Several Filipinos are revisiting a Facebook post from a year ago by opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros, where she playfully wished for Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and Chel Diokno to join her in Congress.
Her August 2024 Facebook post is making the rounds again, as supporters remember how she hoped to work with the three in Congress.
“WE’LL BE THERE FOR YOU,” Hontiveros previously wrote.
“Kasama si Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sen. Bam Aquino, [and] Atty. Chel Diokno, we’ll be there 4 u [for you],” the senator added.
The video showed the four hanging out in a “Friends”-inspired setup, with the show’s iconic theme song “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts playing in the background.
Supporters revisited the post, linking the clip to the 2025 midterm elections, where the three are currently leading the partial and unofficial results as of Tuesday, May 13.
The next set of leaders will take office midway through President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.
Aquino and Pangilinan have consistently ranked high in the Top 12 senatorial candidates, while Diokno’s Akbayan Party has consistently topped the party-list with the most votes.
“THE KING AND QUEEN OF MANIFESTATION! Senator Risa saying ‘Samahan niyo ako next year’ to KIKO, BAM, and CHEL,” a Facebook user wrote with emojis of a sparkle and pleading face.
“Kiko placing number 5 [five], and Bam placing 2nd [second]. Meanwhile, hindi na TOTGA [The One That Got Away] si Chel Diokno because Congressman Chel is coming,” the online user added.
Hontiveros shares the same political spectrum as the three.
Although Hontiveros is part of the Senate minority bloc led by Sen. Kiko Pimentel, Pimentel was also an ally of Duterte, particularly during the early years of the previous administration.
Meanwhile, Aquino and Pangilinan are making a Senate comeback, with Aquino advocating for the full implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, while Pangilinan seeks to prioritize food security.
Diokno, on the other hand, said that Akbayan in the House aims to prioritize “gut issues” affecting Filipinos, citing the rising costs of goods, corruption, education crisis, and healthcare, among others.
Hontiveros has been the lone dissenting voice in the upper chamber, advocating for liberal and progressive legislation. Her term as a senator runs until 2028.
