Senatorial frontrunner Bam Aquino shared that the first person he dialed after seeing their strong showing in the Senate race was none other than his running mate, Kiko Pangilinan.
The two, who are gunning for Senate return, have launched their grassroots campaign called “KiBam.”
They consistently ranked at the bottom of the Senatorial pre-election surveys, so their high ranking of no. 2 and 5, respectively, surprised the public.
In a television interview with GMA News, Bam was asked whether he had already talked to Kiko.
“Yes, siya po ‘yung una kong tinawagan,” the senatorial aspirant frontrunner said.
“Sabi ko sa kanya ‘Boss, we made it’ ‘no. He was the first person I called when I found out na mukhang pasok na kaming dalawa,” he added.
The revelation tugged the heartstrings of some of his supporters who were touched by Bam’s gesture.
“Ang unang tinawagan ni Senator Bam ay si Senator Kiko, ‘boss, we made it,'” an online user commented, followed by a loudly crying face emoji and two heart emojis in green and pink, the signature campaign colors of the duo.
ang unang tinawagan ni senator bam ay si senator kiko,
“boss, we made it” 😭💚🩷 pic.twitter.com/N2ZYvii48g
— jel 🍎 (@ate_narm) May 12, 2025
“Naiyak ako,” another commented with a crying face emoji.
“Naiyak naman ako…..,” an X user said.
Some said Bam’s gesture is reminiscent of Kamala Harris’ iconic phone call to Joe Biden after their 2020 U.S. election victory, when she told him, “We did it, Joe.”
Many flooded the post with a GIF showing the exchange between Kamala and Joe.
it’s giving pic.twitter.com/JWfldligkQ
— erik lensherr 🤎 (@swiftlystiles) May 12, 2025
“WE DID IT JOE,” an X user wrote.
Aside from Kiko, Bam also received a phone call from another close ally, former Vice President Leni Robredo, who congratulated him on his apparent victory.
Raffy Magno, executive director of the Angat Buhay Foundation, shared the moment when Robredo called Bam and cheered him on, joined by her family. Robredo, who was elected as the first female mayor of Naga City, Camarines Sur, endorsed Bam and Kiko’s Senate bid.
“Mayor @lenirobredo called Sen. @bamaquino, ka-text niya rin si Sen. @kikopangilinan,” Magno shared.
Mayor @lenirobredo called Sen @bamaquino, ka text niya rin si Sen @kikopangilinan 🇵🇭
Mabuhay sina Sen Bam at Sen Kiko. Maraming kasama sa Senado si Sen @risahontiveros 🤍 pic.twitter.com/aCJQ2zmHcN
— raffy magno (@raffymagno) May 12, 2025
Bam and Kiko are poised to take the No. 2 and No. 5 spots, respectively, in the senatorial race, with 16.8 million and 12.3 million votes, based on partial and unofficial results from the 2025 midterm elections as of 9:02 a.m.
Bam dedicated his looming win to the Filipinos and thanked them for supporting him.
