DAVAO DEL SUR — Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Saturday said he felt humbled after his life story was featured on an episode of ABS-CBN drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”
“Isang beses lang tayo mabubuhay, isang beses lang tayo dadaan dito sa pinagdadaanan natin. Kung anong kaya mong gawin para sa kapwa mo, gawin mo na ngayon,” he said in an interview.
On Saturday evening, ABS-CBN aired a special episode of Maalala Mo Kaya based on the life story of the former former presidential aide, where actor Joseph Marco played the role of Bong Go and actress Meg Imperial played as Go’s wife, Emmylou.
Go, along with millions of Filipino viewers, witnessed depicted scenes based on real events that showed Go’s beginnings and experiences working alongside former Davao City Mayor and current Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Veteran actor Phillip Salvador played the role of President Duterte.
In an interview with MindaVote’s Carlos Munda on Saturday, Go acknowledged that he, at first, did not want his life story to be shown to people but had to do so to help people understand his origins and the work that he does.
“Hindi ko akalain sarili ko makikita ko, istorya (ng buhay ko), nariyan (sa TV at napapanood ng mga tao). Ayaw ko man subalit kailangan pong maintindihan ng taumbayan kung ano po talaga 'yung trabaho ko noon, ngayon, at (sa) susunod pang mga panahon,” Go said.
Challenges, sacrifices
Go admitted that public service is not an easy line of work to do and to be in.
“Totoo po 'yung nakita niyo, nasaksihan ninyo kanina na talagang wala ka nang panahon sa anak mo at sa pamilya mo 'pag nasa trabaho ka tulad ng ganito,” Go said.
Despite the sacrifices, Go conceded that serving the people is a fulfilling job, a job that makes him happy, and one he intends to do for a very long time.
“Subalit, (sa) pagseserbisyo naman sa kapwa Pilipino (ay) masaya naman po ako at hindi po talaga ako nagsisisi at hanggang sa pagtanda ay magseserbisyo po ako,” Go said.
Go also credited his long-time boss and mentor, President Duterte, for all that he had learned regarding public service and professed that he would be serving Duterte until the very end.
“Ako naman po, sa kanya (President Duterte) ko (po utang ang) lahat; lahat ng utang na loob po at natutunan kong lahat, itong pagserbisyo sa kapwa tao at paano mahalin ang kapwa Pilipino, ay sa kanya ko po natutunan talaga,” Go said.
“Nangako ako sa kanya na pagsisilbihan ko po siya hanggang kamatayan at tutuparin ko po 'yun,” he added.
Go’s public service
Go started in public service more than 20 years ago as the personal aide and executive assistant of the then-Davao City mayor Duterte.
For many years, Go attended to Duterte’s personal as well as official matters, eventually becoming a trusted confidant and protégé of the former mayor.
This close relationship continued to the point that, when Duterte became president, Go was brought onboard as “Special Assistant to the President” or “SAP”.
In 2018, Go decided to resign from his post as SAP to run for a seat in the Senate in the 2019 midterm elections in support of the Duterte administration and its programs.
A senatorial candidate in the May 2019 elections, Go is a staunch supporter of the Duterte administration and its war against drugs, crime, and corruption.
Go also has a legislative agenda that focuses on agriculture, education, housing, improved healthcare service delivery, anti-drug and crime drive, anti-corruption drive, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, creation of a Department of OFW, barangay welfare, and improved benefits for senior citizens.
Bong Go reaffirmed that he intends to serve the public regardless of what Fate has in store for him.
“Kung saan man ako dalhin ng aking tadhana, I promise the Filipino people na mag-serbisyo talaga ako sa kanila nang buong katapatan hanggang sa huling araw ng aking buhay,” he said. (PR)
