PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) members savored the success from the Paris Olympics campaign during their General Assembly on Wednesday with the preparations for the 33rd Southeast Games in Thailand next year and the POC elections this November keeping the body busy at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Pasay City.

“The SEA Games next year in Thailand is a concern, we’re bound to lose eight gold medals in four sports dropped by the Thais from their program,” POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

“But we’re not losing hope, the appeal is there, and it will be decided in a SEAG Federation meeting next month.”

The SEAG Federation will meet on October 15 to update preparations for the SEA Games Thailand is hosting from December 9 to 20, 2025, in Bangkok, Chonburi and Sonkhia.

Onerous in the agenda is the POC’s—and that of other SEA Games nations—appeal for weightlifting, wushu, jiu-jitsu and karate, all traditional SEAG sport, to be inserted in the program.

“It’s a tough task considering that the Thais will be hard-pressed to dominate the games,” said Tolentino, who was hailed by the assembly for his election to a four-year term as Olympic Council of Asia Legal Committee chairman during the organization’s meeting last Sunday in New Delhi.

Also discussed were:

–       The reappointment of karate’s Richard Lim as chef de mission to the Asian Winter Games from February 7 to 14 next year in Harbin, China, following the cancelation of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Thailand this November,

–       Saudi Arabia will host the canceled AIMAG in still-to-be-determined dates and specific venue in 2025,

–       Initial details of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

–       Members of the Commission on Elections for the POC elections on November 29.

Chartered Arbiter and Accredited Mediator Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV returns as chairman of the POC electoral body after his stints in 2020 and 2024 and he will be joined by Colegio de San Juan de Letran Rector President Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion, OP, and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo as members.

The POC assembly unanimously approved the appointments.

“The COMELEC led by Atty. Kalaw will lay down the rules of the elections and they will set the deadline for the filing of candidacy and handle screening of the candidates,” said Tolentino, who will seek another full four-year term as president.

THE commitment has transformed into a tradition as the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) gifts Paris 2024 Olympics double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo not one but two houses-and-lots while bronze medalist boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will soon walk into their brand new bungalows in Tagaytay City.

“It’s now a tradition, first Hidilyn Diaz [Naranjo] deserved all the best for giving the country its first Olympic gold medal and now, it’s the turn of Caloy [Yulo], Nesthy and Aira to be feted with the same reward for their historic efforts,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.

For Yulo, his two two-storey homes would sit on a 500-square meter lot appraised at around P15 million, according to POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan.

These new homes will also be highlighted with gazebos, Tolentino said.

For Petecio, it would be her second home in Tagaytay City after the first one she received for her silver from Tokyo 2020—she’s neighbor to fellow silver medalist Carlos Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial in a compound aptly called Olympic Village in the city also courtesy of Tolentino and the POC.

Petecio and Villegas’s bungalows will rise on separate 200-square meter lots and just like Yulo’s, will be furnished with basic amenities, according to Tolentino.

“All the rewards and bonuses that go our medalists’ way are well-deserved, it’s not easy to medal in the Olympics, it takes years, it takes focus, discipline and determination,” Tolentino said.

“These athletes invested their lives into the sports they love and now, they’re reaping the fruits of their sacrifices,” he added.

Tolentino withheld announcing the locations of the homes but would be turning over the keys to the medalist Olympians in a ceremony fit for champions.

“The POC doesn’t think twice about these rewards, an Olympic medal, regardless of color, is the most precious medal in sports,” said Tolentino as he thanked the POC Board for showing full gratitude to the efforts of Yulo, Petecio and Villegas.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. did an unprecedented in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon by putting premium on sports especially on the campaign of 28 Filipino athletes in Paris — 22 for the Olympics and six for the Paralympics — that open this Friday in the French capital.

“Thank you, PBBM, for your kind wishes for the athletes at the Olympics,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“It’s definitely inspiring and it’s an extreme boost to the morale not only to our athletes competing in Paris, but to the entire Philippine sports,” added Tolentino, who will fly to Paris today (Tuesday July 23) to oversee the Philippine Olympic campaign.

“This may be exaggerated but the President putting emphasis on sports in a very important event in his administration—something that’s never been done by past Presidents in memory— gives us the goose bumps,” added Tolentino, who, as POC head, personally suggested to Malacañang for the President Marcos to include the sports agenda in his SONA.

“As we speak, 28 of our finest athletes are competing in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines,” said President Marcos, drawing appreciation through a rousing clap from his audience. “Let us wish them well and the best of luck.”

It’s not only the Paris Olympics campaign that was in President Marcos’s SONA, but also grassroots sports.

“Grassroots and sports of all programs are back, nailunsad na namin ang Palarong Pambansa after three years na pagkakatigil nito dahil sa pandemya,” he said.

