Various community leaders from the public and private sectors showed their support for the vice presidential bid of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go as they attended a gathering organized by the recently launched Let’s Go Bong Go Coalition.

The event was held at the event hall in Gestdan Centrum on Wednesday, November 10, drawing around 300 participants, virtually and physically, representing different grassroots movements and leaders from the Cordillera Administrative Region and nearby areas. A motorcade around Baguio City was also held earlier in the day before the gathering.

Baguio City Representative Mark Go (who is not related to the senator) expressed his support for the latter’s candidacy, whom he credited for helping improve the health and well-being of millions of Filipinos by providing them better access to affordable and quality health care services.

“Nandito tayo ngayon para parangalan ang ating kaibigan na tumatakbo bilang vice president. Ito nga ay si Senator Bong Go,” the lawmaker said in a speech.

“Marami na siyang natulungan hindi lamang dito sa lungsod ng Baguio kundi sa buong Pilipinas. Every time I call him … (kapag) humihingi tayo ng tulong sa kanya, hindi siyang nag-aatubiling tulungan tayo sapagkat ito ay para sa bayan,” he continued.

“Dito sa lungsod ng Baguio, isa sa mga natulungan niya ay ang (Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center) kung saan may Malasakit Center. Sinimulan niya ang programang ito, ilan na rin ang naitayo sa buong bansa, para hindi na kailangang pumila ng ating mga kababayan sa iba’t ibang opisina para makahingi ng tulong mula sa gobyerno,” he added.

In 2019, the BGHMC formally launched the country’s 50th Malasakit Center with a ceremony which the senator personally witnessed. The center aims to help reduce a hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering surgeries, laboratory tests and various other patient services and expenses.

To do so, it brings under one roof the government agencies with programs that provide medical assistance, namely the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act, which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate and President Rodrigo Duterte signed in 2019.

“Itong darating na November 15, sana’y maging maganda ‘yung resulta ng aksyon na gagawin ng ating mga kaibigan na tumatakbo nitong susunod na eleksyon,” continued Rep. Mark Go.

Participating online, Sen. Go also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the organizers and supporters. He promised to continue promoting the health and welfare of Filipinos, economic recovery and job creation, in addition to addressing the issues of hunger and poverty in the country.

“Nakakataba ng puso ang inyong pag-volunteer at pagsuporta. Antayin lang natin sa mga susunod na araw pero ito lang ang masasabi ko: marami na ang napagod, tumaya at umikot para ipakita ang suporta sa akin at sa Pangulong Duterte. Ang laban niyo ay laban ko. Hindi ko kayong pababayaan,” reassured Go.

“Kandidato ako ng PDP-Laban, ang partido namin ng Pangulo, kaya ipaglalaban ko ito. Uulitin ko, lalaban tayo, sama-samang lalaban tayo,” he vowed.

The senator went on to acknowledge that there are uncertainties in politics that could affect his bid for the vice presidency. He, however, expressed confidence that whatever happens, he is committed to serve his fellow Filipinos to the best of his abilities regardless of position or circumstance.

“Ano man ang mangyayari, lalaban tayo dahil ayaw kong masayang ang lahat… kayo ang nagbibigay lakas sa akin para lumaban pa. Bigyan niyo ako ng kaunting panahon, ipagdadasal ko itong lahat,” he shared.

“Kung gugustuhin ng Panginoon, gagawa siya ng paraan. Alam niyo, the more na mag-aambisyon ka sa isang posisyon, hindi ‘yan ibibigay sa inyo pero the more mo iiwasan, hahabulin ka nito kung gusto talaga ito ng Panginoon,” said Go.

In the end, Go vowed to serve the Filipino people and pledged to keep serving in his role as a bridge between the government and the poor, hopeless and helpless to ensure the people’s needs are provided for, their concerns addressed, and their voices heard.

“Hindi dito natatapos ang ating laban at magkasama tayo. May mga bagay lang po na kailangan nating antayin. May mga bagay na kailangan nating respetuhin. Ayaw kong masaktan ang Tatay Digong .. Kahit anumang posisyon… handa akong magserbisyo sa inyo,” he said.

“Maraming salamat sa ating suporters. Nandidito lang ako, kalabitin niyo lang ako anytime. Mahal na mahal namin kayo.”