Sen. Bong Go and former president Rodrigo Duterte attended the Survivors' Day celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City to honor the bravery and strength of all cancer patients and survivors on Thursday, 8 December.

The event was organized by the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer.

Go praised Filipino cancer patients' resiliency and urged them not to give up hope as the government works to improve support services.

"Malapit po sa puso namin ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang mga batang tinamaan ng sakit na cancer. Nadudurog po ang puso namin," said Go.

"Sa kabila nito ay kami rin ay humahanga sa tapang at tatag ng mga batang ito pati na ng kanilang mga pamilya," he added.

Children with cancer, survivors, and their families look forward to the House of Hope Foundation's Survivors' Day every year on December 8 as it is a chance for them to have fun and win prizes at games and get their hands on essentials for a traditional Christmas celebration: gifts and food.

During this year's event, gifts and assistance were handed out to a total of 350 cancer patients by Duterte and Go.

In 2018, it can be recalled that Go significantly helped in the treatment of John Paul Culiao, a boy with leukemia.

In February this year, Go also reaffirmed his commitment to support more programs and measures to help ease the burden of Filipino cancer patients and their families as the country marked the third year since the National Integrated Cancer Control Act or Republic Act No. 11215 has been signed by Duterte in 2019.

"Nakakatuwa po na sa simpleng paraan na ito na taun-taon po naming ginagawa ay nakakapagbigay tayo ng ngiti sa kabila ng kanilang pinagdaraanan," said Go.

"Mula po sa amin ni Tatay Digong, dalangin po namin ang inyong tuluy-tuloy na paggaling para sa inyong pamilya at mahal sa buhay," he added.