Kiko Pangilinan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiko Pangilinan
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![]() Official portrait, 2019
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Senator of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office June 30, 2025 |
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In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022 |
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In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2013 |
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Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office May 6, 2014 – September 15, 2015 |
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President | Benigno Aquino III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Position established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Fredelita Guiza | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the Quezon City Council from the 4th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office June 30, 1988 – June 30, 1992 |
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
Francis Pancratius Nepomuceno Pangilinan
August 24, 1963 Manila, Philippines |
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Political party | Liberal (2001–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations |
LDP (1988–1992) Independent (1992–2001) |
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Spouse |
Sharon Cuneta
(m. 1996) |
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Relations | KC Concepcion (step-daughter) Pablo Cuneta (father-in-law) Helen Gamboa (aunt-in-law) Maricel Laxa (sister-in-law) Gary Valenciano (brother-in-law) Donny Pangilinan (nephew) Gab Valenciano (nephew) Kiana Valenciano (niece) Chito Miranda (nephew) |
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Children | 3, incl. Kakie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Ayala Westgrove Heights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (BA, LL.B) Harvard University (MPA) |
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Occupation |
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Profession | Lawyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | ![]() |
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Francis Pancratius Nepomuceno Pangilinan (born August 24, 1963), better known as Kiko Pangilinan, is a Filipino lawyer and politician. He is a senator of the Philippines, a role he has held for several terms. As a senator, he helps create laws for the country.
Pangilinan is famous for his work in supporting agriculture and making sure there is enough food for everyone, a concept called food security. He has written important laws to help farmers, such as the Organic Agriculture Act and the Sagip Saka Act. Before becoming a national leader, he was a television host and a city councilor.
He studied law at the University of the Philippines and later earned a master's degree from Harvard University in the United States. In 2022, he ran for vice president but was not elected. He won a seat in the Senate again in the 2025 elections.
Pangilinan is married to the famous actress and singer Sharon Cuneta. Together, they run an organic farm.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Kiko Pangilinan was born on August 24, 1963, in Manila. His father, Donato, was an engineer and businessman, and his mother, Emma, was a public school teacher. He is one of nine children.
He went to La Salle Green Hills for elementary and high school. During school breaks, his father made sure he and his siblings worked at their family's furniture factory. This taught him the value of hard work from a young age.
For college, he attended the University of the Philippines Diliman. He earned a degree in English and was also a varsity volleyball player for the UP Men's Volleyball Team.
While studying law at UP, he became a student leader. He was elected chairman of the UP University Student Council in 1986. He was also active in student groups that called for positive changes in the government. In 1997, he went to the United States to study at Harvard Kennedy School, where he earned a Master's degree in Public Administration.
Start of His Political Career
In 1988, at just 24 years old, Pangilinan was elected to the Quezon City Council. He was the youngest person ever elected to that position. He served one term, from 1988 to 1992. During this time, he helped create the National Movement of Young Legislators, a group for young lawmakers in the country.
After his term as councilor, he worked as a television and radio host for ABS-CBN. He was known for co-hosting the show Hoy Gising!, where he used his legal knowledge to help ordinary people with their problems.
First Terms in the Senate (2001–2013)
In 2001, Pangilinan was elected to the Senate. He was re-elected in 2007. During his first 12 years as a senator, he became known for several important laws.
From 2004 to 2008, he served as the Senate Majority Leader. This is a very important job where he helped manage the schedule and discussions in the Senate.
Major Laws He Created
One of his most well-known laws is the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. This law created a special system for children who get into trouble with the law. Instead of sending them to adult prisons, it focuses on helping them change for the better. This law is often called the "Pangilinan Law."
He also wrote the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. This law was designed to support farmers who grow food without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which is known as organic farming.
Working in the Cabinet
After his Senate terms ended in 2013, Pangilinan took a break from being a lawmaker. In 2014, President Benigno Aquino III asked him to join his team. He was appointed as the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization.
In this role, he was in charge of important government agencies that deal with food and farming. These included the National Food Authority (NFA), which manages the country's rice supply, and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), which builds and maintains water systems for farms. He resigned in 2015 to run for the Senate again.
Return to the Senate (2016–2022)

Pangilinan won a third term in the Senate in the 2016 elections. During this time, he became the president of the Liberal Party and was a key figure in the opposition.
He continued his work to help farmers by writing the Sagip Saka Act in 2019. Sagip Saka means "Save the Farm." This law makes it easier for the government to buy food directly from farmers and fishermen. This helps them earn more money by removing the need for middlemen.
