Bong Go: From national photobomber to king of selfies

Screenshot from Bong Go’s Facebook page.

Published: 5:07 p.m., Nov. 15, 2017 | Updated: 1:11 a.m., Nov. 16, 2017

DAVAO CITY — The national photobomber is now the selfie king.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I grabbed it,” Christopher “Bong” Go, President Duterte’s special assistant, said of his transformation.

During the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Manila this week and of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in Vietnam last week, Go posted on social media selfies of him with world leaders like US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

In his selfies with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the two leaders were the ones who held the phone up.

“Actually, they insisted on taking the selfies. Turnbull remembered me from Vietnam, where I also took a selfie with him,” Go told the Inquirer by phone.

In some of the selfies he took, Asean and Apec leaders were seen talking in the background and he was the first one to post a photo of Mr. Duterte and Trump talking.

Treasured collection

Go said his selfies with the heads of state would form part of his treasured collection.

“Those are very important to me. I am just an ordinary government employee and there I was, taking selfies with them who are very powerful people,” he said.

Go said his encounter with the world leaders was a great experience that could not be translated into a few words. “I am just an extra and I was taking selfies with them.”

Selfie on FB

Facebook users may now have the chance to have their photo taken with the new selfie king. This will be made possible through the latest photo filter now circulating on social
media.

The feature is available if you use the photo filter with your current profile picture.

Although the creator of the custom frame remains unknown, a number of users have started changing their profile pictures with the photo filter.

When told about it, Go said: “Hala!” He then said: “I’m humbled. I am just an extra. I don’t deserve this kind of attention.”

Go has been Mr. Duterte’s close aide since 1998.

Despite being perceived as the No. 2 man in Davao City because of his work with Mr. Duterte, Go remained unassuming and even described himself as “the all-around utility man.”

Personal affairs

He has been managing not only Mr. Duterte’s political affairs but also his personal affairs. If the Duterte household ran out of LPG for example, Go would take care of purchasing a refill.

Even when Mr. Duterte became the President, Go remained by his side.

In Malacañang, requests and appointments have to go through him first before these reach the President.