ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE VOLLEYBALL SEC-GEN

Isa siya sa mga pinakamahusay na volleyball ng bansa noong dekada 90. Mula sa Perpetual Help at UST ay napasama siya sa pambansang koponanna lumaban sa iba't-ibang international tournaments. Naging coach rin siya at commissioner ng UAAP. Kasalukuyan siyang secretary general ng Philippine Volleyball Federation. Nakapanayam ni Bandera correspondent Eric Dimzon Si Rustico "Otie" Camangian para mabigyan ng linaw ang kaguluhang bumabalot ngayon sa PVF. Narito ang kanyang sinabi  

1. Kailan ka na-appoint bilang acting secretary general ng Philippine Volleyball Federation ?

I was officially appointed as secretary general last May 30, 2013.

2. Ano ang masasabi mo sa pakikialam ng POC hinggil sa pagbuo ng isang pambansang koponan ?

The principle of autonomy and independence is guaranteed by the International Olympic Committee constitution. Alam ng POC at PSC yan. So they had to go around the constitution of IOC. Sa sitwasyon sa Bomberinas, kailangan umikot sila. Di ba ngayon ginawa na ang team nila bilang POC at PSC team ? 

3. Nangako ba ang PVF na sasali ang Pilipinas sa Southeast Asian zonals sa Vietnam ?

I learned that there were 3 letters from Asian Volleyball Confederation that were sent to PVF for the zonals. The first one was on April 12, 2013.which I don't have a copy of. The second one was April 25, 2013. And the last one was May 9, 2013. Ano sinasabi dito ? Kailangan magpadala ang PVF ng 02. 02 is the general line-up of the team prior to the competition. 02 Bis is the final line-up. Meaning up until May 9, 2013, hindi pa official participant ang Pilipinas sa zonals.Walang entry form or 02 coming from PVF up until May 9, 2013. Kinausap ko si Gener. Never siyang nagpadala ng entry or 02 form. Yung tatlong letters from AVC confirm that the Philippines never intended to join the zonal in Vietnam. In fact, hinihingi ng AVC yung 02 form from PVF. Wala talaga.

4. Mandatory event ba ang Southeast Asian zonal sa Vietnam ?

No. Never in FIVB history has a national federation been forced to join a particular tournament. Kung mandatory yun, nasaan ang Malaysia ? Nasaan ang Singapore ? These are zonal members. Where are they ? It only becomes mandatory pag nakapagsubmit na ng entry form or 02 Bis.( Ang sumali lang sa zonals ay Vietnam, Myanmar at Indonesia )

5. Anong klaseng sanction ang maaaring ipataw sa isang national federation na nagsubmit ng entry or 02 form pero biglang umatras sa pagsali sa tournament ?

For the zonals, the sanction is in the form of monetary fine for a withdrawal. And as I have said, a withdrawal is only possible if a country through its federation has submitted an entry form or 02 Bis. The fine ranges from $2000 to $7000, depending on how close the actual withdrawal is from the start of the tournament. The closer to the tournament proper, the higher the fine.  I tell you, FIVB will not suspend a federation belonging to category 2 or 3 like the Philippines. Yung mga first world countries ang category 1. I am not sure kung category 2 or category 3 ang Pilipinas. FIVB will not suspend us. Ano ba ang purpose ng FIVB ? To promote and encourage everyone to play the sport. A suspension defeats that purpose.

6. Could the confirmation have come from Tatz Suzara ?

I don't know. Perhaps. But why is it that World Championships 2014 Asia, nakalista ang Pilipinas ? Nakasulat para sa 2014 World Championships ang labing-anim na bansa, kasama ang Pilipinas. In Southeast Asian zonal, bakit kasama ang Pilipinas ? April 25, 2013 ito nakasulat sa isang correspondence ng AVC sa PVF. Maybe, Tatz already promised the team and its supporters that we are going to participate in the 2014 World Championships. The whole thing is part of the plan to make their team legitimate. Hanggang umabot na yung team nila eventually sa Southeast Asian Games. In between, their team will go to Japan and Korea for training.

7. Ano na ngayon ang nangyayari sa PVF ?

PVF acted on the issues on hand. Gener Dungo went on an indefinite leave. Vangie is no longer with the board. And I was appointed acting secretary-general. And I am now tasked to form an interim board who will run the affairs of PVF. What will be the composition of the interim board ? First, currently active PVF board members. Second, the secretary general. And the last, those people or individuals currently helping volleyball in the Philippines. Only 2 names were mentioned during the meeting to be included, si Ricky Palou at si Tats Suzara. The reason why the name of Tatz Suzara was mentioned is that you cannot deny his possible contribution. Pero the current board does not understand that Tatz is one of the reasons why PVF is in such a mess. Si Ricky Palou naman, I called him out of respect for the board. I told him that I would update him on the meeting because his name was mentioned by Roger Banzuela. Roger Banzuela is one of the pillars of Philippine volleyball. I asked him if he is interested. He told me that he needs to consult with his group first. Pero hindi na niya ako binalikan. And after that, I got word from Doc Ian Laurel that Ricky Palou is saying that I offered him the presidency. I am not in a position to offer the presidency to anyone. I am not part of the board. I am only appointed by the board. Besides, it will not be right for me to offer Ricky Palou the presidency because he is an organizer of a volleyball tournament. There will be a conflict of interest as he runs his own business. Sa akin, pure propaganda ang sinasabing inalok ko kay Ricky Palou ang PVF presidency. So yun ang nangyayari sa PVF ngayon.

8. Ano naman ang future plans ng PVF ?

It is very important that we talk and communicate with AVC. There's now open communication between AVC and PVF. This week, we will send a delegate to AVC para magharap-harap at mag-usap. Para lang ma-establish uli yung relationship that was strained. Na technically, yung gulo at di pagkakaunawaan, gawa ng outside forces. And I have all the documents to prove lahat nang sinasabi ko. 

9. As a secretary-general, ano ang nais mong mangyari ?

Right now, I am blessed to be given the opportunity to make a difference. I can get the right people to be part of the interim board. People who I know will really help volleyball flourish. People who will take volleyball to new heights.

10. May pag-asa pa ba ang volleyball sa Pilipinas ?

Definitely. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Everything will come to pass. And history will be the one to judge everybody. Ako, I learned so many things when I was a player. Ngayon, ang pagiging positive ang tinuturo ko sa mga estudyante ko. There's no room for doubt. Ang kailangan isipin, kaya natin ito. Maaayos naman ang lahat. Yung willingness to to accept shortcomings and to work as one will spell the success of Philippine volleyball. May pag-asa pa.