Private sector support

I was witness to the perfect example of private sector support to the sports program of the government as Paul Hubahib of VECO and I tried to get the football and judo teams of Cebu City tickets for Manila and back.

The two teams will be representing the city in the Philippine Olympic Festival national finals which will be held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and with the very little lead time given by the organizers it took something short of a miracle to get things done.

But Paul is such an efficient fellow and we managed to book the teams for their trip.

Since there wasn’t enough time to get the city to foot the bill of the trip, Councilor Sylvan ‘Jack’ Jakosalem and the Cebu City Sports Commission had to look for support from the private sector.

Thanks to the help of Txabi Aboitiz, VP for HRD of the Aboitiz Group, who made the commitment in behalf of their family to help out.

I never expected the next three hours after having lunch with Paul and VECO’s Dennis Garcia would be that hectic.  But then, Paul said “there is no room for failure” and it was very reassuring to know that there really are private entities very willing to go out of their way to support sports development.

Thanks to Jon Ramon Aboitiz, chairman of the board of Aboitiz Group and VECO, and to Jimmy Aboitiz VECO’s SVP and COO for helping the team.

By the way, the Cebu Amateur Football Club through Ricky Dakay, has also committed P10,000 to help cover the food expenses of the football team.

Thank you all for your support.

* * *

I got a call last Thursday from Freddie Siao of Iligan City, who related to me his disappointment over the way the Philippine Olympic Festival (POF) organizers are running the show.

Freddie, who is helping the Mayor of Iligan City with sports concerns, said that the POF organizers do not know how to give ample time to the provincial teams to make it to Manila.

He said that they were informed of the date of the national finals only last November 6.  The national finals will start on the 12th.

Thanks for the call Freddie.  Although I am saddened to know how the POF organizers are treating the teams, I am happy to learn that there are many from the private sector who are very much willing to help sports.

* * *

I was at the press conference of “Idol: Search for the next Pinoy Boxing Star” of ABS-CBN yesterday afternoon at the Parklane Hotel and I think this is a major break for the boxers who made the cut to be in the program.

Although from the original 32, only 16 boxers remain standing, the show gives the audience not only a chance to watch how simonpures train for their trade, but will also get to participate in the voting for the next boxing idol.

The show is aired all over Visayas and Mindanao every Sunday at 10 a.m. over ABS-CBN and is a joint effort of the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group and the ALA Gym of Ninong Tony Aldeguer.

In a few years one of these boys could be the next world champion.