Resignations in the sports council

As President of the Davao City Sports Council, Inc., I sent this message out early this morning in reaction to this news.

“This is to confirm media reports that Rommel Tan of AAK has sent an email letter of resignation yesterday (September 10, 2009) and earlier sent a text message of resigning from the Davao City Sports Council, Inc.

No such message was received regarding the reported resignation of Salvador Paholio, Jr. of cycling.

I am surprised by their resignation.

They are active members of the Sports Council and have been undertaking various activities in their respective sports here and in participating in tournaments on the national and international levels.

I am calling for an emergency meeting of the Sports Council as soon as possible to calendar these matters.

We are not aware of any problems with their membership in this sports coordinating body, although their national sports associations are having leadership problems. The same can be said of other sports bodies at the national level. However, I am happy to note that leadership problems hounding a number of NSAs have not affected the local sports body.

The Davao City Sports Council is primarily a coordinating council. It is not a policy-making body or a funding agency and it fully allows its member national sports associations to undertake their own programs, projects and activities.

Part of the Sports Council’s role is to be the NSAs link with the City Government in coordinating annual sports activities such as during the Araw ng Dabaw, Kadayawan and Paskuhan sports competitions. It also links with the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and civil society groups such as the Sports for Peace Foundation of former PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez.

The Davao City Sports Council also undertakes the annual So Kim Cheng Awards, now going on its 16th year in partnership with the So Kim Cheng Foundation, and the new Vic Sai Sports Journalism Awards, now going on its 2nd year.

The Sports Council just recently held its election of officers and there were no indication at all of any of these resignations. Mr. Paholio was in fact re-elected as an officer.

We respect the individual decisions of NSA officials on their membership in the Davao City Sports Council. We wish that they would continue to be of service to the sports community of the city.”

Sports journalism award

The submission of entries for the 1st Vic Sai Sports Journalism Awards closed last Wednesday. The submitted entries for best sports news, best sports feature, best sports column and best sports photograph were evaluated today by the board of judges, shown here:

Jonathan Santes (left) former newspaper editor/publisher and now Information Officer of the Sunday Runners Club; Jimmy Torres, veteran broadcaster and cable television host; and freelance writer and photojournalist Aurelio Pena.

The winners will receive their awards on April 4 in a dinner hosted by Pagcor-Davao. The sports journalism awards is a project of the Davao City Sports Council, Inc. in partnership with San Miguel Corporation and Nestle Philippines.

3 Cheers for Davao BPO Sportfest

Here are the people behind the Aux Sports 2009 organized by the BPO Association of Davao in cooperation of ICT Davao after the opening ceremonies this morning at the People’s Park. I am at the center in red sports jacket.

3 Cheers for first, their active participation – more than 600 turned up for the 7:30 a.m. opening; 2nd, for holding the 1st sportfest among BPOs in the country (there was one held in Manila but it was organized by a telecom company not by an association); and 3rd, amazing talents at the first competition – cheer-dance contest. Watch out for youtube posts on this.

Other events lined up are basketball, lawn and table tennis, volleyball, bowling and badminton.

Sports Council Meeting

The Davao City Sports Council, Inc. will hold its first meeting for the New Year on January 13 at 6 pm at Dencia’s Restaurant.

The Agenda includes:

Highlights of 2008

1st Quarter Activities such as the Araw ng Dabaw Sportsfest; 1st Vic Sai Sports Journalism Awards;and election of the new officers in April;

Other matters are the Arafura Games in Darwin on May 9-17; Repair of the Athletic Field at the Davao City National High School and Funds for sports actvities under the ADF.

Finally, Cebu Pacific cuts surcharges

In town today in Davao are the officers of the National Halal Accreditation Board of the Philippines, Inc. They are holding a team building seminar courtesy of the Department of Trade & Industry at the Waterfront Insular Hotel starting today up to Friday.

Also in town is Consul John Rivas from Northern Territory, Australia. Darwin, capital of NT, is hosting the Arafura Games this coming May 9-17. He is set to meet officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and the city government.

Welcome to all our guests.

Thanks to ICT Davao, Inc. for a post-New Year gig last night at Riverview in Maa.

And finally, Cebu Pacific has heeded our call to remove or reduce its fuel surcharges. We have been calling for this move since oil prices started to plummet a few months back.

Cabinet men seeking Congress posts

Our New Year’s Day post is in the news today.

I would be back to my usual round of meetings starting today. At 2  pm at the Davao City Sports Council, Inc. to take up among others the 1st Vic Sai Sports Journalism Awards, and at 6 pm at the Dabaw Kaisa Foundation which is spearheading the Chinese New Year celebration in the city.

During the holiday break, I learned that a number of cabinet secretaries are planning to run for congressional seats in 2010. Is this a definite sign the Palace occupant is finally giving up hope for any extension?

Hhhhmmmm.,,

Among those reportedly seeking Congress posts are Press Secretary Jess Dureza and Cabinet Secretary Bebot Bello III in the 1st District and 3rd District of Davao City, respectively; Aggie Secretary Arthur Yap in Bohol, and PMS Head Cerge Remonde in the South Cebu District.

