Sen. Bong Go reunites with previously conjoined twins Divine and Mercy.

The now-separated conjoined twins whose operation was made possible by a lawmakers’ assistance are in perfect health.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said Divine and Mercy, healthy and happy, were brought by their parents to his office on Monday. The girls underwent operation last January at the Philippine General Hospital.

“Nakakaawa naman talaga ‘yung mga bata kaya sinabi ko doon sa mga magulang na tutulong ako sa kanila para doon sa operasyon. May mga supporters tayo na naniniwala sa adbokasiya natin at willing tumulong,” said Go of the one-year-old twins who were conjoined at the chest when they were born in Camarines Norte.

The parents, Rubelyn Guinto and Edmund Cerilo, first brought their daughters to Go on 20 January and were immediately referred to the PGH. Eleven days later, the girls were already separated.

Go asked donors from the private sector to shoulder the expenses and assisted the parents in renting a room in Sta. Cruz, Manila where they stayed.

Go met with the twins again in Manila on 13 March and agreed to be their baptismal godfather.

Go has always been active in helping children with serious illnesses by serving as the bridge to government agencies and by raising funds with the help of the private sector. He has also been assisting children afflicted with biliary atresia.

Last year, Go spent Christmas and his birthday at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Diliman, Quezon City, in the company of cancer patients.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, one of Go’s bills seek to institutionalize nationwide the Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop for financial assistance from various government agencies.

During his last State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte credited Go for establishing the Malasakit Center, which currently has 40 branches nationwide.