To this day I still find myself so strongly amazed by how much a person can do with a simple human act of service to others in their own life and do it so easily and with genuine compassion. I’m talking about the man most Filipinos have come to know as Mr. Malasakit and perhaps, for a lot of kids, their basketball idol.
Just the other day I saw how Senator Bong Go topped a recent senatorial survey (ranking second) together with Rep. Erwin Tulfo (ranking first) and former senator Tito Sotto (ranking third). Frankly, I’m not surprised and, while I think it could still be a bit early to tell (and as others say), fact remains that GO is one of the most popular choices among many.
Citing my own personal experience with the good senator, even prior to his election, I was fortunate to witness his work on occasion and saw for myself how endearing he was to the people he served as a first responder to those in need. Being both Batangueño and Bisaya, I appreciated the connection he made with communities composed of people who were from Luzon and other regions and it is indeed very important to note that such connections continue to grow among them, considering the capacity of the senator to speak their common language.
From special assistant to senator, Bong Go is still the same fellow many of us have come to know and I really believe it is important to acknowledge this fact, as not everyone who gains power remains grounded. In the case of GO, he’s still the “guy” that you can call for help when needed. Such is the manifestation as I witness to this day with many LGUs nationwide who continue to support GO and in turn reach out to him and his reliable assistance in times of crisis.
I suppose one can say that being a loyal assistant can teach you valuable things that are important in life and such tools can be attributed to staying humble as you grow in your career. I was once a special assistant to a high-ranking official and to date, regardless of my position, I remain my former boss’ special assistant when necessary. To me, it is most purposefully an opportunity to show my gratitude as I continue the career pursuits in my own field.
Senator Bong Go has a tag line that goes, “bisyo ang serbisyo” and this always caught my interest as service is one of the hardest yet most important things to develop in the realm of politics and good governance. Bear in mind that we are not just talking about service as doing one’s work but rather, looking at service together with its very valuable element called empathy. Good service builds trust and loyalty, which greatly increases your connections with others, making your platform of governance both engaging and inclusive.
On the other hand, the good senator’s love for sports has empowered the youth to focus on developing skills instead of getting involved with bad company or vices like drugs and alcohol. Just recently, I came across the subcommittee health hearing on barangay health workers and the proposed barangay compensation act for our health care workers, who continue to be at the forefront of the many health issues that need urgent attention for the sake of those who require access to good health care services.
The proposed bill seeks to provide a monthly honorarium and other benefits that include security of tenure. What made this hearing rather interesting was the fact that GO understood the painstaking process of building one’s career in the system, including the endured sacrifices of public workers in this sector who deserve a much better future while in the line of duty. Service indeed can be quite difficult and to see the need from the perspective of those that provide it entails a tremendous amount of patience and observation in order to achieve a validated response. The ability to understand and communicate the needs of individuals in different areas of their lives creates a sense of worth and with this being said, serbisyong GO as I see it has gone a long way and deserves the attention it is receiving, even if a recent survey can be viewed as early.
To add, regardless of how critical some may be on the issue of ROTC, through Senator Go, we are still able to hear the views of former president Rodrigo Duterte who in turn continues to inspire love and service for our country through our sacrifices and efforts. As part of the reserve force, I continue to share this value among other reservists who believe that love for country requires our participation, especially in times of crisis. Whether it be a survey or actual ground work, the results of GO’s labor seem to be speaking volumes and continuity is key to understanding how people respond to service as well as its impact on communities across the nation.