As the nation commemorates the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, a renewed call has been made for a shift in the country’s political culture, one that moves beyond party lines and long-standing rivalries to address the pressing needs of Filipinos.
Senator Bam Aquino urged leaders to set aside conflicts and political colors, stressing that governance should focus on solutions rather than divisions.
In his statement, Aquino reflected on the long-standing “Aquino vs. Marcos” narrative in Philippine politics, noting that members of the current generation from both families have found ways to work together in government. He admitted that carrying the Aquino name can be a “double-edged sword,” especially during periods of intense political polarization when the “dilawan” (yellow) label was viewed negatively.
“Ah, may mga times ah. ano yan eh. Yes. Yes. Ganun lang talaga. I think for most politicians ganun naman talaga eh ‘di ba. And ako I’m very proud of my relatives but there was a time when in recent history na pag tinawag kang dilaw eh parang napakasama mong tao ’di ba?,” he said.
Aquino shared that his approach to public service has been shaped by his family’s example.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Tito Ninoy, Tita Cory, Pinoy, even my aunts and uncles and you know my other relatives and government is just consistency ba. Tuluy-tuloy lang yung serbisyo, tuluy-tuloy lang yung keeping a low profile like you know you don’t really see any of my relatives or even myself you know na napaka-extravagant ng lifestyle. Just keeping simple which we learned from Tita Cory. Keeping consistent and matapang sa mga issues which we learned from Tito Ninoy. Studying hard, working hard which I learned from Pinoy,” he said.
He also disclosed that he was among those who recently met with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang to discuss the country’s education crisis. While acknowledging that historical perspectives may never align, Aquino emphasized that public service cannot be stalled by political disagreements.
“For education no, unang-una, I think we have to agree that we will always disagree on certain things. Yung pananaw ko, pananaw natin, baka magkaiba talaga sa pananaw ng ibang tao. You cannot convince me and I cannot convince you on certain matters in our history. Done. Pero yung pangangailangan ng taong bayan napakatindi, napakagrabe,” he added.
Three of Aquino’s legislative proposals have been certified as urgent by the President: the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program; the Citizens Access and the Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act; and the Party-list System Reform Bill.
He underscored that the country’s deep-rooted problems demand cooperation between the Senate and the Executive branch, stressing that effective governance requires collaboration even among those from opposing sides of history.
“Okay naman. I mean walang bagahe walang ganon. Masyadong maraming problema ang taong bayan [para you know] kasi ano mangyayari o galit ako sayo galit ka sa akin e I’m the Education Committee Chairman, you’re the President, kung gagawa ako ng batas hindi mo pipirmahan dahil Aquino ako– hindi naman pwede yun or dahil Marcos ka hindi ako gagawa ng magandang batas para sa mga kabataan. Hindi na naman pwede yun,” Aquino said.
According to the senator, the enduring lesson of EDSA four decades on is that democracy thrives not on personal or familial vendettas, but on unity and shared responsibility in serving the Filipino people.
“The way our system works is that somehow kahit yung magkakalaban o magkaka hindi magkakaalyado, they have to come together for the people. That’s the beauty of our system,” he said.
Aquino added that as the country looks toward the future, it should serve as a reminder that while history cannot be changed, the future of the Filipino generation lies in the hands of the nation’s leaders, a future that should not be dictated or hindered by any political color.
