When Kiko Barzaga became the platform

Cat filters and AI edits aren't what you expect from a congressman, but Kiko Barzaga-the self-proclaimed Congressmeow of Cavite-has turned them into his brand. Since leaving his political party, he's gone on a shitposting spree that many dismissed as madness. It isn't. It's method.

- By YANRO FERRER

Back in college, my thesis was about looking past Rodrigo Duterte's campaign words to understand the narrative machinery behind them. Barzaga's project feels like the next iteration of that same logic-except now the message isn't in the speech, it's in the meme.

Barzaga's relentless posting has pushed his content deep into online communities, especially within the pro-Duterte bubble. His follower count has surged by the hundreds of thousands-a viral spike that would make any influencer blush. He floods timelines daily with a mix of mockery, AI-generated videos, and memes.