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Abraham Tolentino finally won a full four-year term on Friday as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). And the challenges it faces are daunting, the least of which is how to unite a highly politicized organization.
“But with the help of this team, we can focus on [those challenges]”Tolentino said.
“Ultimately, this is for Filipino athletes.”
Cavite’s representative, who is also the country’s cycling chief, has more important things to oversee in the sporting arena, and the country’s campaign at the Tokyo Olympics, the Southeast Asian Games and the Tokyo Games is expected to Asian Youth captures much of your attention.
Luckily, Tolentino is armed.
Tolentino, who beat goalkeeper Clint Aranas for the POC presidency, 30-22, successfully lobbied for Congress to pass a P900 million budget for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as part of a financial package aimed at resuscitating the a country devastated by an ongoing pandemic.
“Across the Bayanihan 2, [our participation in major meets] “Everything will be covered,” Tolentino said, referring to the law to which the PSC budget was hooked. The President of the Athletes Commission, Nikko Huelgas, welcomed the new group of officials and promised the full cooperation of his group.
“We [in Athletes’ Commission] agreed that whoever is elected we will support, respect and cooperate as we work towards a better Philippine sport, ”said the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games triathlon champion.
Huelgas is on the POC’s executive board, but Olympians Hidilyn Díaz and Jessie King Lacuna were the ones who voted on behalf of the commission.
Tolentino first assumed the presidency of the POC when boxer Ricky Vargas resigned last June before his term ended. To complete Vargas’ remaining term, Tolentino helped oversee the 2019 SEA Games hosted by the Philippines, which worked their way to the overall title.
Vargas extended a message of congratulations to Tolentino after the elections.
“I have no doubt that this will be the update that Filipino sport urgently needs,” Vargas said in a statement. “The reform is no longer just a chimera; it is reality within reach ”.
Handball’s Steve Hontiveros also kept his job as president, beating triathlon Tom Carrasco, 28-25.
“With the elections behind us, we will now work for what is good for Philippine sports,” said Hontiveros, who is now the tallest of a young generation of officials.
First-time winners abound in the elections held at East Ocean Palace in the city of Parañaque, including Al Panlilio (first vice president) of basketball, Richard Gómez (second vice president) of modern pentathlon, Chito Loyzaga (auditor) of baseball, Pearl Managuelod (director) of muay thai) and José Raúl Canlas (director) of surfing.
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