Opisyal nang isinalin ni William ‘Butch’ Ramirez kay Harry Angping ang kanyang tungkulin bilang chairman ng Philippine Sports Commission sa ika-19th anibersaryo ng pagbuo nito sa Rizal Badminton Hall.
“Chairman Harry Angping, I’m abdicating to you the Philippine Sports Commission with a very rich tradition of 19 years, great tradition of good men and women who worked in difficult times,” anang naluluhang si Ramirez, na tumanggap ng tribute mula sa mga taong nakasama niya sa trabaho ng halos isang dekada.
“There were a lot of disagreements, lot of dreams. We know you are very capable, welcome and good luck,” dagdag niya.
“With faith in God and total commitment, I accept the responsibility of being the eight PSC chairman,” pagtanggap naman ni Angping, na sinamahan ng kanyang maybahay na si 3rd district Manila Representative Naida.
Ang unang gagawin ni Angping sa kanyang unang araw ay ang palakasin ang institusyon lalo na ang rank and file at ang magwagi ng gintong medalya hindi lamang sa 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games at 2010 Asian Games sa China kundi pati na rin sa 2012 London Games.
“Loyalty, unity and get the gold medal. We will start in Laos and then Guangzhou and finally in London,” wika ng dating softball chief at Philippine Olympic Committee board of director. “I’m appealing to all the employees, the rank and file, lets work as a team.”
Habang nangangarap ng gintong medalya, sinabi naman ni Angping na ang prediksyon ni POC president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco na susungkit ang bansa ng 100-120 golds sa Laos ay masyadong optimistiko.
“Let’s be modest right now. I can’t give any projection, there are only 300 plus medals in 25 sports and then almost 10 of the sports we’re not participating so you’re talking of only 15 sports. I think it’s too optimistic, the figure is too optimistic,” aniya.
Nagmisa si Fr. Vic Uy, SVP, na dinaluhan nina commissioners Eric Loretizo at nagbabalik na si Joey Mundo maging sina dating chairman Eric Buhain at Aparicio Mequi at dating commissioners na sina Leon Montemayor, Celso Dayrit, Cynthia Carreon, Pete Juachon, Ely Bontigao, Ambrocio de Luna, Mike Barredo at Ritchie Garcia. (Joey Villar)