LENG Cruz, a 63-year-old Stage 4 Breast Cancer patient from Cainta, Rizal, never imagined that survival would come through a partnership of faith, community, and an unexpected ally in the government. Leng’s story is one of resilience, gratitude, and an initiative that has changed how healthcare support is delivered to Filipinos in need.
Her ordeal began with a diagnosis that felt like a death sentence. Like many Filipinos facing catastrophic illnesses, Leng struggled to find the means to sustain her treatment. Chemotherapy sessions, essential to her survival, were prohibitively expensive.
Despair grew until a glimmer of relief appeared in the form of her town’s former mayor, Keith Nieto. Mayor Nieto introduced her to the Malasakit Center—a one-stop-shop healthcare hub that integrates assistance from various government agencies. It is an initiative borne of the health reforms crusade led by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Mapalad po ako na isa ako sa natulungan ng aming mahal na mayor ng Cainta, si Mayor Keith Nieto, dahil po sa Malasakit (Center) program ni Senator Bong Go,” Leng explained. “Doon po nagsimula ang aking journey na hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko po talaga makakalimutan dahil sa tulong po ni Senator Bong Go.”
The Malasakit Centers, launched in 2018, were established to simplify and expedite access to medical assistance. The program consolidates support from the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The initiative reflects Go’s vision of ensuring no Filipino has to choose between medical care and financial ruin.
Leng detailed how the program eased her path to treatment. “From that time na ako nagki-chemotherapy po, talaga po ang Malasakit po talaga ay nasa aking likod. Unang-una sa Panginoong Diyos, Senator Bong Go,” she said. “Kung makikita niyo po ako noon, hindi ko po alam kung paano ako gagaling, paano ko isu-sustain ang pagpapagamot ko ng cancer.”
Once debilitated by her illness, Leng now speaks with renewed strength, standing as a testament to the life-changing impact of accessible healthcare. “Ito po ako, nagpapatuloy po ako na dahil po sa tulong niyo, nakikita po niyo ako ngayon. Nakakapagsalita po ako ngayon sa inyong harapan.”
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DOH (Department of Health) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.
Go, in his own words, often reminds Filipinos of the ethos behind his health reforms. “Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede po natin gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito. ‘Yan po ang totoo,” he said.
For Leng, the program has been transformative not only for her but also for countless others facing similar struggles. “Hindi lang po ako nagsasalita para sa aking sarili. Ako po’y nagsasalita sa lahat po ng may mga sakit, katulad ko po na may cancer, sa mga nagda-dialysis at mga lumalaban po at dumadaan sa mabigat na pagsubok.”
“Buong buhay ko pong tatanawin na utang na loob ito, senator,” she concluded, her words a testament to the power of compassion translated into action.
As Leng continues her battle with cancer, her story illuminates a larger narrative—that of an initiative making tangible differences in the lives of Filipinos. The Malasakit Centers are a reflection of the collective effort to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight for health and survival.
