TULOY ANG LIGAYA NI POC PRESIDENT PEPING COJUANGCO

courtesy of spin.ph

courtesy of spin.ph

Tumakbo sa pagkapangulo si Rodrigo Duterte sa ilalim ng plataporma ng pagbabago. Kaya naman nakakapagtaka na ang dati nang chairman na si Butch Ramirez ang napili niyang italaga bilang chairman ng PSC sa ilalim ng kaniyang administrasyon.

Si Butch Ramirez ay naging PSC chairman nuong 2005-2009. Nagsimula siya sa PSC bilang regional representative noong 1998. Naging PSC commissioner siya noong 2000 bago siya naging chairman sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Presidente Gloria Arroyo. Sampung taon na nanilbihan si Ramirez sa PSC bago siya nag-resign noong 2009. Puno ng kontrobersiya ang termino ni Ramirez bilang PSC chairman noong 2005-2009. Sa katunayan, apat na kaso ng katiwalian ang isinampa laban kay Ramirez sa Ombudsman. Gayun pa man, naipatayo naman niya ang Philippine Sports Institute nang siya pa ang PSC chairman. At napawalang-sala siya sa isang kaso kamakailan lamang.

Ang lubhang nakalulungkot ay kaalyado ni Peping Cojuangco si Ramirez. Noong 2010, itinalaga ni Peping Cojuangco si Ramirez bilang POC Regional Director for Mindanao. Bukod pa rito, naging malapit na magkaibigan ang dalawa nang ganapin ang SEA Games sa Pilipinas noong 2005. Naging over-all champion ang Pilipinas sa SEA Games nang ganapin ito sa bansa. Maituturing na may pinagsamahan na talaga ang dalawa kaya malamang na mananatiling walang sagabal o puna sa mga plano ni POC President Peping Cojuangco na magmumula sa PSC sa ilalim ni Ramirez.

Tuloy ang ligaya ni Cojuangco. Pero tuloy ang pighati ng mga pambansang atleta at coaches.

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT DUTERTE

Dear Mr. President Duterte,

We have recently read about the appointment of Mr. Butch Ramirez as the new PSC chairman. And I strongly oppose, along with other parents, coaches and the entire PSL community, this appointment of yours and here is my number one reason. He has a graft and corruption case along with the ex Pagcor chief and PSI president Mark Joseph in Sandiganbayan as reported in the news

We believe that the Duterte administration is for change. But if this man comes back as the chairman of PSC what change would that be?

Mr. President, we have been fighting against corruption in sports for many years now. The past administration turned a blind eye on sports because they do not dare fight against Cojuangco and his evil and corrupt allies. But we stood bravely against them. Despite being powerless and penniless, we fought against these people who have been crippling the youth of this country. I read somewhere that you cannot stand people who abuse the kids of our country. And I shout out loud to you. Mr. President, that Cojuangco and his allies are the ones who are terrorizing the youth. What's the difference between them and the drug pushers or the kidnappers or rapist? For me, they are the same. For they have robbed the Filipino athletes their hope, faith and their rights to be heroes of our nation. How many athletes were not given a chance to compete for their country? How many athletes have been hungry just because they don't have enough money to buy their food? How many athletes have lost just because of the poor equipment that they used? They train so hard everyday to represent our country and yet are the ones being neglected because of the rampant corruption of higher officials. Mr. President I tell you please visit the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and see for yourself the condition of this facility and our athletes.

If Mr Ramirez indeed created something good for the Philippine sports, then we should have built an excellent sports complex and produced a lot of gold medalists in Asian Games or in the Olympics during his term. I believe in the talent of the Filipino athletes. And I hate the Filipino politicians who waste taxpayers' money.

I voted for you because I thought you can bring change to our country. And I still believe that. So I hope that you will listen to the plea of your citizens. I am a mom of four kids and my eldest daughter is a swimmer that has been representing our country since she was 6 years old and has been making our country proud in as far as South Africa. I cannot stand the fact that the future of my kid along with other athletes are in the hands of this corrupt man. Please hear us out. Show us the change that is truly coming.

-Sincerely yours,
Joan Mojdeh
PSL NCR Director

OPEN LETTER TO PSC COMMSSIONER RAMON FERNANDEZ

courtesy of spin.ph

Dear Commissioner Fernandez,

Congratulations for being appointed PSC commissioner.

