Sen. Bong Go participated in the festivities of the 25th Manlambus Festival in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, 27 May.
He also witnessed the carabao race, which was one of the highlights of the festival, and extended assistance to 200 carabao owners.
Initially, Escalante City was recognized as Manlambus, a term in the Visayan language that signifies striking with a club or “lambus”, as a traditional method of catching fish.
In his message, Go acknowledged the similarities he shares with the people of Negros Occidental, emphasizing their shared values and common language. He also expressed his appreciation for the support he received from the province and emphasized the importance of fulfilling his responsibilities as a public servant in return for the trust given to him.
“Parehas tayo ng ugali, pareho tayo ng salita. At bago ko makalimutan, maraming salamat sa inyong tulong at suporta mula noong panahon ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte hanggang ngayon,” said Go.
“Ang pagtanaw ng utang na loob hindi dapat kalimutan. Tayong mga Bisaya, mabigat sa atin ang pagtanaw ng utang na loob. Kaya nandito ako para makatulong pa rin sa inyo at sa pag-unlad ng inyong siyudad,” he added.
During the event, Go expressed gratitude to local officials such as Negros Occidental 1st District Representative Gerardo Valmayor Jr., Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap, Jr., Vice Mayor Rogelio Prietos, among others, for their dedication to serving their respective communities.
Following the festival, Go led a distribution activity for 2,000 indigent residents from various sectors, and 200 carabao owners participating in the race. They received grocery packs, masks, vitamins, shirts, snacks, and caps. Some of them likewise received a bicycle, mobile phone, watch, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries.
Go expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the festival, saying, “Ako po ay nandirito sa imbitasyon po ni Mayor Biboy Yap, Gov. Lacson, Cong. Valmayor, para po sa Manlambus Festival. Gusto ko pong makiisa sa inyo sa pagdiriwang ng Manlambus Festival.”
However, he emphasized that his involvement in festivals goes beyond mere celebration, as his main aim is to actively aid and offer solutions to the issues faced by his fellow Filipinos.
“Alam n’yo kapag pumupunta po ako sa mga festival, gusto ko kahit papaano ay makatulong man lang sa mga kababayan natin. Makabigay ng tulong, makabigay ng solusyon sa mga problema nila. Makatulong sa mga pasyente, makatulong sa mga proyektong nakakaunlad sa siyudad tulad ng mga Super Health Center,” Go explained.
“Dagdag rito, makaiwan rin po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng pagdadalamhati ng mga kababayan natin… kapag nakikita ko silang masaya, tumatawa, nawawala po ang kanilang lungkot, nawawala rin po ang aking pagod. Tao lang din po akong napapagod din. Pero kapag nakikita kong masaya sila kanina, tawa ng tawa, masaya na rin po akong uuwi ngayon sa amin,” he added.