NETIZENS are keenly following what they consider as a new “love team” between two senators belonging to the new majority bloc.
Newly elected Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, tagged as #WinRi, was trending on X on Thursday, and a dedicated page, @WinRiOFC, was started on the same day.
“Ship responsibly. Para sa bayan (For the nation),” the page wrote.
The page showed several photos and videos of the two senators.
Other netizens also “shipped” the two senators, some of whom pointing out that the two senators are fur-parents.
“We saw it in [‘Pinoy Big Brother’]. We saw it in the UAAP. We’re seeing it now in the PVL-PBA. And now we’re about to see it in the Senate? Maybe our culture is really fond of love teams whether we want to admit it or not,” X user @nicoquijano wrote.
“What if... Senator Win Gatchalian and Senator Risa Hontiveros, there’s nothing wrong, because they’re both single and available, let’s push #WinRi,” wrote the Facebook page The Truth PH.
The two senators at one time or another led the Senate investigation of Philippine offshore gaming operations, which includes the case of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.
On Wednesday, Gatchalian was named Senate president pro tempore, after Sen. Francis Escudero switched to the minority bloc before the Senate adjourned sine die.
From 2007 to 2008, Gatchalian dated actress Pauleen Luna, who is currently the sister-in-law of Sen. Vicente Sotto III. He later dated actress and former Miss Universe-Philippines contestant Bianca Manalo, but said in a television interview earlier this year that his love life was “nonexistent.”
Hontiveros was married to police officer Francisco Baraquel Jr. from 1990 until his death in 2005. They have four children.
