Mix martial arts standout Joshua Pacio’s recent victory overseas earned the admiration of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who filed Senate Resolution No. 528 commending the Filipino battler for retaining the ONE Strawweight title at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, Go lauded Pacio’s remarkable performance during his title defense on 10 July when the Filipino champion submitted previously unbeaten Russian contender Mansur Malachiev in the opening round.

Pacio, a proud native of La Trinidad, Benguet, showcased exceptional composure, discipline and technical mastery throughout the championship bout before sealing a dominant first-round submission victory to retain his world title.

“Pacio’s victory only shows that Filipino athletes can go toe-to-toe with the best of the world. His dedication, discipline and love for country only makes our youth proud,” Go said.

According to the senator, Pacio’s successful title defense reflects not only his personal excellence but also the growing strength of Philippine mixed martial arts and the world-class caliber of Filipino athletes.

“Victory did not come easy against the undefeated opponent. But Joshua showcased his skills, courage and determination to bring home the win for the country. It is only fitting that he gets recognized for the win.”

Go reiterated his commitment to advancing policies and programs that strengthen Philippine sports and provide greater opportunities for Filipino athletes to excel.

“We should always support our athletes by way of our programs aimed at sports development. I believe that if we can take care of our athletes and provide them support, we would win more honors from our overseas campaigns.”

The senator was one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act 11470, which established the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City. The law created a system that combines secondary education with a specialized sports curriculum for qualified student-athletes.

Go also filed Senate Bill No. 171, or the proposed NAS Regional Expansion Act of 2025, which seeks to establish regional NAS campuses to give more student-athletes outside Luzon access to training, education, and development opportunities closer to their communities.

Since assuming the chairpersonship of the Senate Committee on Sports in 2019, Go has overseen the committee during a period when Philippine athletes delivered major international results, including the country’s first Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games and a twin gold-medal performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.