Bam Aquino
Encyclopedia
Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV (born May 7, 1977) is a former TV host, former Chairperson of the National Youth Commission
of the Philippines
, and currently the President of MicroVentures, Inc. which runs the multi-awarded social enterprise, The Hapinoy Program (www.hapinoy.com).
Bam was born on May 7, 1977 in Manila
, the son of Paul Aquino, the youngest brother of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.
and Melanie Aguirre.
After graduating valedictorian and summa cum laude with a BSC in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University
in 1999, he worked at the ABS-CBN Foundation
in their special projects group.
In 2001, Aquino was appointed to the National Youth Commission
of the Philippines
as commissioner-at-large. The National Youth Commission (NYC) is the sole national policy-making and coordinating body on youth affairs. In February 2003, Aquino was upgraded to chairperson of the NYC, becoming the youngest person in Philippine history to head a government agency.
As a host, Aquino was featured in youth-oriented shows on Studio 23
’s “Y-Speak” and “Breakfast” then later on in ANC
’s entrepreneurship show “Start-Up”. He has also starred as his uncle, Ninoy Aquino in the August 2009 documentary-film "The Last Journey of Ninoy".
In late 2006, Bam co-founded Microventures, Inc., a social business enterprise that services micro financing organizations and their clients through the Hapinoy Program (www.hapinoy.com). He was awarded as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was chosen to be part of Asia Society’s pioneer batch of Asia 21 Fellows also in the same year.
Sometime in 2007, he joined the board of Rags2Riches, Inc., another social enterprise that helps underprivileged women with their livelihood (www.rags2riches.ph).
Alongside business partner, Mark Ruiz, he was one of the finalists of the 2010 Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as one of the PLDT SME Bossings and GoNegosyo’s Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs for their work in the Hapinoy Program. He was also chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) in the category Social Enterprise and Community Development that year.
In 2011, The Hapinoy Program won the UN’s Project Inspire Award besting over 400 social enterprises from all over the world. Again with business partner, Mark Ruiz, Bam was named as the Asian Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum’s Schwab Foundation for Social Enterprises.
Bam is also the current President of the TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations) Awards Foundation, the country’s premier youth award-giving body for youth organizations.
National Youth Commission (Philippines)
The National Youth Commission , also known as the NYC, is a government agency in the Philippines that specifically addresses issues surrounding the Filipino youth...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and currently the President of MicroVentures, Inc. which runs the multi-awarded social enterprise, The Hapinoy Program (www.hapinoy.com).
Bam was born on May 7, 1977 in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, the son of Paul Aquino, the youngest brother of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
and Melanie Aguirre.
After graduating valedictorian and summa cum laude with a BSC in Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in 1999, he worked at the ABS-CBN Foundation
ABS-CBN Foundation
ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. is the non-stock, non-profit socio-civic organization of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation that facilitates social programs and outreach to the public...
in their special projects group.
In 2001, Aquino was appointed to the National Youth Commission
National Youth Commission (Philippines)
The National Youth Commission , also known as the NYC, is a government agency in the Philippines that specifically addresses issues surrounding the Filipino youth...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
as commissioner-at-large. The National Youth Commission (NYC) is the sole national policy-making and coordinating body on youth affairs. In February 2003, Aquino was upgraded to chairperson of the NYC, becoming the youngest person in Philippine history to head a government agency.
As a host, Aquino was featured in youth-oriented shows on Studio 23
Studio 23
Studio 23 is a Filipino television network owned by the ABS-CBN Corporation. The network is named for its flagship station in Metro Manila, DWAC-TV, which is carried on UHF channel 23...
’s “Y-Speak” and “Breakfast” then later on in ANC
ABS-CBN News Channel
ABS-CBN News Channel or better known as ANC is the Philippines first 24-hour news channel broadcasting both in cable television domestically and in satellite television internationally via The Filipino Channel, owned and operated by the ABS-CBN Corporation under its ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs...
’s entrepreneurship show “Start-Up”. He has also starred as his uncle, Ninoy Aquino in the August 2009 documentary-film "The Last Journey of Ninoy".
In late 2006, Bam co-founded Microventures, Inc., a social business enterprise that services micro financing organizations and their clients through the Hapinoy Program (www.hapinoy.com). He was awarded as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was chosen to be part of Asia Society’s pioneer batch of Asia 21 Fellows also in the same year.
Sometime in 2007, he joined the board of Rags2Riches, Inc., another social enterprise that helps underprivileged women with their livelihood (www.rags2riches.ph).
Alongside business partner, Mark Ruiz, he was one of the finalists of the 2010 Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as one of the PLDT SME Bossings and GoNegosyo’s Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs for their work in the Hapinoy Program. He was also chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) in the category Social Enterprise and Community Development that year.
In 2011, The Hapinoy Program won the UN’s Project Inspire Award besting over 400 social enterprises from all over the world. Again with business partner, Mark Ruiz, Bam was named as the Asian Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum’s Schwab Foundation for Social Enterprises.
Bam is also the current President of the TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations) Awards Foundation, the country’s premier youth award-giving body for youth organizations.