“First love ko talaga ang theatre and music,” captions Senator Risa Hontiveros on her throwback photo with her von Trapp siblings three years ago.
With Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, and Menchu and Raymond Lauchengco as her siblings, 14-year-old Hontiveros portrayed the role of Louisa von Trapp in the 1980 Repertory Philippines production of the 1965 American musical drama “The Sound of Music”. She was a budding theater actress during her time and her aunt Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana – actress, director, and the National Artist for Theater and Film – might have had the influence on her.
Hontiveros had already taken hold of her voice early in life, however, her pursuit of the performing arts was somewhat disrupted as it unfolded against President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s imposition of the infamous Martial Law.
“Growing up during the Martial Law era, a time of repression, struggle, and resistance, had a significant influence on me,” recalls Hontiveros. “While I was able to enjoy the things that children typically enjoy – weekend bonding with my siblings and cousins, playing in the backyard, and pursuing interests like singing and theater – I would also say that it was during this time that my mind became open to the injustices around me.”
“Back then, I wasn’t aware that my relatives were prominent and well-respected figures in their industries. But just like when you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, they often say they want to follow the profession of their parents or someone in the family they look up to. It was the same for me,” says Hontiveros.
Raised in a family that is well-associated with politics, theater, music, and public service, Hontiveros reveled in activism as early as 12 years old, acknowledging it as an integral part of herself. “My activism started early, with my family joining the 1978 Lakas ng Bayan noise barrage, making noises using pots and pans from our backyard.”
“Later, during my sophomore year at St. Scho, my mother took me to a symposium by the Nuclear Free Philippines Coalition. One particular talk struck a chord with me that I started my own organization at St. Scho, The Nuclear Disarmament Group, campaigning against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant,” shares Hontiveros.
Having studied at the same Benedictine institution as President Corazon “Cory” Aquino and journalist Maria Ressa, which holds social justice, peace activism, and women’s empowerment in great esteem, Hontiveros’ drive for social action naturally intensified. “The Benedictine motto, “Ora et Labora”, wasn’t just words, it shaped how we stood up for what we believed in. St. Scho gave us the freedom to express ourselves, take a stand, and fight for what mattered.”
The Jesuits influenced Hontiveros’ way of life in the same way. This is evident in how she’s championing the youth, working and single women, families, and the marginalized in her social and political efforts.
“College at Ateneo de Manila University expanded my world. Meeting people from different backgrounds deepened my understanding of life and society. The Jesuit value of being “a person for others” taught me to see struggles not from a distance, but as if they were my own. It shaped not just how I think about social issues, but how I feel about them, too,” says Hontiveros, who has always been for the people.
Apart from outside forces, Hontiveros’ challenges as a woman played a pivotal role in shaping both her character and leadership. “Losing my husband, Frank, was stunning. But I had no choice but to keep going,” shares Hontiveros, who took care of their children Kiko, Issa, Ianna, and Sinta when she lost her spouse to heart attack 20 years ago. “I was grieving, but my children needed me. They had already lost their father and I couldn’t let them feel like they had lost their mother, too.”
Since being elected to the Senate in 2016, Hontiveros has sponsored bills – such as the Republic Act 11210 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which grants 105 days of paid maternity leave to working moms, and the Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Law, which provides the nation’s first legal framework over mental health care – that reflected her experiences and advocacy, making a her a politician who empathizes with the people she serves.
“This journey taught me to be patient, resilient, empathetic and to make tough decisions. These qualities are just as important in leadership,” says Hontiveros. “My empathy for working mothers, single parents, and struggling families helped me in advocating for policies that support women, families, and mental health, because I know firsthand how much they matter.”
On the surface, it might seem that Hontiveros lost her voice the moment her dream to become a performer slipped away. Yet, it was precisely through her growth as an activist, navigating single parenthood, and service as a senator that she discovered her true voice and embraced it more fully. For her, politics became theater – a stage not to perform at, but to hold her voice high.
