Running unopposed, former national team standout and Coach Alexander Sulit was elected as the new Philippine Judo Federation President by acclamation during the PJF’s Congress held over the weekend at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.
An Ateneo graduate who has coached both the school’s collegiate and high school varsity squads, Sulit, 46, replaces former PJF President Dave Carter, who held the top post for 14 years but remains on the PJF board after being elected as secretary general.
Also elected unopposed were Atty. Vicente Fernandez as PJF Executive Vice President, Marilyn Versoza, Treasurer, Emir Reyes, Sports Director; Luleo Panganiban, Referees Director; Christopher George Borja, Education and kata Director; and Renan Camarquiz, Marketing Director.
Appointed by the Philippine Olympic Committee to observe the proceedings was PhilCycling Secretary General Atty. Billy Sumagui, who is also the POC Membership Committee Chairman.
Wushu Deputy Secretary General Red Dumuk served as the head of the Election Committee and supervised the polls.
“This is not going to be a one-man show. Everything that we need to do for the Philippine Judo Federation and Philippine judo we will have do hand in hand as officials together with the local judo community,” Sulit said in his acceptance speech.
“I have big shoes to fill. There are many successes and lessons that I have learned from our good friend and former president Mr. David Carter. But I am very confident because he will still be working with me and guiding me through all this to implement my programs,” the newly-elected judo chief stressed.
“Ali (Sulit’s nickname) brings in a lot of fresh and new ideas to the federation and well-respected in our judo community so the PJF is in very good hands,” Carter noted.
“It’s a matter of aligning our talents, our knowhow, our good intentions to make things happen. Because it starts with us, the PJF leaders,” Sulit said. “And once everyone is in alignment, you will eventually notice that at each turn, Philippine judo will move up and up, ushering in a new golden era for Philippine judo.”
The new PJF President among his early priorities will be addressing grassroots development of the sport.
“Grassroots is important because that is going to be the future of Philippine judo. We’ve got the means, we’ve got the knowhow and it is just a matter of implementing a uniform program our clubs and chapters can follow,” he said. “It is a matter of teaching people how to fish and just give it to them.”