Pangilinan also helped create other important laws, including:
- Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act: This law made tuition free in state universities and colleges.
- Free Internet Access in Public Places Act: This law set up free Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas like parks, schools, and libraries.
- Expanded Maternity Leave Act: This law gave working mothers more paid time off after giving birth.
2022 Vice Presidential Campaign
In 2021, Pangilinan announced he would run for vice president in the 2022 election. He was the running mate of presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
His campaign focused on his main advocacy: agriculture and food. His slogan was "Goodbye Gutom, Hello Pagkain" (Goodbye Hunger, Hello Food). He promised to help farmers and fishermen to make food more affordable for everyone. He finished in second place, losing to Sara Duterte.
Fourth Senate Term (from 2025)
Pangilinan ran for senator again in the 2025 elections and won. He ran alongside former senator Bam Aquino, and their team-up was called "KiBam."
His campaign once again focused on food security. He promised to work on lowering the price of rice and to make sure the Sagip Saka Act he wrote is fully used to help farmers. He officially began his fourth term on June 30, 2025.
Life Outside of Politics
Media Work
Before he became a senator, Pangilinan was a familiar face on television. From 1993 to 1997, he co-hosted the public service show Hoy Gising!. On the show, he helped people by giving legal advice and connecting them with government agencies. It was on this show that he met his future wife, Sharon Cuneta.
In 2024, he returned to hosting with a show called Hello Pagkain! which focused on farming and food issues.
Farming and Business
Pangilinan has always been interested in business. When he was a student, he started a small business selling fishballs from a cart.
In 2012, he and his wife started Sweet Spring Country Farm in Alfonso, Cavite. It is a family farm where they grow organic vegetables and raise free-range chickens. They use natural farming methods without any chemicals. The farm sells its fresh produce to markets and restaurants. Pangilinan often shares that farming is his passion and a way to promote healthy living.
Personal Life
Kiko Pangilinan married singer and actress Sharon Cuneta on April 28, 1996. They have two daughters, including the singer-songwriter Kakie, and one adopted son. Pangilinan also legally adopted Cuneta's daughter from a previous marriage, actress KC Concepcion.
The family lives in Silang, Cavite, near their farm. Pangilinan is also related to other famous people. He is the uncle of actor Donny Pangilinan and a cousin of Chito Miranda, the lead singer of the band Parokya ni Edgar.
Electoral history
2001 Senate election
2007 Senate election
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ||
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Genuine Opposition | Nationalist People's Coalition | 18,501,734 | 6.87 | ||
Genuine Opposition | Nationalist People's Coalition | 18,265,307 | 6.79 | ||
Genuine Opposition | United Opposition | 15,509,188 | 5.76 | ||
Genuine Opposition | Nacionalista Party | 15,338,412 | 5.70 | ||
Liberal Party | 14,534,678 | 5.40 | |||
Genuine Opposition | Liberal Party | 14,309,349 | 5.32 | ||
TEAM Unity | Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino | 12,657,769 | 4.70 | ||
TEAM Unity | Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino | 11,803,107 | 4.39 | ||
Genuine Opposition | Nacionalista Party | 11,787,679 | 4.38 | ||
Independent | 11,605,531 | 4.31 | |||
Genuine Opposition | United Opposition | 11,189,671 | 4.16 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 11,005,866 | 4.09 | ||
Genuine Opposition | PDP–Laban | 10,987,347 | 4.08 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 10,721,252 | 3.98 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 9,938,995 | 3.69 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 9,798,622 | 3.64 | ||
Genuine Opposition | Aksyon Demokratiko | 8,457,748 | 3.14 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 7,800,451 | 2.90 | ||
TEAM Unity | Nationalist People's Coalition | 7,638,361 | 2.84 | ||
Genuine Opposition | United Opposition | 7,267,048 | 2.70 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 6,357,905 | 2.36 | ||
Genuine Opposition | Independent | 5,274,682 | 1.96 | ||
TEAM Unity | Nationalist People's Coalition | 4,362,065 | 1.62 | ||
TEAM Unity | Lakas–CMD | 4,353,644 | 1.62 | ||
Independent | 2,725,664 | 1.01 | |||