I am however disturbed to see in your plan of action that you completely ignored finding a way to get rid of POC President Peping Cojuangco and his men. After all, the biggest problem of Philippine sports are Cojuangco and his men,

You only need to review what happened to PDBF and PVF to understand the need to remove Cojuangco and his men from Philippine sports. You only have to consult with some of the more principled NSA heads to know that Cojuangco and his men have come to regard Philippine sports as their kingdom. You only have to talk to the athletes who have suffered injustice at the hands of Cojuangco and his men to know that the most immediate need of sports in the country is a complete overhaul of sports leadership and governance.

Not unless you groom someone to challenge Cojuangco and his men at the POC election this November, change will not come to Philippine sports. It will serve you well to realize who the real enemies of sports are. Only then will you arrive at the right solution.

ISANG BUKAS NA LIHAM PARA SA MGA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS AT COACHES NG PILIPINAS

courtesy of inquirer.net

Mahal kong mga volleyball players at coaches ng Pilipinas,

Nakalulungkot isipin na nananatili kayong bulag, pipi at bingi sa panggagamit sa inyo ng mga kasalukuyang namumuno sa volleyball sa Pilipinas. Halos dalawang taon  na nang manggulo sina Cojuangco, Romasanta, Palou at Suzara sa Philippine volleyball at ipagkait sa inyo ang magandang layunin ng PVF national team program, Pilipinas Bagwis at Amihan. Subalit ipinagwawalang-bahala ninyo lang ang kawalan ng pambansang programa at koponan ng LVPI hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Inilagay na kayo sa kahihiyan ng mga tinuturing na sports leaders ng bansa sa pagsabak nila sa inyo sa mga torneo nang walang paghahanda. Ilang beses na kayong binaboy sa pagbuo ng national teams sa airport at sa pamamagitan ng tawag sa telepono lamang.  Subalit nananatili kayong walang imik at sunud-sunuran magpa-hanggang ngayon.

Ilang taon na lang at ang karamihan sa inyo ay mamamahinga na sa paglalaro at pagko-coach.  Subalit hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kayong maipapagmalaking pamana.  Wala pa rin kayong medalyang napapanalunan sa isang prestiyosong torneo sa ibang bansa. Wala pa rin kayong mapapanghawakang malaking kontribusyon sa pagpapaganda ng patakbo ng volleyball sa bansa. At hindi ninyo pa rin nagagamit ang inyong kasikatan sa mas matayog na layunin at adhikain.

Hanggang nananatili kayong makasarili at walang pakialam, walang mangyayari sa volleyball sa Pilipinas. Pinayayaman nyo lang sina Romasanta, Palou at Suzara sa patuloy ninyong pagtangkilik sa kani-kanilang mga torneo. Ang tangi kong dasal na lang ay matauhan na kayo upang mapagtanto ninyo ang tunay na kalagayan ng volleyball sa bansa. Sa ganun, baka makuha ninyong kumilos laban sa mga mapagsamantala at walang malasakit sa inyo at sa mga susunod pang henerasyon ng mga manlalaro at coaches ng volleyball.

WALA PA RING PSC CHAIRMAN !

courtesy of spin.ph

Matapos sabihin ni Alfrancis Chua na hindi inalok sa kanya ang posisyon sa PSC bilang chairman, nananatiling bakante ang pinakamataas na posisyon sa ahensiya ng palakasan. Nakakapagtaka lamang na sinabi ni Chua na hindi sa kanya inalok ang posisyon gayung ilang araw matapos ang eleksyon sa pagkapangulo, lumipad si Chua kasama si 1 Pacman Party-list representative Mikee Romero sa Davao upang makipagkita kay Rodrigo Duerte. Nakuha rin ng Spin.Ph ang balita na si Chua ang napiling PSC chairman mula sa isang mapapagkatiwalaang source.

