Bimby Aquino. Handout
MANILA — Bimby Aquino has landed his first official brand endorsement as an adult, marking a new chapter for the 19-year-old who has spent much of his life in the public eye.
Aquino chose healthcare for his first endorsement, a decision he said was influenced by his family’s experience with illness and the importance of having access to medical care.
His mother, actress and television host Kris Aquino, has been undergoing treatment for multiple autoimmune conditions, giving Bimby an early understanding of the challenges families can face when dealing with health concerns.
“Health should not be a privilege, nor should it be a struggle. It should be a given,” Aquino said in a statement released by HMO brand iCare.
The young Aquino also said the experience shaped his belief that healthcare should be accessible to families regardless of their financial circumstances.
His first adult endorsement also reflects how his role in his family has changed. Once known primarily as the child being cared for by his mother and other members of their household, Bimby now sees adulthood as an opportunity to provide for the people who helped raise him.
As part of the partnership, he secured health coverage not only for himself and his brother but also for members of their household staff.
“Even if we’re not blood-related, they took care of us. They’re really part of my family and they deserve to have that right to be healthy,” he said. “I love having freedom to provide for my mom and brother. It feels nice to be a responsible member of the family.”
Aquino said his mother also taught him to take his health seriously from an early age.
“My mom always told me that if you don’t take care of your health at an early age, your health problems might catch up to you,” he said. “So, I believe that as early as you can, make sure that your health is well taken care of.”
The endorsement is part of a campaign encouraging young Filipinos entering adulthood to think about health protection as they begin working, earning their own money and taking on greater family responsibilities.