After the recent plenary session, Congressmen Sid Ungab, Eric Yap and Bambol Tolentino had a group photo at the office of first-time Congressman Pulong Duterte.
I was interested of the photo because just recently, Congressman Bambol Tolentino, who is the Philcycling president, was elected as the new president of the troubled Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the victory confirmed by our amigo, editor Jun Lomibao, who is also a long-time cycling official.
Here’s my feelings about the photo posted by Cong.Ungab and how I look at it.
If Bambol has good relations with Ungab and Duterte, then the POC as an organization has found strong allies in sports.
Ungab has been credited for his hard work in the various stages of building the UP Mindanao-Davao City Sports Complex in order for Davao City to host the Palarong Pambansa with the help of his friends.
Cong.Ungab even as a City Councilor of Davao has been a very amiable gentleman, easy to work with and has been sympathetic to sports development efforts.
Cong.Duterte, on the other hand, has been backing sports events in the city for years even at the time when he was still Barangay Captain.
Cong.Bambol’s association with the two Davao congressmen could be a sign of brighter things to come in the POC because he can ask “a little from his friends” if needed.
The POC is a troubled organization because of the infighting (it’s all about power and money, my friends, ayaw na mog deny deny diha) and it needs a total clean up.
If the Congressmen start talking about how to help Philippine sports, I have a feeling that there will be a plan to help revitalize sports in the country.
There will be a lot of bumps along the way, for sure, however, if this group of lawmakers can start finding solutions to the ills of Philippine sports, the shenanigans in sports in Manila will start backing away.
