Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino unveiled his “working team” on Tuesday as he seeks another term as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“It’s about teamwork, it’s about setting and achieving goals, it’s about cooperation,” said Tolentino.
Joining Tolentino’s slate are: Alfredo “Al” Panlilio (basketball) as First Vice President, Rep. Richard Gomez (modern pentathlon) as Second Vice President, Dr. Jose Raul Canlas (surfing) Treasurer and Donaldo “Don” Caringal (volleyball) as Auditor and Alexander “Ali” Sulit (judo), Ferdinand “Ferdie” Agustin (jiu-jitsu), Leonora “Len” Escolante (canoe-kayak) and Alvin Aguilar (wrestling) and Leah Jalandoni Gonzales (fencing) as members of the Executive Board.
“This is ‘My Working Team’ and the mission is ‘Faster, Stronger, Higher—Together,'” Tolentino said. “It will be much tougher this time as the Los Angeles 2028 beckons, but rest assured, we will be more committed and active to our task, all for Philippine sports.”
The POC holds elections once every four years, on the last Friday of November on an Olympic year. This year, it is scheduled on November 29 at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque City.
Tolentino, who was elected in June 2019, touted the country’s achievements during his time in charge of the POC, including three Olympic gold medals across two Summer Games and four gold medals in the Asian Games.
He also highlighted the country’s successful hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where Filipino athletes won 149 gold medals to top the table.
Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV will again chair the POC commission on elections with Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba Rector and President Rev. Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion, O.P., and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo as members.
The filing of the candidacies started last October 15 and ends on Wednesday, October 30.
There are 59 voting members of the POC—34 Olympic national sports associations, 22 non-Olympic federations, two from the Athletes Commission and International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Mikaela María Antonia “Mikee” de los Reyes Cojuangco-Jaworski.
