Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
Son of one of Philippine history's most loved presidents, Ramon Magsaysay, has been a legislator advocating for the improvement of the living conditions of Filipinos, the advancement of economy and jobs creation. He was a former senator of the country since 1995 to 2007. He was also elected as a congressman of the lone district of Zambales from 1965 to 1969. Among the laws he authored are the Magna Carta for Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises, Foreign Investments Act, Cooperatives Act, professionalization of professions (Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Industrial Engineering, etc. ), Meat Inspection Code, Amendments to Agricultural Modernization Act, and the e-Commerce Law, among others.
Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino
Aquino is a Management Engineering summa cum laude graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University. He is a multi-awarded leader and has been named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (2010) and Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (2012). He was the youngest chairperson of the National Youth Commission at 25.
Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal-Valade
Madrigal was one of the most consistent opposition senators representing the people's fight against the oppressive and corrupt Arroyo administration. She was one of the most vocal senators during the highly controversial jueteng and NBN-ZTE investigations and hearings in the Senate. She authored some of the most important laws, such as Magna Carta for Women, Anti-Child Pornography Law, Tubattaha Protected Area Act, Protected Area Bills, Log Ban Bills in Selected Areas, Declaration of Child Abandonment Adoption Law, Child Legitimation Law, Marine Pollution Bill, and the Non Discrimination Bill (Muslims and ethnic minorities).
Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel
Hontiveros received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2005 for her work in the Peace Talks with the National Democratic Front from 1988 to 1999. She also received the TOYM in 2001 for Peace Advocacy. Despite playing a key role of opposition against the abuses of the Arroyo administration, then Akbayan Representative Hontiveros managed to principally author in the House important bills such as the Cheaper Medicines law and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law.
Loren Legarda
Legarda is the only female senator who topped the Senate race twice, with more than 15 million votes in 1998 and 18.4 million votes in 2007. As the only woman to become majority leader, Legarda authored the landmark legislation such as the Clean Air Act, Solid Waste Management Act, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Climate Change Act, Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Child Labor Law, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, Barangay Kabuhayan Act, Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act, Magna Carta for MSMEs, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act, Food and Drug Administration Act, and the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.
Cynthia Villar
Villar is currently the Managing Director of the Villar Foundation, which was founded in 1992 to provide jobs and livelihood to Filipinos, protect the environment, and look after the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. Her stint as Congresswoman of Las Pinas propelled the city to become one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines.
Antonio Trillanes IV
Trillanes, a bemedalled officer of the Philippine Navy, was widely known for his prominent role in the uprisings directed against the corrupt and oppressive Arroyo regime. In 2007, he successfully launched a nationwide campaign on a shoestring budget from his prison cell consequently getting elected by more than 11 million people. He has been one of the most productive senators with a total of 712 bills and resolutions filed during the 14th and 15th Congress.
Alan Peter Cayetano
Cayetano, being the Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, ably led the investigation which led to the suspension of the anomalous supply contract of the Philippine government with ZTE Corporation. Had this not been scrapped, the deal would have cost the government and the Filipino taxpayers almost P16 billion in borrowed money for a national broadband network. He also led the investigation into the Fertilizer Scam, Malacanang “Gift Giving” and the Swine Scam. He is a 2010 TOYM awardee in the field of government and public service in recognition of his valuable efforts in advocating public accountability and transparency.
Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara
Angara, also a 2010 TOYM awardee, obtained his Economics and International Relations degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, graduating with honors. He also went to Harvard Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree. As a congressman, Angara has earned the distinction of being the most productive legislator for filing the most number of bills of national importance that were enacted into law, which include bills and laws on education, good governance, health, tourism, environment, women and children’s rights, and tax and economic reforms.
Francis "Chiz" Escudero
Escudero is not only a TOYM awardee for youth leadership in 2000, he is also the only Filipino named in 2007 as “Asia's Idol” by the Asia News Network. He was also awarded Legislator of the Year by the Philippine Media Research and Progress Report. He currently heads the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Joint Oversight Committees on Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Clean Air Act, and Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Grace Poe-Llamansares
Poe, daughter of the “King of Philippine Movies” Fernando Poe Jr and Ms Susan Roces, obtained her Political Science degree from Boston College in the United States. Being the chair of the MTRCB, she not only instituted needed reforms in movie and television programming, she also worked to provide support to local “indie” filmmakers. She intends to pursue her advocacy for electoral reforms, good governance, lasting peace, and welfare of children once she joins the legislature.
Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III
Pimentel, who topped the 1990 Philippine Bar Examinations, has gained the reputation for his principled politics, demonstrating character and integrity in a political process known for compromise and backroom deals. In 2007, he pursued his 2007 electoral protest and won. He continues to fight for clean, honest and credible elections as Chairman of the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, and of the Select Oversight Committee on Suffrage in the senate.