The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on Wednesday named the chefs de mission of Team Philippines in various international tournaments during its first general assembly for the year.
Appointed were Victorico “Ricky” Vargas (2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA), Al Panlilio (2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan), Richard Gomez (2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy), Dr. Jose Raul Canlas (2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand), and Stephen Arapoc (2025 World Games in Chengdu, China).
“The objective is to prepare our teams, and athletes, in earnest for the international competitions, that’s why the chefs de mission were appointed. If we prepare early, there will be no excuses,” POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said during the committee’s General Assembly at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Parañaque City.
Richard Lim of karate is chef de mission to the Asian Winter Games scheduled from Feb. 7 to 14 in Harbin, China, while the head of the delegation for the 3rd Asian Youth Olympics Games, set on Oct. 22-31 in Bahrain, has yet to be named.
Vargas, a former POC president, currently chairs the boxing federation, while Panlilio (basketball) and Gomez (modern pentathlon) are the incumbent POC first and second vice presidents, respectively.
Canlas is treasurer of the surfing association and Arapoc is president of the muaythai association.
The SEA Games will be held in Chonburi, Songkhla, and Bangkok from Dec. 9 to 20.
The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics is set for Feb. 6-22, and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in 2026.
The Los Angeles Olympics will be held from July 14 to 30, 2028.
Also appointed were former football president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta as ethics committee chairman and lawyer Daniel Hofileña, a non-POC member, as head of the arbitration committee.
Tolentino said the POC General Assembly also approved the 2025 working budget of PHP35 million, which is PHP8 million less than last year’s, because of the Paris Olympics preparations and participation.
Tolentino and his secretary general, lawyer Wharton Chan, also announced that the POC had PHP15 million in savings last year. (PNA)
