Senator Bong Go was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Sports Award at the 31st So Kim Cheng Foundation Annual Sports Awards held at Eskina Restaurant in Lanang, Davao City.
Recognized for his long-standing support for grassroots sports development and athlete welfare, Go maximized the occasion to reaffirm his legislative priorities as Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Sports, on Health, and on Youth, urging continued investment in Filipino athletes as a national imperative.
“Magta-trabaho ako para sa mga Pilipino sa abot ng aking makakaya… Gagawin ko lang po ang aking trabaho dahil sipag, malasakit, at more serbisyo po ang pwede kong i-alay sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino,” the veteran legislator said.
This year’s awards ceremony honored 105 awardees, comprising athletes, coaches, media personalities, and key stakeholders who excelled in 16 sports disciplines.
“‘Wag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Sa totoo lamang po, ako po ‘yung dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po ako ng pangalawang pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. At hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung tiwalang binigay n’yo sa akin,” the seasoned lawmaker said.
“Tutulong po ako sa abot ng aking makakaya. Ako naman po, with or without an award, trabaho ko po ito para sa Pilipino.”
The senator assured athletes that his office remains accessible to support their needs: “Kung meron po akong maitutulong sa ating mga atleta dito sa Davao at sa iba pang parte ng bansa, tutulong po ako sa abot ng aking makakaya. Ako naman po, with or without an award, trabaho ko po ito para sa Pilipino.”
In the sports domain, he cited the gains of Filipino athletes under increased government attention.
“Ayaw ko pong masayang ang sinimulan ni former President (Rodrigo) Duterte sa paglaban sa kriminalidad at iligal na droga. Kaya ang adbokasiya ko, get into sports, stay away from drugs, to keep us healthy and fit,” Go stressed.
He has also continuously pushed for an increased budget for sports programs to significantly improve Filipino athletes’ preparation, training, and competitive performance on the international stage while launching effective programs to cultivate the talents of young and aspiring sports enthusiasts at the grassroots level.
At the heart of this advocacy is the National Academy of Sports (NAS), established under Republic Act No. 11470, which Go authored and co-sponsored. Located in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, NAS offers a unique dual-track system combining quality secondary education with a specialized sports curriculum, allowing young student-athletes to pursue academic excellence while developing their athletic talents.
“Dati, kung mag-training ka, naa-apektuhan ang pag-aaral mo. O ‘pag nag-aaral ka, hindi ka makapag-training. Ngayon, may eskwelahan na tayo: National Academy of Sports,” he explained.
To expand access to this, Go filed Senate Bill No. 171, also known as the proposed National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Bill, which seeks to establish regional NAS campuses nationwide, with a particular focus on the Visayas and Mindanao regions in accordance with the existing law.
In addition, he filed SBN 407, which proposes to amend RA 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, aiming to raise the incentives granted to para-athletes close to those received by their non-disabled, elite counterparts.
Go also filed SBN 413, or the Philippine National Games bill, which if passed, institutionalizes a nationwide grassroots sports competition that serves as a recruitment platform for National Sports Associations.
“Ito ‘yung tinatawag na mini-Olympics na dapat ginagawa kada dalawang taon. Dyan po natin nadi-diskubre ang mga potential Olympians natin,” he said.
Meanwhile, Go filed SBN 678, also known as the proposed National Tertiary Games Act, aims to formalize a national collegiate multi-sport tournament that nurtures and showcases athletic talent at the tertiary level.
Since assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Sports in 2019, he has overseen a historic era for Philippine athletics.
Under Go’s watch, the country clinched its first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games and followed it up with a groundbreaking twin gold victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics—a feat never before achieved in the nation’s sporting history.
“Dapat ang mga atleta natin ay wala nang iniintindi kundi mag-training at mag-focus sa laro.”
“Ang mahalaga ay ang suporta sa pagkain, gamit, at moral na suporta. Dapat ang mga atleta natin ay wala nang iniintindi kundi mag-training at mag-focus sa laro,” he explained.
Go also reminded the audience of the historic gold medal win at the 2022 Asian Games basketball competition.
“Tingnan n’yo ‘yung Asian Games. ‘Di ba ang basketball team natin, after 62 years, nanalo tayo ulit? First-ever gold ulit sa Asian Games,” he said.
As the sponsor of the sports budget in the Senate, Go has been instrumental in securing support for the country’s sports development. He advocated for the repair and improvement of key sports facilities, such as the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and Philsports Arena in Pasig City, believing that providing athletes with proper training environments, equipment, nutrition, and mental support is essential for their success.
During the event, he also acknowledged several dignitaries, including Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre of the 2nd District and Councilors Bai Hundra Cassandra, Dominique Advincula, and Antonette Principe from the 3rd District of Davao City.
Also present were So Kim Cheng Foundation Chairman Peng Kee So, President of Davao City Sports Council Dexter So, SKC Foundation Directors Denver So and Dexon So, Foundation Secretary Merlene So, and other key officers, including Treasurer Rommel Tan, Press Relations Officer Jerson Tamayo, Business Manager Mario Palazuelo, and Assistant Secretary James Infiesto of the Davao City Sports Council.
In closing, Go saluted the mission of the So Kim Cheng Foundation: “Hangad ko po na sana magpatuloy pa ang paglago at pag-unlad ng misyon ng So Kim Cheng Foundation para sa sports at kalusugan ng komunidad.”
“Tandaan natin, minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” reminded Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
“Ako ang inyong Senator Kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po yan sa Diyos,” he concluded.
