Risa Hontiveros amused by 'WinRi' tandem but confesses to having 'long-time partner'
Sen. Risa Hontiveros has cut short any romantic notions surrounding the trending 'WinRi' tandem paring her with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian by saying she is not single.
"I have a long-time partner," she said during an interview with ANC Headstart on June 30.
Around the start of June, social media users began sharing clips of Hontiveros and Gatchalian as they carried out their work in the Senate, creating the hashtag #WinRi, which is a blend of the senators' names.
Fans of the duo, called "Winners," regularly posted updates on the two senators working together. Several Facebook pages have been put up specifically for the shipping of the senators.
When asked in an ANC Headstart on Tuesday what she thought about the tandem, Hontiveros said she was grateful for the youths' interest in Senate proceedings.
"'Yung mga bata… mukhang natutuwa sa akin, natutuwa kay SP Sherwin," she said.
"I do thank them for their interest in 'yung trabaho namin sa Senate, at 'yung suportang nage-generate nila among other netizens para sa trabaho ng Senado," Hontiveros continued. "Naa-appreciate ko na they're keeping it very respectful and professional."
In a previous interview with the media, Gatchalian said he was honored to be part of the tandem, adding he thought Hontiveros was one of the most hardworking and courageous among the current senators.
Plans for 2028 elections
Hontiveros added she wasn't sure if the WinRi tag was meant to propel the two senators toward a political pairing in the national elections in 2028.
"Apparently, sinasabi nila binuo nila 'yung community nila a year ago, or a few years ago," Hontiveros said. "Parang fun lang nila ito. Tuwa lang nila ito."
"Delight is a positive energy. How can you quarrel with that?" she continued. The senator added she was pleased that in the midst of all the negative news about the world, the Philippines, and its government, these shippers can still find something to amuse them.
Turning serious, Hontiveros confirmed she isn't the only one in the Senate majority with an eye on the 2028 elections.
"Hindi lang ako nag-iisa sa hanay namin; there are several of us," she said. "I can speak for myself na lang. I'm seriously considering and preparing for it."
"I would say, dahil may iba pang kaalyado na either naghahanda or kinukumbinsing maghanda, ngayon parang nasa period kami ng isang primaries," Hontiveros said. "Sabi ko, 'Okay lang 'yun. The more options, the better.'"
The primaries, or primary elections, a main aspect of the US political process, involve the selection of candidates for public office.
With the national elections less than two years away, Hontiveros is asking allies to band together for a stronger shot.
"Ang hinihingi ko sa lahat ng kaalyado, say by the end of this year, kung sino sa amin ang pinakamalakas, let's unite around that person," she said. "Kung ako 'yun, makikiusap ako sa lahat ng kaalyado, 'Ganito 'yung numbers ko. Kung ako ang pinakamalakas, can you support me?'"
Hontiveros added that if someone else emerges with higher numbers than hers in surveys, then she will support that individual.
"Ang pinaka-essential sa 'kin, magkaisa kaming lahat para magkaroon ng fighting chance," she added. "Something different, something new, something better para sa ating bayan."
Hontiveros was married to Francisco Baraquel Jr., with whom she shares four children. Her husband died in 2005 of a heart attack caused by severe asthma.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian was previously in a relationship with beauty queen Bianca Manalo since 2018. Asked about his love life, the Senate President said in an interview with Korina Sanchez earlier in January that it is "non-existent."