TEAM Unity | Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas | 2,488,994 | 0.92 | ||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 843,702 | 0.31 | |||
Ang Kapatiran | 761,165 | 0.28 | |||
Ang Kapatiran | 713,817 | 0.27 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 510,366 | 0.19 | |||
Ang Kapatiran | 402,331 | 0.15 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 305,647 | 0.11 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 285,488 | 0.11 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 283,036 | 0.11 | |||
Philippine Green Republican Party | 123,608 | 0.05 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 107,532 | 0.04 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 100,523 | 0.04 | |||
Total | 269,118,284 | 100.00 | |||
Total votes | 29,498,660 | – | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 43,104,362 | 68.44 | |||
Source: COMELEC |
2016 Senate election
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ||
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Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 18,607,391 | 5.79 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 18,459,222 | 5.75 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Nationalist People's Coalition | 17,200,371 | 5.35 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Independent | 16,926,152 | 5.27 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Independent | 16,719,322 | 5.20 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Independent | 16,119,165 | 5.02 | ||
United Nationalist Alliance | 16,050,546 | 5.00 | |||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 15,955,949 | 4.97 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Akbayan | 15,915,213 | 4.95 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Nationalist People's Coalition | 14,953,768 | 4.65 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 14,271,868 | 4.44 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 14,144,070 | 4.40 | ||
People's Reform Party | Independent | 12,811,098 | 3.99 | ||
Independent | 12,670,615 | 3.94 | |||
People's Reform Party | Lakas–CMD | 12,325,824 | 3.84 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino | 11,126,944 | 3.46 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 10,331,157 | 3.22 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 7,046,580 | 2.19 | ||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Aksyon Demokratiko | 6,594,190 | 2.05 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Makabayan | 6,484,985 | 2.02 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Independent | 5,269,539 | 1.64 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Independent | 4,824,484 | 1.50 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Nacionalista Party | 2,775,191 | 0.86 | ||
United Nationalist Alliance | 2,432,224 | 0.76 | |||
Independent | 2,100,985 | 0.65 | |||
Independent | 2,032,362 | 0.63 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 1,971,327 | 0.61 | |||
United Nationalist Alliance | 1,857,630 | 0.58 | |||
Partido Galing at Puso | Aksyon Demokratiko | 1,838,978 | 0.57 | ||
People's Reform Party | Independent | 1,828,305 | 0.57 | ||
Partido Galing at Puso | Independent | 1,755,949 | 0.55 | ||
Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka | 1,736,822 | 0.54 | |||
United Nationalist Alliance | 1,719,576 | 0.54 | |||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Liberal Party | 1,696,558 | 0.53 | ||
United Nationalist Alliance | 1,605,073 | 0.50 | |||
Independent | 1,091,194 | 0.34 | |||
United Nationalist Alliance | 995,673 | 0.31 | |||
Independent | 905,610 | 0.28 | |||
Independent | 855,297 | 0.27 | |||
Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Independent | 808,623 | 0.25 | ||
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino | 805,756 | 0.25 | |||
Independent | 782,249 | 0.24 | |||
Independent | 759,263 | 0.24 | |||
Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka | 733,838 | 0.23 | |||
Lakas–CMD | 731,021 | 0.23 | |||
Independent | 680,550 | 0.21 | |||
Independent | 596,583 | 0.19 | |||
Independent | 527,146 | 0.16 | |||
Independent | 495,191 | 0.15 | |||
Independent | 379,846 | 0.12 | |||
Total | 321,307,273 | 100.00 | |||
Total votes | 44,979,151 | – | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 55,739,911 | 80.69 | |||
Source: COMELEC |
2022 vice presidential election
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
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Sara Duterte | Lakas–CMD | 32,208,417 | 61.53 | |
Kiko Pangilinan | Liberal Party | 9,329,207 | 17.82 | |
Tito Sotto | Nationalist People's Coalition | 8,251,267 | 15.76 | |
Willie Ong | Aksyon Demokratiko | 1,878,531 | 3.59 | |
