Bam Aquino

Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aguirre Aquino IV ([bɛˈnigno ʔaˈɡirɛ ʔaˈkino], born May 7, 1977) is a Filipino politician and media personality who has served as a senator of the Philippines since 2025. A member of the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), he previously served as a senator from 2013 to 2019 and as deputy Senate minority leader from 2017 to 2019. Born into the prominent Aquino family, he graduated as valedictorian from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1999. Aquino served as chairman of the National Youth Commission from 2003 to 2006 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He participated in various documentaries and films and was president of the social enterprise MicroVentures, Inc. Aquino was elected senator in 2013 under Team PNoy, chairing the Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on Youth (2013–2016), and later the Committee on Science and Technology (2016–2019). He was the principal sponsor of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. Aquino unsuccessfully sought re-election in 2019 under Otso Diretso, whose entire slate lost. He initially planned another run in 2022 but instead managed Leni Robredo's presidential campaign. Aquino ran again for senator in 2025 under the KiBam coalition. He garnered the second-most votes in the election, at around 21 million, and was elected to a second non-consecutive term.