Wazzup Pilipinas!?
The pink universe is euphoric. Euphoric not just because we won—but because they won big. Against all odds. Against history. Against the narrative that they were doomed to forever be in the shadows of celebrity politics, dynasty money, and machinery-driven campaigns.
Bam Aquino, once considered a long shot, soared to 2nd place in the Senate race. Kiko Pangilinan, underestimated and under the radar, clinched 5th. Leila de Lima, released from unjust detention and fighting on two fronts—vindication and reelection—landed back in the Senate through MakaLaya (ML). And Akbayan? A resounding No. 1 among party-lists, leading the progressive front like never before.
These are not "pasang-awa" wins. These are declarations—a loud, collective exhale of a movement that refused to die after 2022. And if you’re looking for a single reason why we won, you’ll be disappointed. Because the truth is: we won because of a perfect storm of courage, strategy, timing, and heart.
The Lingering Flame of 2022
Call it the Pink Resurrection. The spirit of the 2022 campaign—the rallies, the volunteerism, the organic fervor—did not die. It simply hibernated. And in 2025, it awoke with sharper teeth and clearer purpose.
That movement may not have put Leni Robredo in Malacañang, but it built something more permanent: a grassroots political base that knows how to organize, inspire, and mobilize. The same volunteers who painted towns pink in 2022 were back, this time with battle scars—and better tactics.
It wasn’t just a repeat. It was an evolution.
Leni’s Blessing: The Catalyst
When former Vice President Leni Robredo openly endorsed Bam, Kiko, and Leila, she didn’t just offer political support—she reignited the soul of the pink movement. She went to sorties. She endorsed them across all platforms. She stood with them—literally and metaphorically.
And the people responded. Because when Leni speaks, the pink base listens. More importantly, they act. They volunteer. They campaign. They believe again.
Gen Z: The Game-Changers
Enter the Gen Z voter—idealistic, unafraid, and unbothered by old formulas.
This election was their coming-of-age moment. And they voted not for the entertainers, the athletes, or the recycled surnames—but for advocates, reformists, and principled leadership.
They said “No” to Revillame, Bondoc, and Salvador. They rejected Tolentino, Revilla, and Pacquiao—not because they were unfamiliar, but precisely because they were. Gen Z wanted something different. They demanded better. And they delivered it at the ballot box.
The Silent Shifts: Endorsements, Intrigue, and Realpolitik
Some wins are forged in passion. Others are secured in silence.
When the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) backed Bam but not Kiko, the gap between their rankings made sense. But what of Kiko’s strong 5th place finish?
Here’s where things get murky—and fascinating.
A war rages between the Duterte and BBM camps. In their clash, the opposition found unexpected space. Some Duterte-aligned LGUs, seeking balance or hedging bets, quietly included Bam and Kiko in their slates. On the BBM side, when Villar and Imee Marcos fell out of favor, replacements were needed. Guess who filled the vacuum? Bam and Kiko again.
It was political judo—using their opponents’ strength and discord to gain unexpected leverage.
Risa Hontiveros: The Mastermind Behind the Curtain
Lest we forget, there was a brilliant tactician at work.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone opposition victor of 2022, took the reins as campaign manager for Bam and Kiko. Her fingerprints are all over this win. Her strategy, messaging discipline, and quiet persistence led to something monumental—not just a Senate comeback, but a number one finish for Akbayan.
She turned adversity into advantage. She turned memory into momentum. And she gave us a blueprint for the future.
The Road Ahead: Victory or Mirage?
We celebrate tonight. We should. But we must be clear-eyed.
This wasn’t a landslide. It was a miracle of margins, of perfectly executed gambits, and of millions of Filipinos saying “enough.” But 2028 is not guaranteed. Victory there will not come easy.
We need to study this win like a map to buried treasure—identify what worked, what inspired, what shifted, and what stuck. Because next time, the old powers will not be caught off guard. They will regroup, recalibrate, and come for everything.
We must be smarter. Faster. More strategic. And we must not waste this window.
But for Now… Raise That Glass
To Bam—the comeback kid who never gave up.
To Kiko—the quiet warrior who refused to be forgotten.
To Leila—the phoenix who rose through injustice.
To Akbayan—proof that progressive politics can win.
To Leni, Risa, the volunteers, the believers, and every single voter who chose courage over convenience—
CHEERS.
We won. And now, we build.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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