Cover Filipinos take part in the Pride Festival on June 24, 2023 in Quezon City. (Photo by Ezra Acayan / Getty Images)
Filipinos take part in the Pride Festival on June 24, 2023 in Quezon City. (Photo by Ezra Acayan / Getty Images)
1 / 1
As one of the two members of the Minority in the Senate, she has prepared herself for the hurdles that would come her way when she assumed a senatorial seat in the current administration. Despite the odds, Senator Risa Hontiveros remains steadfast.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2022 honourees, recently made the news for attending the Pride March in Quezon City last June 24, donned in fairy wings. As a mother and staunch ally, Hontiveros has been one with the LGBTQIA+ community in pursuing the passing of the SOGIE Equality Bill and other advocacies of the community. But aside from fighting for the rights of her fellow Filipinos, Hontiveros also has battles of her own in the crazy Philippine political landscape.
As a teenager, she was already an activist—In high school, she organised a protest against the nuclear power plant in Bataan back and has remained vocal in her advocacies during her college years.
She was a television journalist and news anchor like her well-known older sister Pia. But her burning desire to fight for human rights and progressive ideas, as well as her reputation as the voice of the opposition, continued to flame inside her. In 2004, she became the Akbayan party list’s representative in the Congress. She ran for the Senate twice and failed. It was not until 2016 that she finally landed a spot. During her first term, Hontiveros advocated for health and women’s rights, authoring laws that include the Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law, the Philippine Mental Health Law, and the Expanded Maternity Leave Law. Recently, she made waves for being the only senator to vote against the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund Bill.
Read also: Pride Month: Here’s how LGBTQIA+ icons and allies are creating a more open and equitable world
Above Risa Hontiveros
Risa Hontiveros
1 / 1
What projects in the last two years are you most proud of? Why?
Senator Risa Hontiveros (SRH): First would be the laws we passed, particularly for our women, like the Expanded Solo Parent Welfare Act. I am a solo parent myself, having lost my husband over 15 years ago due to a heart attack, which is why this legislation is what I hold dear to my heart. Seeing its passage into law has been a true joy.
The Pastillas scam investigation is also one I’m proud to have led, as this billion-peso racket at the Bureau of Immigration resulted in the Ombudsman’s charging of officials involved in this corruption scheme that left our borders porous, our women and children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Our Healthy Pinas mobile clinic is another source of pride. This was my office’s way of reaching low-income and far-flung communities that did not have access to health services, especially during the pandemic. It was a challenging task to undertake, logistically and financially. But through the continuous help of LGUs and various organisations, we pulled it off! I’m happy we did and hope to sustain it.
Read also: SOGIE Equality Bill: everything you need to know—supporters, origins, and more
Above Filipina Senator Risa Hontiveros attends a youth and student forum titled #YouthResist, held at the St. Scholastica’s College Manila, on 18 July 2017. Students of the Catholic school denounced the killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. (Photo by George Calvelo / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Filipina Senator Risa Hontiveros attends a youth and student forum titled #YouthResist, held at the St. Scholastica’s College Manila, on 18 July 2017. Students of the Catholic school denounced the killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. (Photo by George Calvelo / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
1 / 1
What challenges do you see now in your respective industry? How do you intend to help address these challenges?
SRH: A continuing challenge is broadening and strengthening the opposition to elect more opposition senators in 2025 and to contest the Presidency in 2028.
It is also currently a challenge to be only one of the two members of the Minority in the Senate—not just politically but also practically. There are hearings, for example, that is humanly impossible for me to attend as a representative of the Minority since I also have several other engagements. This makes it more urgent that we add to the roster of opposition senators in the coming mid-term elections — for ideological reasons, yes, but certainly, also for pragmatic ones.
We are constantly addressing this by building a more encompassing “tent” of different parties, civil society organisations, individuals, and movements that share similar values and beliefs. We are in regular talks with like-minded individuals, but we would want to start conversations with those who may not necessarily be in the opposition per se but also those we can make common cause with.
Read also: Leni Robredo: Philippine Vice President mounts an unprecedented campaign
Above Senator Risa Hontiveros speaks at the crowd during the ‘Solidarity Walk on Mental Health’. (Photo by Josefiel Rivera / Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images)
Senator Risa Hontiveros speaks at the crowd during the ‘Solidarity Walk on Mental Health’. (Photo by Josefiel Rivera / Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images)
1 / 1
What can you say to those who’d like to follow in your footsteps?
SRH: Don’t follow in my footsteps. Choose the path you would like to travel and take the steps on it.
Who do you look up to for guidance, inspiration, or mentorship?
SRH: For political guidance, my Chief of Staff. For inspiration, my “circle of intimate others”. For mentorship, my mentors in my alma mater, St Scholastica’s College Manila and Ateneo de Manila University, and in my different organisations like Coalition for Peace, Pandayan, and Akbayan.
What are your plans for the coming years and what keeps you going?
SRH: To turn a senior citizen meaningfully, help the opposition win the presidential elections in 2028, and go back to my first love, theatre and music, among others.
Love, pride in being Filipino, the beauty of nature, pleasure in the arts and in cultures, and faith all keep me going.
NOW READ
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maria Ressa on Responsible Journalism, Democracy, Purpose—and Facebook
Angel Locsin gets candid about her advocacies
Ana Patricia Non reveals the Community Pantry’s true purpose
