Bong Go launches shoe advocacy

CEBU, Philippines — Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has urged Cebuanos to donate their useable or new shoes to those who cannot afford to have one.

“Daghan sa atong mga kaigsoonan mga walay sapatos. Daghan pud dili makapalit og sapatos, labi na mga estudyante. Daghan pud mga Pilipino mga naghinubra ang sapatos. Sa kadaghan nato og sapatos, imbis atong ilabay, atoa na lang i-donate,” Go said during the Visayas launch of “Sapatos ni SAP, Tsinelas Ka-Swap” in Cebu City on Thursday.

The initiative aims to reach out to indigents across the nation and to give them not just shoes but also hope.

“Rest assured nga ang mga sapatos nga inyong i-donate makaabot gyud sa mga intended beneficiaries,” Go said at a press conference.

He said he will tap the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education to ensure that the shoes donated will go directly to the beneficiaries.

“I am tapping DSWD to identify beneficiaries nga nasunugan or nabiktima sa kalamidad. Ang DepEd kay sila pud ang maka-identify kinsa tong mga estudyante nga mga walay sapatos, labi na gyud nang naa sa bukid,” he said.

The advocacy, which was launched on June 23 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, was brought to life by supporters of Go, who took inspiration from his example of giving his own shoes to the victims of fire and other calamities.

In Cebu, donors can drop their shoe donations at Robinsons stores, as well as Puregold outlets.

During the Visayas launch, Go also gifted 10 exceptional Cebuanos with a new pair of shoes, a new cellular phone, and a wrist watch.

The recipients were Kent Mark Aguilo, a valedictorian of their high school and a scholar in senior high. He still toils as a garbage collector everyday to help support his 10 siblings.

Inspired by Aguilo’s life story, Go gave him a scholarship for his college education and even up to law school. Go just asked him to do good in school.

In response, the grateful 16-year-old said he will do his best to reach for his dreams and will not waste the opportunity given to him.

“Dili gyud ni nako usikan ang oportunidad ug daku akong pasalamat ni Kuya Bong Go. Education is the key to success and a weapon to change the world,” the teary-eyed teenager said.

The other recipients were Jayson Calunsag, a habal-habal driver; Jaypee Mark Remedios, youth leader; Victor Pogoy, a blind masseur with 10 children; Allen Canoy, a son of blind parents; Noel Plasus, a habal-habal driver; Rosalinda Rosas, laundry woman; Evangeline Soco, banana cue vendor; John Rex Tongco, athlete; and Semeon Campomanes, sweeper. —JMD (FREEMAN)