Magiging mahirap para sa administrasyong Duterte na makakuha nang matinong mamumuno sa PSC kung paiiralin nito ang popularidad sa pagpili ng bagong PSC chairman. Kung isasantabi ng search committee ang credentials ng mga kandidato at susundin lamang ang palakasan system, sa malamang walang mababago sa pagpapatakbo ng Philippine sports. At habang nananatiling co-terminus sa pangulo ang posisyon ng PSC chairman at commissioners, magdadalawang-isip ang mga career people na tanggapin ang mga alok dahil walang security of tenure. Bukod pa dito, sadyang maraming batikos ang matatanggap ng sino mang mailuluklok sa PSC. Maliban na lamang siguro kung sadyang magaling at walang bahid ng korapsyon ang uupo bilang PSC chairman at commissioners, marami at marami talagang masasabi sa sino mang mapipili.

Ganun pa man, tiyak ako na may ilan pa ring sports leaders ang may karapatang ipuwesto sa PSC. Kung mamimili lamang nang mabuti ang mga tauhan ni President Duterte, may mahahanap silang kayang tumugon sa mga suliranin ng Philippine sports. Kung papahalagahan ang credentials at track record ng mga kandidato sa pagpili ng PSC commioners at chairman at hindi ang palakasan system ang mananaig, tiyak na maisasaayos ang pagpapalakad sa Philippine sports sa ilalim ni President Duterte.

AN OPEN LETTER TO SEN. ALAN PETER CAYETANO

courtesy of PSL

Dear Sen. Alan Cayetano.

Greetings.

I am utterly shocked and dismayed that you accepted the position of honorary chairman of the FIVB World Women's Club Championship that is scheduled to take place in Manila in October. While I do understand that Tats Suzara of PSL is your family friend, your acceptance of the honorary chairmanship is a disturbing example of political patronage perpetrated by a sports leader.

For your information, no less than the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is investigating FIVB, POC and LVPI, including Tats Suzara, for conflict of interest. Below are the emails of IOC pertaining to the issue.

Dear Mr Dimzon,

Thanks again for the information, which is sufficient for us to contact FIVB – we understand that you have done this well beforehand already.

We will remind all parties affected by this matter to look into the correct application of the IOC Code of Ethics, specifically the ‘Rules Concerning Conflicts of Interests Affecting the Behaviour of Olympic Parties’ (pages 29 onwards, http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Commissions_PDFfiles/Ethics/code-ethique-2015-en.pdf).   

Best regards,

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Château de Vidy

1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

Dear Mr Dimzon,

Thanks again for your various messages via all kinds of different channels and for the additional information you provided. Please understand that we are currently looking into the matter and that in the mean-time we already reminded all parties of the IOC Code of Ethics.

Asking for your patience and understanding,

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Château de Vidy

1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

A little delicadeza on the part of Tats Suzara would have forced him to pass up on hosting the FIVB event since he himself is an FIVB official. But then again, delicadeza is a virtue that seems to have become outdated in a society obsessed with financial gain..

IS THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS THE CURE-ALL FOR PHILIPPINE SPORTS ?

Newly-elected party-list representative Mikee Romero, outgoing PSC Chairman Richie Garcia and POC President Peping Cojuangco are one in saying that the time for the Department of Sports (DoS) has come. The insufficiency in funding for sports will be solved once the Department of Sports is created according to the three top-ranking sports officials.

But will DoS be the cure-all for sports as claimed by the three ?

Experience tell us that as long as people like Peping Cojuangco and Richie Garcia remain well-entrenched in sports, no cure for Philippine sports will be forthcoming. We simply have to take a look at what happened to Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) and Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) to realize that Cojuangco and Garcia remain the biggest problems of Philippine sports.

PDBF remains fully supported by Cobra Energy Drink and Philippine Airlines not only because it has world champions under its fold. PDBF is so detached from Cojuangco and Garcia that private companies see it as worthy of support. Interestingly, PDBF's rival group, Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation (PCKF), which is closely-associated with Cojuangco and Garcia, does not have a private sponsor.

What happened to PVF, on the other hand, proves that Cojuangco and Garcia are so powerful that they can destroy a well-funded and privately-sponsored sports program. The 250M sponsorship of PLDT Home Ultera and SM Group of Companies was suddenly stopped all because of Cojuangco's actions. The PVF experience is concrete proof that companies are all too willing to sponsor national teams and programs. It is the presence of unscrupulous sports leaders that scare and deter private sponsorship. Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas (LVPI), the new NSA for volleyball that Cojuangco, Romasanta, Palou and Suzara put into place does not have a private sponsor as well.

