Ballsy Aquino-Cruz—the eldest child of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino, and sister of the late President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III—has formally endorsed her cousin, former Senator and independent senatorial candidate Bam Aquino.
“Sa darating na halalan, muling humihingi ako ng tulong sa inyo. Iyong pagmamahal na ipinaramdam ninyo kay Ninoy, kay Cory, kay Noy, at sa buong pamilya namin sa mahabang panahong magkakasama tayo, ang hiling ko po, sana iparamdam natin kay Bam,” Ballsy said in an endorsement video.
“Marami pa siyang maitutulong sa ating lahat. Kaya sana po ibalik natin siya sa Senado. Number 5 sa balota, Senator Bam Aquino,” she added.
Ballsy said despite his young age, Bam—known in their family as Bam-Bam—joined their protests in the fight to restore the country’s freedom and democracy following Ninoy’s assassination.
“Anim na taong gulang siya noon, galing school, pupunta siya sa mga mini-caucus para humingi ng hustisya sa pagkamatay ni Dad,” Ballsy recalled, adding that Bam also helped during President Cory’s campaign for the presidency.
She shared that Bam grew up with a deep sense of compassion for others, which he carried with him as a youth leader, social entrepreneur, and eventually as a senator.
“Nang maging senador siya noong pangulo si Noy, ang mahihirap at maliliit na negosyo ang kanilang tinutukan. At ipinaglaban niya na maging libre ang edukasyon para sa lahat ng Pilipino. Ngayon, libre na ang kolehiyo,” Ballsy said.
Ballsy recently returned to their hometown in Tarlac to campaign for Bam. She visited the Tarlac Public Market in Tarlac City, where she handed out campaign materials such as tarpaulins, stickers, and leaflets, and personally spoke with vendors and shoppers about Bam’s accomplishments and what he aims to achieve if elected back into the Senate.