MANILA, Philippines – Drawing lessons from his 2022 elections loss, senatorial candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan made an appeal to supporters at the start of the campaign period on Tuesday, February 11: Focus on gaining votes instead of engaging in word wars with rival camps.
“Paramihin ang ating hanay. Huwag aawayin ‘yung mga hindi natin. Lalo na sa supporters natin, huwag natin aawayin ‘yung iba ang punto de vista. Sa halip, ay kumbinsihin natin, hikayatin natin,” Pangilinan said, when asked about his biggest lesson in the 2022 elections.
(Increase our ranks. Don’t fight those who are not with us. Especially for our supporters, let’s not fight those with different points of view. Instead, let’s convince and encourage them.)
Pangilinan made the statement in a media interview after attending Mass at the UP Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in Diliman, Quezon City, with fellow opposition candidate Bam Aquino, former vice president Leni Robredo, and their supporters. Robredo will also join them in their proclamation rally in Dasmariñas, Cavite, later on Tuesday.
Pangilinan and Aquino are both seeking a return to the Senate. Aquino failed to secure reelection in the 2019 midterm elections during the Duterte administration, when no opposition candidate made it to the top 12. Pangilinan lost in the 2022 vice presidential race.
The 2025 midterm elections will be crucial for the opposition, as Senator Risa Hontiveros is currently the only dissenting voice in the Senate. Minority Leader Koko Pimentel will end his term on June 30, 2025, and is running for first representative of Marikina City, facing incumbent Mayor Marcy Teodoro.
Bam Aquino on tight Senate race: ‘Still early, friends’
The senatorial race is expected to be tight, as a recent Pulse Asia survey showed that at least 14 out of 66 Senate candidates have a “statistical chance” of winning a seat. Pangilinan and Aquino are currently outside the winning circle, placing between 15th and 16th, and 15th and 18th, respectively.
Despite this, Aquino remains hopeful that they would be able to make it, saying that the campaign period just started.
“Maaga pa, friends. First day pa lang. Saka kung mapapansin nga, ngayon pa lang talaga lumalabas rin ‘yung mga volunteers. Kaya niniwala kami, gaya rin ang dati, gaya noong 2022, pagsimula na ng kampanya, medyo pasimula pa lang, but by the end of the campaign, nayanig ‘yung buong pundasyon ng politika sa Pilipinas,” Aquino said.
(It’s still early, friends. It’s only the first day. And if you notice, it’s only now that the volunteers are starting to come out. That’s why we believe that, just like in 2022, when the campaign started, it was still in the beginning, but by the end of the campaign, it shook the entire political foundation in the Philippines.)
Aquino also presented Kiko-Bam tandem as an alternative to the two dominant camps — the Marcos and Duterte factions.
“May dalawang malaking grupo na nag-uumpugan ngayon. At kami naman po ni Senator Kiko, klaro na ang pinapanigan namin ;yung taong bayan. ‘Yung focus namin, ‘yung taong bayan,” he said.
(There are two major groups clashing right now. As for Senator Kiko and me, it’s clear that we stand with the people. Our focus is on the people.)
Pangilinan, meanwhile, said the recent survey indicates they need to campaign harder.
“Sabi nga nila, sa ganitong eleksyon, kailangan natin manlimos ng boto. So, ganoon lang ang magiging [takbo] natin, continue with our message na pababain ang presyo ng pagkain,” he said.
(As they say, in this election, we need to beg for votes. So, that’s what we’ll do, continue with our message to lower the prices of food.) – Rappler.com