“Binabati natin ang Cebu at Marikina at ang Kagawaran ng Education para sa matagumpay na pagkakatanghal ng mga palarong ito.”

President Marcos added: “We will continue to support these health enhancing sports programs. Through these, we will also set forth our youth on the same well-established path taken by some of our national champions and renowned athletes to sporting greatness.”

President Marcos, too, noted the sports’ importance in tourism.

“The focus now is on experiential tourism—foods, heritage, culture, the arts, education, Halal, Islamic traditions, education, dive, cruise, farm and eco-tourism and even sports have now become potent subjects and products of the nation’s tourism,” he said.

“We are very grateful to the President for showing his love and concern for sports,” Tolentino said.

“And we, at the POC and Philippine sports as a whole, continuously thank his Administration for relentlessly supporting sports through his financial support.”

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in a cheery moment in Metz with swimmer Kyla Sanchez, weightlifter Elreen Ando, boxer Nesthy Petecio, gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxer Carlo Paalam.

HURDLERS Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino officially earned their berths to Paris at the close of the qualifying window for athletics and the Philippines now has the most number of Olympic athletes at 22 since Barcelona 1992.

“Target achieved,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Wednesday. “Now to the most important goal—medals.”

There were 26 Filipino athletes in Barcelona 1992 when the Olympics has yet to go strict in imposing qualifying standards.

And with the qualifiers in place to limit the games to the best of the best, Team Philippines has gone down to 12 athletes in Atlanta 1996, 20 in Sydney 2000, 15 each in Athens 2004 where boxer Mansueto Velasco clinched silver and Beijing 2008, 11 in London 2012 and 13 in Rio de Janeiro where weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz also got silver.

Diaz then won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2020 where 19 athletes competed and set the best performance ever by Team Philippines with Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paaalam adding silver medals and Eumir Felix Marcial’s contributing a bronze in boxing.

“This proves that despite the stringent qualifiers by the international federations, our athletes have established themselves as among the world’s best,” Tolentino said. “It’s never easy qualifying for the Olympics—much more winning medals—but the template has been set and our athletes in Paris have surely set the tone and path for the future.”

The Philippines is not left behind by its Southeast Asian neighbors and shares fourth place with Singapore, which also qualified 22 athletes to Paris.

Thailand has the most qualifiers at 47, followed by Indonesia with 28 and Malaysia with 25, while the other countries have at least one athlete going to Paris.

Marcial, meanwhile, arrived at the Team Philippines training camp in Metz on Wednesday from Washington DC where he sparred with top US light heavyweights in preparation for the Olympics.

There are now 11 athletes in Metz—gymnast Carlos Yulo, swimmers Jarod Hatch and Kyla Sanchez, rower Joanie Delgaco, weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza and Vanessa Sarno and Marcial and fellow boxers Paalam, Petecio, Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas,

From left: Sienna Olaso, Cignal first vice president and head for channels and content management; Jane Basas, Cignal TV and MediaQuest President and CEO; Cong Bambol; and POC secretary general Atty Wharton Chan.

A BONANZA of an incentive—a house and lot—will again be at stake for a gold medal won by a Filipino athlete in the Paris Olympics.

“If I gave houses and lots to the medalists in the Tokyo Olympics, why can’t and won’t do it again for Paris,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said in Thursday’s official launching the POC-Cignal TV partnership “Isang Daang Taon Laban Para sa Bayan: Celebrating 100 Years of Filipino Excellence in the Olympics” at Cignal’s Launchpad Building headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

Tolentino, in his capacity as both POC chief and mayor of Tagaytay City, rewarded houses and lots to the country’s medalists in the Tokyo 2020 Olymmpics—gold medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.

But because of the windfall of medals—the most by any Philippine delegation in the quadrennial Games—Tolentino also gave boxer Eumir Felix Marcial his own house and lot for his bronze medal.

The compound where the three boxers’ homes are located in Tagaytay City are now aptly called Olympic Village.

“Our gold medalist, one or more, in Paris fully deserves this reward for their hard work, dedication and love for sport and country,” said

Tolentino, the first POC president to ever harness a month-long training camp for an Olympic participation by any Philippine delegation.

Filipino athletes competing in Paris will have the privilege of a month-long training camp in La Moselle in Metz complete with training facilities for any sport, board and lodging.

MANILA — Renowned pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, ranked as the world’s No. 2, stands among the 10 candidates participating in the upcoming Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Athletes Commission elections set to take place on January 27 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.

Obiena, who clinched the gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, currently trains under the guidance of the esteemed Ukrainian coach, Vitaly Petrov, in Formia, Italy.

