The country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games got a big boost as the Chef de Mission and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez made his first official meeting with officials and representatives of Team Philippines.
The aura at the PICC hall was all positive as Ramirez accepted and enjoined everybody take on the challenge of bringing Team Philippines to the summit.
“When we are bound by passion and common purpose—then impossible is not a problem,” he told the representatives of the 56 national sports associations that will do battle for glory in the biennial meet.
After a tumultuous stretch that saw the POC top hierarchy in discord, everybody now agrees that this is the time to get united.
Ramirez took over from the post previously held by Monsour del Rosario of taekwondo. There was no trace of bad feelings from Del Rosario, who even came out with a formal statement assuring his support to Ramirez.
“I will continue supporting the national team in whatever capacity to ensure its success I urge everyone to support he next chef de mission,” wrote Del Rosario. “Effective leadership of t Team Philippines is equally critical for a successful participation in the SEA Games. Finally, I call on the sports community to set aside our difference and unite toward the goal of reclaiming our former lofty status in international sports.”
It was a gentlemanly act worthy of praise.
Now, even Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas is offering the peace pipe. He vowed to unite the board in an expanded board meeting on June 13, offering to heal the wounds and work together.
“I want to unite everybody for the sake of Philippine sports, There was misunderstanding and I hope we can work together dahil malapit na ang SEA Games.”
If this is not just a rhetoric, Steve Hontiveros, a known ally of Peping Cojuangco, said it could work as everybody can sit down together and find a compromise.
He called it the “common denominator.”
“Everybody has its own thinking at may kanya kanya tayong thinking. Past is past, kung may problema, pag-usapan. You can’t please everybody, just find a common denominator that everybody will agree. This is teamwork,” said the Philippine Handball Federation president.
“At the end of the day, nag-ayos kami lahat, the important goal is for the good of our country.”
Common denominator?
Hontiveros, who has been in sports administration for the last four decades, vows it works.
