Even the toughest in politics can melt when it comes to family milestones.
Senator Risa Hontiveros proved this when she posted a touching Facebook post on Friday, November 7, 2025, to celebrate the engagement of her eldest son, Kiko Baraquel.
Though she is usually seen in the public eye as a composed and staunch advocate for equality and justice, the senator allowed her softer, maternal side to shine through this time.
She reminisced about her son’s childhood and expressed heartfelt hopes for his new chapter in life.
Risa looks back at the wild, wide-eyed "Kiko boy" years
The senator began her post by traveling back to her formative years of motherhood with her late husband, Francisco "Frank" Baraquel Jr.
They welcomed their firstborn, Kiko, three years into their marriage, when the couple made a humble home out of a duplex that belonged to their madrina.
Risa fondly recalled those early days of joy and discovery that structured their young family: “Frank and I called him ‘Kiko boy’ when he was little.
“He was born a couple of years after we got married and started our life together in a duplex we rented in Cubao from our wedding ninang, Ofie Jacomina.”
As she painted a picture of Kiko’s early childhood, Risa described the little moments that parents never forget: the sounds, the laughter, the movement that filled their home.
She remembered her son’s endless energy and curiosity as a toddler, recounting how he once used office chairs to glide across the floor of the GZO Peace Institute.
“He would zoom across the floor on his stomach, pushing his feet behind the ergonomic chairs,” Risa added.
“Ging Deles, my elder sister and young mother in the feminist movement, remarked, ‘That little boy has a lot of testosterone!’”
Her stories also captured Kiko’s budding character of being playful yet protective.
About Kiko's earliest quirks, Risa mentioned his fondness for "Dabidee," which was his version for Jollibee, and his love for reading.
“He loved reading after me his picture book of birds: ‘Fla-, Fla-, -ming-, -ming-, -go! -go! Flamingo! Balingo!’” she wrote, recalling his mispronunciations with motherly amusement.
Then came one of Risa’s more unfiltered episodes that showed a different side of her.
The 59-year-old lawmaker admitted that she was not always the calm, unflappable figure people see today.
Once, she found herself losing her patience on the road.
She confessed, “I once stalked a foul-mouthed driver who cut in on our big old beautiful Toyota Cressida on the side where he and his Yaya Pat were riding.”
From there, her post flowed gently from mischief to sentimentality, tracing Kiko’s growth from a boisterous child into a man with purpose.
“It has been a joy to see him grow up with schoolmates & friends for life & grow in his chosen fields of work.”
On love, family, and new beginnings
After remembering Kiko’s childhood, Risa shifted her focus to the present—her son’s engagement to his fiancée, Hannah.
Kiko met Hannah during the spooky season several years ago, and their bond has only grown stronger since that meeting.
“He & sweet Hannah met on Halloween several years ago, & they got engaged without tricks & with many treats this week.”
The post was accompanied by a photo of the newly engaged couple, with Hannah showing her bow-shaped ring as Kiko wrapped her in a loving embrace.
Beyond the celebration, Risa acknowledged the challenges their family had endured, particularly after the passing of the family patriarch, Frank.
She highlighted Kiko’s efforts in maintaining close connections despite the distance and demands of work.
“Kiko, you & our whole family have gone through so much these past couple of decades. Keep on working to build & heal relationships as the basic building blocks of life.
“Thanks so much for sweetly reaching out to have dinner this past decade that you lived & worked away from home!
“As you take this most important step of your life, may you do so with faith in your relationship, hope for yourselves as a couple in the context of hope in our country & our world, & your hearts full of love.
“May you have a long & happy life, a long & lasting love! I love you very much.”