Let us not lose focus on the real solution. The biggest obstacle to the improvement of Philippine sports are not the agencies but the people behind them.

THE TRUTH REVEALED : NO IOC DIRECTIVE FOR PDBF TO BE UNDER PCKF

The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) was disenfranchised in 2011 because POC, through Peping Cojuangco, and PSC, through Richie Garcia, claimed to have received an International Olympic Committee (IOC) directive that places PDBF under PCKF. Now, after five long years, I am publishing an email from IOC itself that says that IOC never involved itself with the issue and hence denies issuing such a directive. The email from IOC is below :

Dear Eric,

Thank you for your message.

The IOC has not been directly involved in this matter. We would suggest that you contact the NOC of the Philippines and the International Canoe Federation for further information.

We hope this helps.

To subscribe to IOC press releases, newsletters and request accreditation to cover our events, please register here:www.olympic.org/pressrelease

Best regards,

IOC Media Relations Team

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Château de Vidy

1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

Tel. +41 (0)21 621 6000

Fax +41 (0)21 621 6356

Irreparable damage has been done to PDBF and its world-class paddlers. This is why POC and PSC officials from the time Peping Cojuangco sat as POC president must not be allowed to govern sports in any way by the new Phillipine president. 

Para sa tunay na pagbabago.

MIKEE ROMERO GETS RUDE AWAKENING FROM POC PRESIDENT PEPING COJUANGCO

courtesy of sports.inquirer.com

                                                     Magpakitang gilas ka muna.
                   - POC President Peping Cojuangco to 1 Pacman Rep Mikee Romero

1 Pacman Representative Mikee Romero gets his baptism of fire from POC President Peping Cojuangco with an acerbic statement from the 82 year old sports official. As I said in my previous post, it is foolish of Romero to think that Coujangco and his minions will just retire and allow younger and brighter minds to takeover just because he (Romero) wants them to. Cojuangco has eliminated NSA heads who have consistently voted against him as POC president to ensure his victory in the POC election this November. NSA's like PDBF and PVF have been removed from the list of POC members to precisely ensure the fourth term of  Cojuangco as POC president.
                                                                                                                               

courtesy of alchetron.com

What Romero must do is to get an NSA head who will challenge Cojuangco in the coming POC election. The only way to kick out Cojuangco from POC is to defeat him at the polls. But that is easier said than done. Cojuangco, as of the moment, has 21 NSA's under his control. It is virtually impossible for Romero to groom a candidate who can surely defeat Cojuangco.

Besides, Romero, once upon a time, worked hand in hand with Cojuangco. It is not as if Romero has always been critical of Cojuangco. Thus, Romero has a credibility problem. His track record as a sports leader does not show courage ind integrity in going up against Cojuangco.

THE NEXT CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS OF PSC

courtesy of poticspa.com

Philippine Star came up with its own list of possible candidates for PSC chairman and commissioners. While the list is unofficial and based on the sports writer's gut feel, it nonetheless contains a few names that are worthy to be considered for the posts.

The next PSC chairman and commissioners will be very important in charting the course of Philippine sports for the next six years. After all, funding for Philippine sports will be under the control of PSC. Furthermore, the villains of POC will still be around, making it hard for sports to really gain ground despite the new faces at PSC. The new PSC commissioners and chairman will have to be strong enough to withstand the pressure exerted by POC.

Thus, yours truly wishes to run a survey on who you wish to become the next PSC chairman and commissioners. Kindly write down five names of people who you think will effect change in Philippine sports. People who you think will truly have the heart and capability to uplift Philippine sports. Kindly write down the 5 names in the comment section. You can briefly cite the reasons why you choose the personalities you will be naming.

Name your next PSC chairman and commissioners now !

PETITION TO SAVE PH VOLLEYBALL : A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT

courtesy of change.org

I am pleasantly surprised to find out that a volleyball fan created a petition that seeks the ouster of Jose Cojuangco Jr. as Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President and the abolition of Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Incorporated (LVPI) as the national sports association for Philippine volleyball. The petition is timely and revealing on several levels.

One, it shows that ordinary Filipino volleyball fans see the true state of Philippine volleyball. The demand for the resignation of Cojuangco and the abolition of LVPI are spot on as far as finding solutions to the current problem in volleyball are concerned. After all, Cojuangco, LVPI and the men behind it are the real problems of Philippine volleyball.