The roster of candidates includes Jessie Khing Lacuna (swimming), Nesthy Petecio (boxing), Jayson Valdez and Amparo Teresa Acuña (shooting), Jack Danielle Animam (basketball), Inna Kristianne Palacios (football), Kai Stroem (rugby), Juan Miguel Bautista (fencing), and John Leerams Chicano (triathlon).

Out of these candidates, only five will secure a position on the Commission.

Lacuna, a two-time Olympian (2012 and 2016), and Petecio, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and a gold medal winner at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, bring a wealth of experience to the competition.

Valdez, who participated in the Tokyo Olympics, and Acuña, jointly securing the bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships, add further diversity to the field.

Animam, a five-time UAAP champion, holds the distinction of being the first Filipina to compete in both European and Chinese leagues.

Palacios, the team captain of the first national team in the FIFA World Cup, and Stroem, co-captain of the Rugby 7s team, bring their leadership skills to the fore.

Bautista, a bronze medalist in the Cambodia SEAG and a gold medal winner in the 2022 Thailand and Indonesia Fencing Championship adds fencing prowess to the mix.

Chicano, a three-time national champion and a double-gold medalist in the SEAG, rounds out the impressive list of candidates.

The Athletes’ Commission serves as a consultative and advisory body, facilitating a vital link between POC leaders and athletes to help achieve the organization’s mission.

The current members of the POC Athletes Commission include Nikko Huelgas (triathlon), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Jake Letts (rugby), Francesca Altamonte (softball), Samuel Morrion (taekwondo), Petecio, and Lacuna.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (fourth from left) awards Asian Games jiu-jitsu gold medalist Annie Ramirez (third from left) her P1M cash bonus. With them are (from left) Nikko Huelgas, Richard Gomez, Cynthia Carrion-Norton, Pearl Managuelod, Dr. Raul Canlas, and Wharton Chan.

MANILA — The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) awarded a total of P10.6 million to medal winners in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games during Tuesday’s General Assembly at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque City.

“It was a General Assembly where the POC family came together in joy and camaraderie … full of Christmas spirit,” POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

“We didn’t discuss any topic, but just giving the incentives and hosting our Christmas Party.”

The Philippines won four gold, two silver, and 12 bronzes for 18 medals in Hangzhou.

Personally receiving their incentives were jiu-jitsu gold medalist Annie Ramirez, who banked P1 million, and boxing silver medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, who received P500,000.

POC athletes commission Nikko Huelgas head received for pole vault champion and record holder Ernest John “EJ” Obiena his P1 million check. In contrast, her fellow jiu-jitsu athletes got Meggie Ochoa’s bonus.

Members of the gold medal-winning men’s basketball team each got P200,000 with Magnum Membrere, a member of the MVP Group, symbolically receiving the check.

Wushu’s Arnel Mandal also got P500,000 for his silver while Patrick King Perez (poomsae), Patrick Coo (cycling), Sakura Alforte (karate), Kaila Napolis (jiu-jitsu), Erleen Ann Ando (weightlifting) and wushu’s Jones Inso, Gideon Padua and Clemente Tabugara of wushu were rewarded P300,000 each.

Alex Eala got P450,000 for her bronze in women’s singles and mixed doubles (P150,000) of tennis with Francis Casey Alcantara.

Sepak takraw’s Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste, Vince Torno, Mark Joseph Gonzales, Ronsited Gabayeron, and Jom Lerry Rafael received P200,000 each for their two bronze medals in men’s quadrant and regu of sepak takraw.

(ai/mnm)

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) General Assembly confirmed the recognition of the Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) as the national sports association (NSA) for aquatic sports on Friday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque City.  

The POC Executive Board, headed by President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, unanimously voted on PAI’s recognition when it met just before the General Assembly.

Tolentino said the Executive Board acted positively on the recommendation of the POC Membership Committee, which received the final and most important criterion for regular membership—recognition from swimming’s international federation World Aquatics (formerly FINA).

“There’s a new NSA [national sports association] that is already recognized by the international federation World Aquatics,” said Tolentino referring to the PAI, whose top officials—president Mico Vargas, secretary-general Rep. Eric Buhain and executive director Chito Rivera—attended the assembly.

The PAI replaced the Philippine Swimming Inc., the forerunner of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, which lost its recognition from the IF.

“It’s in the POC constitution that once there is a recognized federation by the IF, we have to recognize that automatically as well,” Tolentino said. The removal of the PSI is due to the non-recognition of IF. An IF recognition is one crucial requirement for NSAs.”

Vargas thanked officials of the 46 NSAs who attended the assembly, including International Olympic Committee Representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and officials of the Athletes Commission for welcoming the PAI.

“We’re excited to start reforming the aquatics community,” Vargas said. “We took a hard route to recognition so we’re expecting tougher routes ahead, it’s just the start.”

(ai/mnm)