An internationally known singer has lauded senatorial candidate Bam Aquino for pushing for the protection of the rights of local musicians, while Kiko Pangilinan was named a “Health Tax Hero” by a doctors’ group for his pro-health policies and his support for taxing tobacco, vape, and alcohol products.

Senatorial candidates Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino (Photos from Team Kiko-Bam)

Rockwell Ryan Ripperger, who is better known as Stephen Speaks and is the voice behind the hit song “Passenger Seat,” lauded Aquino and a group of Filipino musicians for their initiative to craft policies that will benefit musicians in the country.

The singer shared an article about Aquino on his Facebook page, commending him and the group of artists he’s working with for pushing for reforms in the music industry.

“My music attorney Mark Piad is seen here with my friend Lean from Slapshock, meeting with former senator Bam Aquino to work on policies that benefit musicians in the Philippines,” Ripperger wrote.

“Very cool. I would love to see this sort of thing happening in the US. Keep up with the good work, fellas,” he added.

Aquino commented on the post, “thank you for sharing this, Stephen Speaks,” while the singer responded with a “you are very much welcome sir.”

Artists who joined the meeting with Aquino included DJ Medmessiah, Morobeats, Pio Balbuena, Chelsea Alley (formerly of Slapshock), and P-Pop girl group YARA.

The artists welcomed the former senator’s plans to craft policies to protect the livelihood of musicians and to ensure that their works are protected by strengthening the intellectual property laws in the country.

They also expressed willingness to support Aquino’s candidacy in the May 2025 senatorial elections.

Pangilinan, on the other hand, was named a “Health Tax Hero” by the Sin Tax Coalition, a group of doctors and health reform advocates who are calling on candidates in next month’s polls to make public health a priority and to commit to raising taxes on tobacco, vape, and alcohol.

In his first term as senator in 2004, the former senator voted in favor of the bill to increase excise tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products.

He also voted in favor of the 2012 bicameral committee report on the proposed measure to tax tobacco and alcohol products. This later became Republic Act 10351 or An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco Products.

In 2019, during his third term in the Senate, Pangilinan once more threw his support to increasing excise taxes on tobacco products for the funding of human resource development programs for health professionals.