The 2025 midterm elections will be remembered for its unexpected upsets and telling undercurrents. But perhaps no result was more significant than the twin victories of Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, two stalwarts of the liberal reformist camp who were once declared politically finished after the bruising 2022 elections.

With critical support from Risa Hontiveros and Leni Robredo, and buoyed by a reawakening of the “Kakampink” base, their comeback is more than electoral. It is symbolic. It signals the start of what could be a slow but deliberate restoration of trust in politics anchored in values, competence, and inclusive leadership.

But the question now is not just about how they won. It’s about what they do next and how they prepare for 2028, a pivotal moment that could either validate or undo this fragile resurgence.

1. From Martyrdom to Momentum

The 2022 loss of the reformist ticket left supporters disillusioned, fragmented, and fatigued. The 2025 results must now be used not as vindication, but as momentum. Bam and Kiko must lead not as symbols of political resurrection but as working legislators with clear, measurable impact.

If 2022 was about heartbreak and 2025 about healing, then 2028 must be about hard governance, delivering results, building coalitions, and showing that idealism and pragmatism can coexist.

2. Rebrand the Reformist Movement

Let’s be honest: the reformist camp has been boxed, unfairly or not, as elitist, preachy, and disconnected. The victories of Bam and Kiko present an opportunity to rebrand.

No more echo chambers. No more “us vs. them.” The language must evolve, less moral superiority, more moral clarity. Less nostalgia for EDSA, more real-time relevance for the gig worker, the single mom, the Visayan farmer, the TikTok-savvy Gen Z voter.

If they are to win 2028, they must learn to speak with, not just for, the people.

3. From Personality Politics to Political Infrastructure

The reformist bloc has long relied on charismatic figures, Cory, PNoy, Leni, to lead the charge. But personality is not infrastructure.

The 2028 push must be systematic and sustained: invest in ground networks, support local candidates, train new leaders, and professionalize campaign machineries. The victory of Bam and Kiko must be the start of a machine not just a moment.

They must do what the trapos have long done but do it better, cleaner, and with a longer-term view.

4. Rethink the Role of Leni and Risa

Leni Robredo remains the moral compass of the reformist movement, but she need not be its presidential standard-bearer again. Her power may now lie in kingmaking, not reclaiming the crown. She must use her gravitas to elevate others, not just herself.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, is ripe for a larger leadership role. Articulate, consistent, and credible, she has cross-sectoral appeal and a long record of integrity. The reform bloc would do well to position her as either the 2028 presidential or vice-presidential candidate, depending on strategic alignments.

5. A New Kind of Kakampink

Let’s face it: some 2022 supporters, while passionate, were also insular and self-defeating. The movement turned too quickly on potential allies, demanded purity over unity, and alienated the undecided.

In 2028, the Kakampink base must evolve. More listening, less lecturing. More organizing, less moralizing. Learn from the grassroots machinery of rivals. Build alliances with those who don’t agree 100%—because that’s how democracy works.

This is not about softening convictions. It’s about expanding the tent.

Final Thoughts: 2025 Was the Spark. 2028 Must Be the Fire.

The wins of Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan are not just personal triumphs, they are the best shot yet at proving that decency, vision, and governance can still resonate with the Filipino people.

But 2028 won’t be handed to them. It must be earned through sweat, strategy, and shared purpose.

This time, there can be no illusions. Politics in the Philippines is a long game. And for reformists to win that game, they must play smarter, broader, and braver than ever before.

Because if they fall again in 2028, it may not just be the end of a movement; it could be the end of belief that reform is even possible.