Second Day Medal Tally

Results of medal standing on November 29, 2008:

1. Sabah 47 (23 Gold, 13 Silver, 11 Bronze)

2. Sarawak 24 (7 – 9 -8)

3. Brunei “A” 18 (6 – 6 – 6)

4. South Sulawesi 24 (5 – 9 – 10)

5. Palawan 16 (5 – 5 – 6)

6. Mindanao 14 (5 – 5 – 4)

7. Northern Territory 4 (2 – 1 – 1)

8. Central Sulawesi 11 (1 – 5 -5)

9. Papua 4 (1 – 2 -1)

10. Brunei “B” 3 (0 – 2 – 1)

11. Labuan 3 (0 – 0 – 3)

12. South Kalimantan 1 (0 – 0 – 1)

13. West Papua 1 (0 – 0 – 1)

1st day medal tally

6th BIMP EAGA Friendship Games in Brunei Darussalam

Medal Standing (November 28)

1. Sabah 22 (12 Gold, 8 Silver, 2 Bronze)

2. Sarawak 11 (3-4-4)

3. Mindanao 7 (3-2-2)

4. South Sulawesi 7 (2-3-2)

5. Brunei “A” 8 (2-2-4)

6. Palawan 7 (1-1-5)

7. Northern Territory 2 (1-0-1)

8. South Kalimantan 1 (0-0-1)

9. Brunei “B”

10. Central Sulawesi

11. Labuan

12. Papua

13. West Papua

6th BIMP EAGA Games

10:05 a.m. – We just went through the formal opening of the 6th BIMP EAGA Friendship Games here in Brunei Darussalam with Team Philippines in high spirits.

I was named head of Team Mindanao and just like in yesterday’s flag raising ceremonies, I was at the head the delegation and received the token from our hosts. Joseph Encabo is head of the whole Philippine contingent after PSC Chair Butch Ramirez begged off due to the budget hearings in Manila. Former councilor Greg Austria is head of Team Palawan.

Swimming competitions started this morning, while most of the other sports namely athletics, aquatics, badminton, pencak silat and sepak takraw would commence this afternoon. Futsal, an indoor version of football, started yesterday.

The hosts from Brunei are leaving no stone unturned in this historic first time for them to organize the Friendship Games. We also took note of the participation of a guest team from Northern Territory of Australia for the first time since 1996. Their entry was well applauded during the opening this morning.

Other contingents are from host Brunei, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Papua, West Papua, Central Sulawesi and South Sulawesi from Indonesia and Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan from Malaysia.

The Friendship Games, first hosted by General Santos, aims to promote cooperation among the member countries of the sub-region of the ASEAN through sports and cultural exchange.

Side events at the Games include Youth Exchange, Exhibits, Sports Seminars and special competitions among officials.

MIndanao will host again the Games in 2010. Previous hosts were Kuching, Sarawak in 1997; Puerto Princesa, Palawan in 2003; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in 2004; and Makasar, South Sulawesi in 2006.

All the members of Team Philippines are staying at the Games Village, a cluster of three four-storey athletes dormitories at the sprawling Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.

The Philippine Embassy through Minister and Consul Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat has been very helpful to the Philippine contingent.

I will post results of the Games once they arrived here at the Media Center where I was accredited representing Mindanao Times.

10:50 a.m. – First results from swimming

Men 50 Meter Butterfly

Gold – Wahyu Wibisone- South Sulawesi

Silver – Pederewski Awang Pan – Sabah

Bronze – Jefrey Pelosa – Palawan

Women 100 Meter Breaststroke

Gold – Esther Yii Shu Ning – Sarawak

Silver – Niken Yuniarti – South Sulawesi

Bronze – Tiara Beboney Tudio – Mindanao

Men 100 Meter Breaststroke

Gold – Pederewski Awang Pan – Sabah

Silver – Emmanuele Puasabas – Mindanao

Bronze – Hasril Mamma – South Sulawesi

Men 1500 Meter Freestyle

Gold – Lee Jun Yi – Sabah

Silver – Lawin Dacera – Mindanao

Jason Jiang Kulay – Sarawak

Women 50 Meter Butterfly

Gold – Wan See Mun Terri – Sabah

Silver – Carol Pang – Sabah

Bronze – Sarah Butler – Northern Territory

Women 400 Meter Individual Medley

Gold – Lai Wei Li – Sabah

Silver – Jessica Laurens – South Sulawesi

Regiena Astrid Marie Quesada – Mindanao

11:30 – Finally Team Mindanao won its first gold in Men 400 Meter Individual Medley through Lawin Dacera of General Santos. Cheers to Team Mindanao!

Rookie of the Year

Kudos to Zoren Patrick Mendiola for bagging the Rookie of the Year plum at the table tennis championships of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) 2008 season.

The 17 year old college freshman is a product of the table tennis development program of the Metro Davao Table Tennis Association and the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP Region XI).

He now plays for the tablenet champion University of Sto Tomas in Manila.

