Senator Bong Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, lauded Filipino Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. for bringing pride to the Philippines.
“Nandito po ngayon kami sa Senado. Nire-recognize po ang ating legendary sa chess na si Rogelio Antonio. Nanalo po siya sa Melbourne Chess Open noong April 2025 at naka-four golds naman siya sa 23rd ASEAN Plus Age Group Championships. Apat na gold,” Go proudly said as he welcomed the Filipino Grandmaster to the Senate.
Antonio finished in second place in the rapid event at the Melbourne International Open Championships held last April. He likewise amassed eight medals (four golds, one silver, and three bronze) at the 23rd ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia last July.
Antonio is expected to compete in the World Seniors Chess Championships in Italy.
“Ang karangalan na dala dala ng ating players ay dala dala nila hanggang pagtanda.”
“Ang karangalan na dala dala ng ating players ay dala dala nila hanggang pagtanda,” the veteran legislator pointed out.
On his part, the Filipino Grandmaster expressed gratitude to the seasoned lawmaker for his financial assistance and moral support.
“Maraming salamat po sa ating minamahal na senador – mula Australia po hanggang Taipei siya po ang sumuporta sa akin,” he said.
Antonio, along with other Filipino athletes, received financial support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through the initiative of Go as chair of the Senate Health Committee and vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
The senator has consistently pushed for increased funding for sports programs to boost Filipino athletes’ preparation and competitiveness on the international stage, while also launching initiatives to develop young and aspiring athletes at the grassroots level.
“As an advocate of sports, we should also further advance sports development in the country, especially in the grassroots, so that aspiring young athletes can be allowed to improve their skills, and hopefully, eventually produce more Olympic medalists who will bring honor to the country,” he said.
The passage into law of Republic Act No. 11470 establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) is a testament to Go’s comprehensive, inclusive, and grassroots-oriented approach to sports development.
As author and co-sponsor of the NAS, the law allowed young student-athletes to pursue academic excellence while developing their athletic skills through a unique dual-track system combining quality secondary education with a specialized sports curriculum.
“Iniengganyo ko nga ang lahat, bata man o matanda, to get into sports, stay away from drugs to keep us healthy and fit.”
“Iniengganyo ko nga ang lahat, bata man o matanda, to get into sports, stay away from drugs to keep us healthy and fit,” Go said.
As the Senate sponsor of the sports budget, he has been instrumental in securing resources for the country’s sports development. He advocated for the repair and improvement of major sports facilities such as the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and Philsports Arena in Pasig City, believing that providing athletes with proper training venues, modern equipment, adequate nutrition, and mental health support is crucial for their success.
Since assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Sports in 2019, Go has presided over a historic period in Philippine athletics.
Under his leadership, the country captured its first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games and followed it up with an unprecedented double-gold performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics—a remarkable feat in the nation’s sporting history.
