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SEN. Bong Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, has called on the Filipinos to unite and work together to produce athletes of world caliber like gold medalist Carlos Yulo.
"I'm asking everyone, including the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee), [the] NSA (National Sports Association) and the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), to unite and work together," said Go on Monday night during the Annual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards at the Manila Hotel.
"As for me, as the legislator and Chairman of sports, I'm just here behind supporting," added Go in Filipino.
Go was a special guest during the annual event honoring the national athletes who have brought honor to the Philippines in 2024.
"Congratulations to all the awardees tonight at the PSA Awards Night. I am very proud to be the Senate Committee on Sports chairman since 2019, especially because we won our first-ever gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," said Go.
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"As we look forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, we have also celebrated our first-ever twin gold medals. This marks a historic moment for the entire Philippines and our sports community," added Go.
Go presented the top award to Carlos Yulo, who was hailed by the oldest media group as Athlete of the Year during the event. The pint-sized gymnast won two gold medals during the 2024 Paris Olympics and continues to inspire the nation with his world-class performances.
Meanwhile, Hidilyn Diaz was inducted into the PSA Hall of Fame, which was also presented by Go.
As the Philippines' first-ever Philippines' gold medalist, Diaz's victory in weightlifting at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has left a legacy as one of the country's greatest athletes, said Go, a staunch advocate for youth development and sports.
Nesthy Petecio, silver medalist during the Paris Olympics, also acknowledged Go in her speech.
"To Senator Bong Go, 'thank you very much for supporting the athletes. Thank you very much, especially to the grassroots. Please continue to support us, Sir, because I know many more at the grassroots want to be like us,'" said Petecio.
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 and 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 and triathletes' competitive performance while launching effective programs to cultivate the talents of young and aspiring sports enthusiasts at the grassroots level.
"I will continue to support our athletes to the best of my ability. The proposed budget for sports is tiny, so we are fighting to increase it every year to give importance and value to the sports field," he added.
The senator also played a key role in creating the National Academy of Sports (NAS) by authoring and co-sponsoring Republic Act (RA) 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 2789, which, if enacted, seeks to amend RA 10699 to increase incentives for para-athletes.
Recognizing the crucial role of facilities in sports development, Go has successfully advocated for significant upgrades to key infrastructure, including the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Last year, the PSC invited athletes to provide additional financial support worth P500,000 to each Filipino Olympian to aid their preparations for the Paris Olympics. The commission also offered the same support to each Filipino para-athlete participating in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
"As I always remind our young youth, 'get into sports and stay away from illegal drugs to keep us healthy and fit! I will continue to serve you because it is my habit to serve, and I believe that service to people is service to God,'" concluded Go.