Two, the petition shows that volleyball fans are smart enough to know what to demand from our sports leaders. The petition which rues the absence of national teams while having a lot of hosting events for LVPI, shows great insight. The preoccupation with the hosting of FIVB and AVC events to the point of neglecting the formation of national teams reveals that Cojuangco, Romasanta, Suzara and Palou among others, are really in it for the money-making aspect of volleyball.

Lastly, the petition is a realization that for change to take place, volleyball fans must take positive and concrete action. I am truly happy to finally see volleyball fans take things seriously and dare to take bold steps to better sports governance.

Thus, it is my fervent hope that the petition gains tremendous support. I truly hope that those who have the best interest of Philippine volleyball take the time to sign the petition and become a part of a change that is coming.

UNMASKING 1 PACMAN PART-LIST REPRESENTATIVE MIKEE ROMERO PART 2

courtesy of alchetron.com

I researched on Mikee Romero to really find out what he has done for Philippine sports. And this is what I found out.

In 2009, Mikee Romero was offered the PhilCycling presidency by POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr. Romero accepted the offer despite knowing that Bambol Tolentino was the PhilCycling president recognized by International Cycling Union (ICU).

To cut the long story short, Mikee Romero, once upon a time, was with POC President Peping Cojuangco in being an instrument for destruction for an NSA. Cojuangco wanted Tolentino out of cycling because Tolentino was one who did not tow the Cojuangco line. And Romero allowed himself to be a part of the sinister plans of Cojuangco.

Now, Mikee Romero presents himself as an advocate of good governance in sports. But records show that not too long ago he was a part of the ugly politics in sports. Not too long ago, he allowed himself to be aligned with people who have caused and continue to cause irreparable damage to Philippine sports.

UNMASKING 1 PACMAN PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE MIKEE ROMERO

courtesy of philstar.com

The victory of Mikee Romero as party-list representative of 1 Pacman initially gave me high hopes for the resurgence of Philippine sports. After all, Romero presents himself as a protector of Filipino athletes and savior of Philippine sports. But his pronouncements at PSA Forum last Tuesday and series of press releases thereafter dashed out whatever hope I have for the improvement of sports in our country.  Romero's statements were devoid of substance, insight and complete understanding of the politics and processes in Philippine sports.

First, he called out the old sports leaders of the country to give way to younger and brighter minds. While this may be good enough for the uninitiated, , those who really know what is happening in sports know that these old sports leaders will never give up their posts. They have every intention to hold on to their posts til they die. POC President Peping Cojuangco and his men refuse to honor and obey even court orders. So what makes Romero think that they will heed his call for them to resign ?

The only way to kick out Cojuangco and his men from POC is through the POC election this November. Romero must find people who will challenge Peping and his men  during the election. As it is, no one is even planning to run against Peping for POC president. Cojuangco will easily cruise to a fourth term as POC president at the age of 82 come November.

Romero heavily promotes the Department of Sports as a solution to the ills hounding Philippine sports. The Department of Sports will only work with the employment of intelligent, qualified and honorable personnel. Corruption will still exist if corrupt and incompetent people occupy the offices of the department. And corruption will continue to be prevalent in the Department of Sports if it will remain beholden to Cojuangco and his minions at POC.

I can't help but think that Romero is just a johnny-come-lately whose main purpose is self-aggrandizement. Where was he when PDBF was being kicked out by POC and PSC as the official national sports association for dragon boat ? Where was he when PDBF paddlers were being mocked by our sports leaders despite giving the country world-class performances at a world championship ? Where was he when PDBF paddlers were sleeping at cemeteries because they did not have money for hotel accommodations ? Where was Romero when PVF was being kicked out as the official sports association for volleyball ? Where was he when the 250M peso sponsorship of PLDT Home Ultera and SM Group of Companies to Philippine volleyball was scrapped due to the political maneuverings of POC and PSC ?

All these make me doubt Romero as a true protector of Filipino athletes and savior of Philippine sports which he presents himself to be. At best, he is someone who has taken on a big responsibility as a public servant who will prioritize sports but is clueless on how to be a true instrument of help and change.