“About a dozen groups have been similarly stripped of their NSA status by the POC under the leadership of former Tarlac Rep. Jose Cojuangco Jr., uncle of President Benigno Aquino 3rd…“Thereafter he and his (Peping’s) Mafia started stripping the associations that did not vote for him of POC recognition.””
By: Dan Mariano
The record-setting contingent of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) has drawn the sympathy of millions of Filipinos—and more.
By its sterling performance and steadfast defense of its sport, the PDBF has also encouraged other sports associations to come out in the open and reveal how they too have been mistreated by top officials of both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the government’s Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Officials and athletes who belong to swimming, weightlifting, badminton, wrestling, archery, motocross and other amateur sports associations trooped to the Saturday Media Forum at Annabel’s restaurant to express solidarity with the PDBF, which has been battling for reinstatement as a “national sport association” (NSA).
About a dozen groups have been similarly stripped of their NSA status by the POC under the leadership of former Tarlac Rep. Jose Cojuangco Jr., uncle of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.
Sports leaders such as former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, who supports a group of young swimmers that the POC-accredited Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA) under Mark Joseph has refused to recognize, former First Lady Ming Ramos of the badminton federation, wrestling association chief Manuel Espejo, snooker and billiards organizer Yen Makabenta and others have all been stripped of POC accreditation.
According to Espejo, their troubles began soon after the 2008 POC election, which Cojuangco and his group won by the proverbial skin of their teeth.
“Of the 40 NSAs, 19 did not vote for Peping,” Espejo recalled. “Thereafter he and his Mafia started stripping the associations that did not vote for him of POC recognition.”
Makabenta’s Billiards and Snooker Conference of the Philippines (BSCP) has also been stripped of its voting rights and membership in POC and has been denied any support by the PSC.
“Under BSCP’s leadership, our country has hosted five world pool championships in Manila,” Makabenta recalled, “Since it was first registered as an NSA in 1987, the BSCP has won through its players 36 gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze medals for the country. In every Southeast Asian and Asian Games where BSCP players took part, our billiards teams have won at least one gold medal. In 2005, our team took eight golds.”
In the SEA Games in Indonesia this coming November, the BSCP will not be allowed to field players in the billiards events.
“That responsibility and honor has been arbitrarily transferred by the POC and PSC to another association that was registered only last January,” Makabenta said. “That association’s president and secretary-general have not organized a single billiards tournament in their lives—not even at the barangay level.”
The other sports associations who somehow found themselves out of Cojuangco’s graces have suffered virtually the same pattern of oppression from the POC and PSC.
Along with the dragon boat federation, these groups are looking forward to a Senate investigation, which is scheduled to begin today, Monday.
All of them are seeking redress over—and relief from—what they unanimously describe as Cojuangco’s autocratic leadership of POC.
Readers react
This column’s edition last Friday, August 19, titled “Dragons on boats,” drew a record amount of feedback.
Save for one, the reactions from readers overwhelmingly reflect the public’s disgust with the shabby treatment that the PDBF—which reaped an unprecedented five gold medals and two silvers at an international regatta in Tampa, Florida—has been getting from officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
So passionate is the response of readers that some of the representative emails need to be replicated here. Due to space constraints, however, their reactions have been abridged.
A reader who identified himself as Eduardo N. B., based in Saudi Arabia, writes: “Sa ngayon po dito ako naghahanapbuhay sa Gitnang Silangan, Saudi Arabia. I keep abreast of what is happening in our beautiful country through your columns and that of Sen Rene Saguisag. Masasabing pang napipikon na rin ako sa mga nangyayari diyan sa bansa natin. Pinalaki pa ng PSC at concerned sports agencies. Napakahirap bang sabihin at aminin ng totoo na nagkamali ang Philippine Sports Officials na suportahan at tulungan ang dragon boat teams natin? Idadaan pa sa mga technicalities kung bakit hindi sila pinondohan. gayung pag nasali tayo sa mga olympics at ibang sport events, mas marami ang hindi atleta. Puro opisyales. Makapal pa ang mukha na sabihing sarili nilang pera ang gamit.”
Gab L: “Just read your article . . . f—k those POC guys. I think their comments are a disgrace! Anything that uplifts the Filipino spirit should be lauded not spit upon.”
Ji C: “. . . Whatever may be the issues involved, I don’t think anybody has the right to disparage their accomplishments especially with the use of infantile language. Just like many other personalities who shoot their mouths off for media, the critics should first learn how to communicate civilly as well as correctly. It makes what they say easier to understand, appreciate, and sometimes, accept.”
Bong T: “. . . True sportsmen are shining examples in our pursuit for excellence. Ano ba at saan ba naglaro yung dalawang maputing buhok, yung coWANGko at garcia? It would be great to see the ‘face off’ of the two organizations. Sana ituloy ng media i-cover. I bought a kayak a long time ago and used it only several times. Ang hirap magpaddle! I’ve seen these boats in Manila [Yacht] Club a long time ago and those paddling it were really in condition. Warm up nila squash. Maganda sana makita magpaddle yung coWANGko at garcia, katu-waan lang, makita gaano ka coodinated pa ang katawan ng mga ‘to, probably similar to their brains.”
Carl V: “Mga halimbawa lang sila ng tinawag ni Rizal na kulang sa ‘sentimiento nacional.’ Many of us are afflicted with that lack. It is right to speak out against it, as Rizal did 100+ years ago . . . and of course do the opposite, i.e. develop sentimiento nacional.”
Bing J: “. . . These people calling the dragonboat team members ampaw? I wonder if they can do even half of what these ampaws did.”
Jim G: “In fairness to the POC and PSC, it was a PSC Commissioner who opened his big mouth and criticized the dragon boat team as ‘old’. His comments do not necessary reflect the sentiments of the whole POC nor the PSC. As such, the whole POC or PSC (or even PNoy) cannot be condemned by the rantings of an irresponsible sports official.
“My take on the dragon boat issue, as I see it, they are a splinter group—not recognized by any local or international sports authority—asking to be recognized. It is unfortunate that they appear so arrogant on TV . . . practically forcing the issue on the POC and PSC. Bakit naman ganun?
“Di ba dapat may discipline and order otherwise every Tom, Dick and Harry team with aspirations for any gold will compete as the Philippine team. If this were allowed, baka magkaroon ng two (or three or four, etc) Philippine teams competing in the same event. Gulo!”
Bimboy P: “. . . Perhaps, the state of our national sports is the state of the nation.”
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