* For Dedicated Public Service
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Health, on Sports and on Youth, expressed gratitude as he received the Asia’s Modern Leader Award for Dedicated Public Service during the Asia’s Modern Hero Awards 2025 held on September 5 at Okada Manila in Parañaque City.
In a video message, Go said the recognition was not merely for him but for all Filipinos whose struggles and stories inspire him to continue serving with sincerity. “I humbly and gratefully accept the Asia’s Modern Hero Award as this year’s Dedicated Public Service Awardee,” Go declared at the beginning of his message
He explained that the award represented a collective honor, acknowledging the spirit of service shared by countless Filipinos. “This recognition is not only for me but also for every Filipino who inspires me every day to continue serving with sincerity and compassion. Public service has always been, and will always remain, my lifelong commitment,” he emphasized.
Go underscored that his work as a legislator and servant of the people is not driven by accolades but by genuine compassion and the desire to make a tangible impact on communities. “I want to emphasize that with or without awards and recognition, I will continue to serve the Filipino people. The true reward of public service is not the honor or accolades but the opportunity to extend help, show compassion, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our countrymen,” he said.
The senator added that awards such as this should not be regarded as personal achievements but as reminders of the deeper meaning of public service.
The Asia’s Modern Hero Awards 2025 recognized individuals who have made significant impacts in their communities, particularly in socio-economic development and nation-building. Go’s consistent role in shaping health and social welfare programs, as well as his advocacy for grassroots-level initiatives, were among the reasons cited by the award’s executive board in granting him the distinction.
The award was endorsed by leaders from major business and civic organizations including Employers Confederation of the Philippines President Dr. Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Consul Enunina Mangio, and Director General Tereso Panga of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Also part of the awards council were OFW Party-List Representative Congresswoman Marissa Del Mar Magsino, TESDA Deputy Director General Vidal Villanueva III, and Asia’s Modern Hero Awards founder Dr. Ronnel Ybañez, among others.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go has consistently championed programs to make healthcare more accessible for ordinary Filipinos. Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aiming to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised 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.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH under Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.
Finally, Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
His recognition as Asia’s Modern Leader for Dedicated Public Service reflects his health reforms crusade and broader efforts to expand government assistance to ordinary Filipinos, especially in times of crisis.
Through his message, Go reminded that true heroism lies not in titles but in the everyday acts of service that uplift the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. For him, the award was a symbolic affirmation of his vow to remain accessible and compassionate to the needs of the people.
“May it serve as a reminder that genuine service is never about position or prestige but about the wholehearted dedication to the people we serve,” Go affirmed.
