Senator-elect Bam Aquino has credited his stunning rise to second place in the senatorial race to the unwavering support of young volunteers, whose relentless efforts propelled his campaign to an unexpected triumph.
Aquino, who secured 20,971,899 votes, was formally proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at Manila Hotel. In his speech, he highlighted how his campaign started as an underdog but gained momentum thanks to his young supporters.
“You know, our run really was one of a kind. We started so far behind. To be honest, we weren’t in the top 12. In fact, we weren’t even in the top 20 when we first said we would run,” Aquino shared in Filipino, reflecting on his campaign’s uphill battle.
He emphasized that the credit for his success belongs to the youth who actively participated, going beyond social media to engage voters directly. “But because of the hard work and perseverance not of your candidate but of the many volunteers, the many young people who supported us, came out, spoke out, posted, went house to house, that’s why we’re here,” he added.
The 2025 elections recorded an 81.65-percent voter turnout, the highest in the history of Philippine midterm elections. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia attributed this to the remarkable enthusiasm of young voters.
