The recent US elections had the Americans show the world that they are, indeed, ready for change. They elected Barack Obama as their 44th President, making him the first African American president. Being overshadowed by this historic election with worldwide implications is a smaller election that is no less important to us Filipinos.
On November 28, 2008, the different heads of the National Sports Associations will elect a new Philippine Olympic Committee President, along with the other board members and officers. Running the respective campaigns are incumbent POC President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco of Equestrian and Shooting top honcho Art Macapagal.
Everyone, even the politicians themselves, says that politics has no place in sports, but as early as last year, it has become clear that politics has once again entrenched itself in this POC election. Cojuangco, the POC President that was acclaimed into office, has finally encountered a serious threat from Macapagal, who seems to have garnered allies in his quest to change and improve Philippine sports. However, the former congressman has made several moves to ensure his stay as head of POC. Now, some of his staunchest allies in the POC are entrenched in controversies, all related to keeping the balance of power in his favor.
Mark Joseph, the swimming head, has been facing raps because apparently, he was only supposed to serve as a transition president until the elections, but he has continued to serve (is that even the right word?) as president for several years. A group of concerned parents and swimmers have questioned his stay, and while months ago the POC promised to hear their case, the story and the complaint have now been effectively quashed. Whatever happened to Joseph's promise to face the group and the facts that they have?
The archery head, his name escapes my mind, is also embroiled in controversy. According to Cojuanco's own nephew, the "incumbent" Archery prez has submitted an "irrevocable" resignation months ago, but now, this Archery head not only plans to vote in the POC elections, he will also be running for a board seat under Peping's ticket. According to Peping, the resignation was never "accepted" so he is still the Archery head. Why was the resignation not accepted?
Steve Hontiveros, the bowling president and ultimate Peping supporter, will get to be president until December but apparently he will run for reelection in January. Just recently, the Pasig Bowling Association (PBA), Hontiveros' association , has announced it now has 1000 members, thereby giving the PBA an unprecedented amount of votes for next year's Bowling elections. An insider was made to finally admit that the membership fees of the 1000 "members" of the PBA (who are apparently PLDT employees), a number unheard of in the history of Philippine bowling, was paid for by one Peping Conjuangco. Wow. Will these 1000 members play in the PBA Open this week?
So what do the three controversial heads and issues have to do with the POC elections? All three are penciled in as votes for Cojuangco on November 28. I guess there's no better way to thank these three than helping them keep their positions in their respective NSAs and giving them prime positions in the POC. Just recently, Peping Cojuangco assailed the Macapagal team, even saying, "Is winning that important to them?" Well, Mr. (former) Congressman, right back at you.
Macapagal is no angel either, but right now, he represents a change Philippine Sports so desperately needs. Will he be great? I don't know, but the incumbent will definitely be no better. In his tenure, he has come up with the worst showing in the SEA Games in decades (2007 Thailand), the worst Olympics in 16 years (2008 Beijing). His only success is the 2005 SEA Games, where he was fortunate enough that Mike Arroyo was able to cajole private corporations into a one -time effort to financially-support our teams, while our teams were adrenalin-powered by home court advantage. In those years, he has also managed to bring infighting to basketball, equestrian, archery, swimming and bowling, which I personally witnessed.
At this most crucial time in Philippine sports, we stand at the proverbial crossroads. During Obama's victory speech, I was moved to witness that his slogan, "Yes we can!" finally came to fruition and I constantly ask myself why we can't say the same with regard to our sports.
The answer? A picture of Peping Cojuanco saying, "No you can't."
0 comments:
Post a Comment