Go to ‘leukemia’ kids: Don’t lose hope

Sen. Go said the courage of the children inspire him to better serve those in need of government attention. #BongGo #leukemiapatient

Sen. Go hands a toy to a patient at the PCMC. (SBG)

Young leukemia patients have something to look forward to as Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has assured them that the government is there to help them.

“Mga bata, wag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Nandiyan ang Panginoon, nandiyan ang gobyerno para tumulong sa inyo,” Go said Thursday when spent time with the patients during the gathering organized by non-profit advocacy group Touch of Love (TOL) at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City.

“Huwag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa akin. Ituring niyo lang ako na Kuya Bong Go ninyo. Ayoko talaga tumakbo senador noong una. Si Pangulong Duterte po at kayo ang nagpalakas sa akin,” the teary-eyed Senator said as he emphasized how the courage of the children inspire him to better serve those in need of government attention.

During the affair, Go also acknowledged the presence of John Paul Culiao, a young boy with leukemia, whom the senator had visited in the hospital in the past and became personally close to.

“Itong si John Paul, matagal ko na pong kaibigan ito. Una ko siyang nakilala noong birthday ko. Imbes na mag-celebrate ako noon, tumulong na lang ako sa mga batang may cancer, sa mga nasunugan para mabigyan naman sila ng kaunting ngiti sa kanilang mukha,” he said.

The Senator first met John Paul on 14 June 2018 when he celebrated his birthday with the patients of PCMC. When the senator learned that the kid wanted to meet President Rodrigo Duterte, he took the boy and his parents to Malacañang on his birthday last year. Go continues to check on John Paul’s condition and assist him.

“Ang kasiyahan ko sa mundong ito ay makapagserbisyo sa inyo at makapag-iwan ng ngiti sa inyong mukha. Ngayong panahon ng Pasko, kalimutan muna natin ang prublema. Magkasiyahan muna tayo,” said Go, adding that he brought financial assistance for the patients and their families so they have money to spend during the holiday season.

“May dala lang po ako kaunting pamasko po sa inyo. Pangbili lang ng noche buena, pati pamasahe, mga delata, para mayroon kayong pang-noche buena,” he said.

Go also encouraged the patients to seek assistance from Malasakit Centers, saying “Para naman sa mga gustong magpagamot, lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center. Pera po ninyo iyan.”

Explaining the purpose of the Malasakit Centers, Go said, “Noong unang panahon, dati pipila pa kayo mula Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules at Huwebes sa iba’t ibang ahensya. Ubos na ang panahon ninyo, ubos pa ang pamasahe ninyo.”

“Ngayon, nandito na po sa isang bahay ang apat na ahensiya ng gobyerno. Hindi na mauubos ang panahon niyo kakapila sa iba’t ibang opisina,” he added, eliciting applause and cheers from the audience.

Concerned agencies with medical and financial assistance programs available in the said centers are the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Early this December, Duterte signed into law the Malasakit Center Act of 2019, a priority measure of Go. It seeks to institutionalize the program, ensuring its continued operation even beyond the term of Duterte.