for the people and that’s a big opportunity. Make the most of it for them.
If you take a look at our track record, we’ve passed over 30 laws either as sponsor or author and each of them I’m proud of, and we hope to continue that in our next term.
So that’s the biggest motivation, if you’re here already and people chose you—in my case, 15.5 million voted for me—you have to honor that vote on their part by working hard for them, even to those who didn’t vote for you.
What remains to be your hopes for the country and for yourself?
I hope yung pangarap namin na isang bayang umuunlad na walang naiiwan, gobyernong nakakatutok sa tao hind lang sa iilan, maatim natin. Isang pangarap din yan ng maraming tao. Kasi ang laki ng opportunity ng Pilipinas, ang laki ng chances natin to grow from a middle income to a higher income country. Ang mga Pilipino, we are some of the best citizens of the world so there’s so much hope and potential for the country.
Kailangan lang natin mag-focus sa pangangailangan nang mga tao. Each step of the way siguraduhin na pagaan nang pagaan yung proseso hindi pabigat nang pabigat.
Personally, now that I have two kids iba na rin. It’s different from the years na wala pa akong anak. Mas malalim ang hugot ko dahil kaharap na ang next generation. And hopefully, things will be better when they grow up. And you only have a few years in politics—although some have a lifetime—but for most people mabilis lang yan. So sana naman we can make things better than when we first got here.
The post On going beyond the ‘successes of the past’ appeared first on The Manila Times Online.