Public service does not stop even during holidays, as many of our fellow Filipinos need help and compassion. On 31 December, just before we welcomed the new year, we visited patients and their caregivers at Balay Pahulayan in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.

Balay Pahulayan serves as a halfway house that provides temporary shelter for patient companions who would otherwise face sleepless nights in waiting areas or costly stays elsewhere. The idea of halfway houses started years ago in Davao City during the administration of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Balay Pahulayan at SPMC is also part of a growing network of patient halfway houses that we have championed, with others either already constructed or currently in development at facilities including Quirino Memorial Medical Center, the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital, and the Philippine Heart Center.

Visiting Balay Pahulayan has long been a tradition I shared with Tatay Digong.

We made a point of personally checking on the condition of those temporarily residing in the facility while accompanying their confined loved ones.

The watchers endure their own pain and struggles as they stand beside patients in their fight for recovery, and it is only right that we help ease their daily burdens by ensuring they are given comfort, dignity and care.

As we step into 2026, refreshed by the holidays we spent with our families and loved ones, let us not forget to set our goals.

Let us begin the year with healthy habits and physical activity to stay healthy.

As an athlete and sports enthusiast, I am mindful of my health and ensure I stay active and engaged in sports regularly.

As part of my health reform advocacy as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I continue to fight for improved healthcare access nationwide.

Programs like the Malasakit Centers, institutionalized through Republic Act 11463, which we principally authored and sponsored, continue to serve millions of Filipinos seeking medical assistance.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops that aim to support low-income patients by reducing their hospital costs to a minimum.

As of now, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, ready to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The Department of Health (DoH) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 17 million Filipinos.

In our effort to further improve our healthcare system, we have advocated for expanding and building more diverse health facilities, such as Super Health Centers.

The Super Health Centers serve as a middle ground between a polyclinic and a rural health unit.

They offer a range of services, including the Konsulta package, laboratory testing, birthing facilities, outpatient care, dental services and a pharmacy, among others.

I urge the DoH and other relevant government agencies to make all super health centers operational to complement the health services required by local government units, particularly in remote areas.

There must be no white-elephant projects to ensure these investments truly serve the Filipino people.

As the chairperson of the Senate Committees on Sports and on Youth, I believe that sports not only keeps us healthy but also helps keep our youth away from vices. Get into sports, stay away from drugs to keep us healthy and fit!

Meanwhile, the previous week, we received the Lingkod Bayan Awards 2025 from Gawad Pilipino and the Dakilang Lahi Filipino Awards for Excellence in Public Service and Humanitarian Leadership of the Year, both in Quezon City.

I am deeply humbled by these recognitions, which renew my motivation to continue serving our kababayans with sincerity and dedication. With or without an award, I will continue to support Filipinos in need to the best of my ability.

True to our commitment to public service, at the start of 2026, our Malasakit Team immediately aided fire victims in Pasay City. Additionally, the Malasakit Team also gave assistance to the grenade explosion victims in Matalam, North Cotabato.

As we move forward, may we continue to strengthen the values of camaraderie and working together as one community. I will push for more health facilities that would help our kababayans in need and I will be of service to the Filipino people to the best of my ability dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo din sa Diyos.