Lito Atienza | PROMDI | 270,381 | 0.52 | |
Manny SD Lopez | Labor Party Philippines | 159,670 | 0.31 | |
Walden Bello | Partido Lakas ng Masa | 100,827 | 0.19 | |
Carlos Serapio | Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi | 90,989 | 0.17 | |
Rizalito David | Democratic Party of the Philippines | 56,711 | 0.11 | |
Total | 52,346,000 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 52,346,000 | 93.43 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 3,682,855 | 6.57 | ||
Total votes | 56,028,855 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 67,523,697 | 82.98 | ||
Source: Congress (vote totals); COMELEC (election day turnout, absentee turnout) |
2025 Senate election
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ||
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DuterTen | Partido Demokratiko Pilipino | 27,121,073 | 6.33 | ||
KiBam | Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino | 20,971,899 | 4.89 | ||
DuterTen | Partido Demokratiko Pilipino | 20,773,946 | 4.85 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Lakas–CMD | 17,118,881 | 4.00 | ||
KiBam | Liberal Party | 15,343,229 | 3.58 | ||
DuterTen | Independent | 15,250,723 | 3.56 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Independent | 15,106,111 | 3.53 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Nationalist People's Coalition | 14,832,996 | 3.46 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Nacionalista Party | 14,573,430 | 3.40 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Nacionalista Party | 13,651,274 | 3.19 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Nationalist People's Coalition | 13,394,102 | 3.13 | ||
Nacionalista Party | 13,339,227 | 3.11 | |||
Independent | 12,090,090 | 2.82 | |||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Lakas–CMD | 12,027,845 | 2.81 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Nationalist People's Coalition | 11,808,645 | 2.76 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Partido Federal ng Pilipinas | 11,580,520 | 2.70 | ||
DuterTen | Partido Demokratiko Pilipino | 10,615,598 | 2.48 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Partido Federal ng Pilipinas | 10,397,133 | 2.43 | ||
DuterTen | Partido Demokratiko Pilipino | 10,241,491 | 2.39 | ||
Riding-in-Tandem Team | Independent | 9,805,903 | 2.29 | ||
Independent | 8,759,732 | 2.04 | |||
Independent | 8,568,924 | 2.00 | |||
DuterTen | Independent | 8,450,668 | 1.97 | ||
DuterTen | Partido Demokratiko Pilipino | 8,383,593 | 1.96 | ||
Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas | Partido Federal ng Pilipinas | 7,702,550 | 1.80 | ||
DuterTen | Partido Demokratiko Pilipino | 7,471,704 | 1.74 | ||
Aksyon Demokratiko | 7,371,944 | 1.72 | |||
Reform PH Party | 6,700,772 | 1.56 | |||
Partido Lakas ng Masa | 6,481,413 | 1.51 | |||
DuterTen | Independent | 5,789,181 | 1.35 | ||
DuterTen | Independent | 5,719,041 | 1.33 | ||
Makabayan | 4,648,271 | 1.08 | |||
Makabayan | 4,343,773 | 1.01 | |||
Partido Lakas ng Masa | 4,136,899 | 0.97 | |||
Makabayan | 4,091,257 | 0.95 | |||
Riding-in-Tandem Team | Nacionalista Party | 3,950,051 | 0.92 | ||
Makabayan | 3,927,784 | 0.92 | |||
Workers' and Peasants' Party | 3,865,792 | 0.90 | |||
Makabayan | 3,846,216 | 0.90 | |||
Makabayan | 3,670,972 | 0.86 | |||
Independent | 2,556,983 | 0.60 | |||
Independent | 2,389,847 | 0.56 | |||
Independent | 1,150,095 | 0.27 | |||
Independent | 1,032,201 | 0.24 | |||
Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas | 990,091 | 0.23 | |||
Makabayan | 829,084 | 0.19 | |||
Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago | 818,437 | 0.19 | |||
Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi | 801,677 | 0.19 | |||
Makabayan | 779,868 | 0.18 | |||
Makabayan | 744,506 | 0.17 | |||
Partido Maharlika | 731,453 | 0.17 | |||
Independent | 671,818 | 0.16 | |||
Independent | 618,943 | 0.14 | |||
Independent | 611,432 | 0.14 | |||
Bunyog Party | 607,642 | 0.14 | |||
Aksyon Demokratiko | 587,098 | 0.14 | |||
Aksyon Demokratiko | Independent | 571,637 | 0.13 | ||
Makabayan | 564,948 | 0.13 | |||
Makabayan | 554,385 | 0.13 | |||
Independent | 476,855 | 0.11 | |||
Partido Maharlika | 460,662 | 0.11 | |||
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 458,383 | 0.11 | |||
Independent | 448,794 | 0.10 | |||
Workers' and Peasants' Party | 414,027 | 0.10 | |||
Democratic Party of the Philippines | 383,534 | 0.09 | |||
Independent | 310,562 | 0.07 | |||
Total | 428,489,615 | 100.00 | |||
Total votes | 57,350,958 | – | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 69,673,655 | 82.31 | |||
Source: COMELEC |
See also
- List of Harvard University politicians