Bam Aquino: ‘Time for the next generation to make their voices heard’

Senator Bam Aquino can’t help but reminisce about his hosting stint as the youth-oriented, semi-debate show “Y Speak” returns to television.

“Happy that #YSpeak is coming back! Time for the next generation to make their voices heard,” Sen. Bam said in a social media post.

Sen. Bam was one of the hosts of “Y Speak”, which aired in the mid-2000s and served as a platform for young people to share their views on important issues.

“Para sa mga Gen Z (at sa mga medyo nakalimot na): Ang Y Speak ay isang youth-oriented show na may semi-debate format na umere noong mid-2000s at naging iconic para sa henerasyon ng mga kabataan noon,” the Senator said.

“At sa mga nakasama ko noon sa Y Speak, hello Bianca Gonzalez at sa buong barkada. Mukhang tumatanda na talaga tayo. Sana hindi pa sumasakit ang mga likod n’yo,” he added, to which Bianca replied “Yessss”.

In a social media post, Fr. Tito Caluag announced that “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition” Season 1 housemates Ralph de Leon and River Joseph will join actors Elijah Canlas and KD Estrada as the newest hosts of the returning debate show “Y Speak.”

“‘Y Speak’ will be a civics education and formation program focusing primarily on the youth as its main audience. It will air across different platforms and two networks,” wrote Fr. Caluag, who will serve as the show’s executive director.

A known youth leader before joining politics, Bam Aquino served as president of the University Student Council of the Ateneo de Manila University and later as chairperson of the National Youth Commission (NYC) from 2003 to 2006.

In his first term as Senator, he chaired the Committees on Education and Youth, where he advanced policies and programs for the welfare of the youth. He also pushed for the passage of the Free College Law, serving as its principal sponsor in the Senate.

Upon his return to the Senate, Sen. Bam, now chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, worked to secure an increase in the education budget to a record-high ₱1.34 trillion.