SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, attended the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night held at The Manila Hotel. The event, graced by national athletes, distinguished guests and honorees, highlighted the remarkable achievements of Filipino athletes who have brought honor to the nation.
“Congratulations po sa lahat ng awardees ngayong gabi sa PSA Awards Night. I’m so proud bilang chairman ng Senate Committee on Sports since 2019 dahil nakuha natin ang first-ever gold sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Ngayon naman sa Paris Olympics 2024, nakuha natin ang first-ever twin gold. History po ito sa buong Pilipinas, history ng sports,” Go said as one of the event’s special guests on Monday, January 27.
Senator Go presented the award to Carlos Yulo as Athlete of the Year during the event. Yulo, a two-time Olympic Champion in gymnastics from the 2024 Paris Olympics, continues to inspire the nation with his unmatched discipline and world-class performances. Another highlight was the induction of Hidilyn Diaz into the PSA Hall of Fame, which was also presented by Go. As the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medalist, Diaz’s victory in weightlifting at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has established her legacy as one of the country’s greatest athletes.
The Senator, a staunch advocate for youth development and sports, also took the opportunity to express his commitment to supporting the athletic community and inspiring the younger generation to pursue excellence in sports.
“Nakikiusap po ako sa lahat, including the POC, NSA, PSC, magkaisa at magtrabaho po tayong lahat. Ako naman bilang legislator at chairman ng sports, nandito lang po ako sa likod na sumusuporta,” Go expressed.
Additionally, Nesthy Petecio, a silver-medalist during the 2024 Paris Olympics also acknowledge Go in her speech. “Senator Bong Go, Sir! Salamat kaayo sa imong suporta sa mga atleta. Salamat kaayo ilabi na sa grassroots (level). Padayon lang mig suportahi, Sir kay kabalo ko daghan pa kaayong nasa grassroots (level) na gusto mapareho sa amo.”
Kay Senator Bong Go, maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta sa mga atleta. Maraming salamat po, lalo na sa grassroots. Patuloy niyo lang po kaming sinusuportahan, Sir dahil alam ko napakadami pa pong nasa grassroots na gusto maging tulad namin._)
As Chairperson of the Senate Sports Committee since 2019, Go has also been instrumental in shaping the future of Philippine sports. During his tenure, sufficient support and focus on sports development has resulted in numerous feats such as the country winning its first Olympic Gold medals, hosting the Southeast Asian Games in 2019, as well as other commendable performances by Filipino athletes in international competitions.
Go has also continuously pushed for an increased budget for sports programs to significantly improve Filipino athletes’ preparation, training, and competitive performance while launching effective programs to cultivate the talents of young and aspiring sports enthusiasts at the grassroots level.
“Patuloy po akong susuporta sa ating mga atleta sa abot ng aking makakaya. Napakaliit po ng panukalang budget sa sports kaya ipinaglalaban natin na mapataas ito bawat taon bilang pagbibigay importansya at halaga sa larangan ng sports,” he added.
The senator also played a key role in creating the National Academy of Sports (NAS) by authoring and co-sponsoring Republic Act No. 11470. Located in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, NAS combines secondary education with a sports-focused curriculum, offering a dual path for student-athletes to excel in their sports and academic endeavors.
Go also principally sponsored Senate Bill No. 2789, which if enacted, seeks to amend RA 10699 to increase incentives for para-athletes.
Recognizing the crucial role of facilities in sports development, Senator Go has successfully advocated for significant upgrades to key infrastructure. The Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and the Philsports Arena in Pasig City stand as testaments to his belief that world-class training environments are essential for athletes’ growth.
Last year, Go partnered with the Philippine Sports Commission to provide additional financial support worth PhP500,000 to each Filipino Olympian to aid their preparations for the Paris Olympics. They also provided the same amount of support to each Filipino para-athlete participating in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
During his speech, the senator further acknowledged the role of sportswriters. The PSA is a media organization established in the Philippines since 1948 whose members include sports editors and sportswriters from the country’s tabloids, broadsheets, and online media.
Understanding the sacrifices and challenges faced by media workers, Go filed SBN 1183, also known as the proposed “Media and Entertainment Workers Welfare Act.” This measure, if enacted into law, seeks to provide enhanced protection, security, and benefits for media practitioners, including additional health insurance coverage; overtime and night differential pay; and other necessary incentives to ensure their well-being.
During the event, he also recognized the PSA officers, including President Nelson Beltran, Vice President Francis Ochoa from Philippine Daily Inquirer, Secretary Jasmine Payo of Rappler, Treasurer Gerry Ramos of Spin PH, Auditor Abac Cordero of The Philippine Star, and the board of directors, among others.
Adding to the night’s festivities, the awardees and selected attendees received tokens from Senator Go.
“As I always remind our youth, get into sports, stay away from illegal drugs to keep us healthy and fit! Patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo, at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon,” concluded Go.
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