The “WinRi” hashtag that took over Filipino social media this week has drawn a warm response from the lawmaker at the center of it, with Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian saying he considers it a privilege to be linked to colleague Risa Hontiveros.
Speaking to News5 on Saturday, Gatchalian heaped praise on his fellow senator when asked about the online posts pushing the tandem. “Si Senator Risa ay isa sa pinakahardworking, napakasipag, matapang, magaling na senador natin. Very serious sa trabaho. Para sa akin, it’s an honor to be associated with her,” he said.
The pairing gained traction online on June 5, when users circulated clips of the two senators speaking favorably of one another. Gatchalian described the online pairing as “nakakakilig” and said being associated with Hontiveros was a privilege.
A dedicated fan page, @WinRiOFC, surfaced the same week the hashtag began trending across X and TikTok. “Ship responsibly. Para sa bayan,” the page posted alongside photos and videos of the two lawmakers. Some supporters latched onto the fact that both senators are fur-parents, while others framed the trend in pop-culture terms. “We saw it in PBB (Pinoy Big Brother). We saw it in the UAAP. We’re seeing it now in the PVL-PBA. And now we’re about to see it in the Senate? Maybe our culture is really fond of love teams whether we want to admit it or not,” X user @nicoquijano wrote.
Not every page presented itself as official. One Facebook page, “Sherwin X Risa — WinRi Advocate,” carries a disclaimer stating it was created for entertainment purposes and is neither connected with nor endorsed by the two senators.
Beyond the lighthearted framing, some observers have read political intent into the campaign. Analysts have floated the possibility that the online push reflects an early supporter-driven effort toward a Gatchalian-Hontiveros alliance for the 2028 polls, though neither lawmaker has signaled interest in a joint ticket and no formal talks have taken place. Pressed on that speculation, Gatchalian waved off the idea, saying it was too early to discuss politics.
The two senators are not strangers to working alongside each other. Both drew national attention for their roles in Senate inquiries into illegal POGO operations, including the proceedings tied to former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