Saturday Fotos

Members of the Davao City Council receive San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito (center) who led his city officials in a planning workshop in Davao City and the signing of sister-city agreement between our two local government units.

Gas Petronas Davao Manager Armando Aninon (left), Councilor Edgar Ibuyan (center) and myself throw the ceremonial bowl at the opening of the 1st Gas Petronas Inter-High School Bowling Championships at the Dover Lanes.

Thanks to Bing Gonzales for the pictures.

School games

The University of Mindanao commenced with its annual Intramural Games yesterday. Before the opening parade, the faculty club at the College of Arts & Sciences held the induction of its new set of officers. I administered their oath.

Kudos to Prof. Randy Ponteras for the very active faculty club. Best wishes to all the competing teams. I am not sure which side to root. You see, I got involved with three departments at the university – Commerce, Engineering and Arts & Sciences.

Just after graduating from the Davao City High School in 1974, I joined the then Junior Executive Training (JET) program of UM for working scholars. I was assigned as an assistant to the Dean of the College of Commerce. When I finally enrolled for my course, I took up Mechanical Engineering. But after being active in campus politics, I shifted to Political Science at the College of Arts & Sciences.

I did enjoy my life in college where I met friends who are still very much in touch with today. In fact, I just read the emails of my college buddies Rafael “Nikki” Gomez and Henrylito Tacio, two of our best campus writers back then. Both pursued careers in writing. And both are accomplished in the game.

At lunch today, I am attending a conference called by Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez regarding the proposed Children’s Games in November. Part of the grassroots sports program of the PSC, the national games for children in elementary schools is planned to be held in Davao City.

We’re hoping to scout our future Olympians in this proposed Children’s Games. Wish us luck.

6:41 a.m.

Obama-Palin Dream Team

I guess the only way for basketball stars to grab more gold medals in the Olympics is to introduce more variety to the sports in the future summer games. For instance, one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three, and mixed doubles and triples. Maybe, there should also be a slam dunk, free throw line and three-point shootout.

Adidas has popularized, for example, the three-on-three basketabll genre. The NBA has its legend+male+female basketball exhibit during the All-Star week.

If this comes to fruition, I believe USA would have its real “dream team” in the mixed doubles. I refer to a blockbuster, hard-to-beat Obama-Palin tandem.

Yeah, Barry and the Barracuda could easily lick any competition … on and off the court!

6:54 a.m.

We could be disqualified in London 2012

I am leaving this morning for a two-day seminar at the Pearl Farm Resort off Samal Island. I would not be able to post tomorrow morning.

As chair of the City Council Committee on Trade, Commerce & Industry, I am leading a four-member City Council group to meet with officials of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the seminar supported by the Philippine-Australia Human Resource Development Fund on strengthening partnership and advocacy.

With me are Councilors Susabel Reta, chair of our Committee on Tourism, Tess Mata-Maranon, Committee on ICT, and Conrado Baluran, Committee on Agriculture and Food Security. These are the three priority focus areas of the Chamber.

In addition, I will also stand for Vice Mayor Sara Duterte in the opening rites.

Before leaving, I am worried about this developing news.

Remember the International Olympic Committee stripping Iraq of its membership just before the start of the Beijing Olympics? Well, the Philippines could go the same way.

Iraq was punished by the OIC because its US-coached government interfered in the affairs of its national Olympic body. The Philippines is doing the same.

This could lead to disastrous consequences given our expectation that losing candidates could cry foul and raise the issue of government meddling in the Philippine Olympic Committee elections.

The Philippines is already being likened to Iraq in terms of being home to tyrants – Marcos and Saddam, of being the 51st US State, of being world capitals of violence especially killings of journalists, etc. And soon, of being stripped of OIC membership!

The Malacanang Palace occupant is kissing our participation in the London Olympics goodbye!

5:36 a.m.

N.B.

My apologies to those sending in their comments. I will reply to their many insights when I come back Friday night.

From champion to goat

What a difference a year make. From last year’s champion to today’s goat.

I really feel sorry for Filipino golfer Juvic Pagunsan. He had a brilliant birdie and eagle finish last year for a -19 to win the inaugural Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational. Today, he had a disappointing four bogeys and a double bogey in his last nine holes for a +6 final round and winded up almost at the bottom.

Last year, he had admirable rounds of 66, 67, 71 and 65. This week, he had a forgettable 76, 69, 72, 77.

Australian Scott Hend came from behind as the 3rd round leaders faltered in the closing holes. Hend, who missed the cut in the Philippine Open last year, had a final 66 for -16 total to win the Indonesian championship.

Mars Pucay salvaged pride for the Philippines by finishing in tie for third, four strokes behind.

Indeed, what a difference a year make.

The same may be said – from champions to goats – of last year’s so-called “heroes,” Jun Lozada and Joey de Venecia.

Lozada has again snitched on his friends. This time turning his back on the Black & White Movement (see post below).

And Joey … oh my gush … he’s eyeing to run in 2010. He might as well write a book on crying over spilt milk in losing a bidding or how not to tell all in whistle blowing.

5:35 p.m.