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)