‘Why not?’ Bam Aquino backs push to make BINI tourism ambassadors

Posted by ReyFort Media

MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino supports the push to make the Nation’s Girl Group, BINI, ambassadors of tourism for the Philippines.

The clamor has grown after BINI made history as the first Filipino P-Pop group to perform at Coachella, one of the biggest music festivals in the world.

“Why not? Let’s do it. Gawin natin. BINI and so many other artists… sila yung ilabas natin. Ipakita natin sa buong mundo, they are the best foot forward for the rest of the world,” Aquino told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday.

The Senate had welcomed BINI on Wednesday, congratulating them for their recent milestones. Aquino sponsored Senate Resolution 370, which acknowledged their achievement and highlighted how proudly they showcased Filipino music to the world.

BINI personally received copies of the Senate resolution.

“It’s our way of congratulating them and wishing them the best,” said Aquino. “‘Yung performance ng BINI sa Coachella, really created waves in the entertainment industry and really brought out the Filipino pride.”

“Nakakatuwa na nandun sila, in a global setting, at halatang-halata sa kanilang performance na proud na proud sila sa pagiging Pilipino,” he added.

The lawmaker has high hopes that more doors will be opened for Filipino acts on the global stage: “I hope our local artists can take the same path. Magaling dito, magaling sa ibang bansa, maging global ang sining natin.”

Aquino also agrees that it is time for the country to invest in “soft power,” noting that it was in 2008 that he first heard a Korean official tout K-Pop and K-Drama. 

“Etong ating creative industry ay isa yan sa mga strengths natin. Kailangan talagang bigyan ng tamang suporta, tamang pondo, tamang plano,” he said.

Aside from Aquino, a number of Senators also delivered co-sponsorship speeches, where they incorporated some of the group’s song titles.

“Sila rin ang most-viewed female act on Coachella’s Instagram during the whole festival. In fact, pagdating sa total online engagement, pumangalawa sila kay Justin Bieber — isang tunay na ‘Cherry on Top’ sa makasaysayang pag-angat ng OPM at talentong Pilipino sa pandaigdigang entablado,” said Sen. Joel Villanueva.

“Mr. President, hindi na po ito simpleng ‘Na Na Na.’ This is the nation’s pride na.” (MJ Felipe/abs-cbn news)