Eric to reconcile feuding groups

After learning of his appointment as the Philippine Sports Commission’s new chairman, Eric Buhain said his first order of the day is to create unity and harmony in sports.

Buhain said yesterday he has initiated talks with heads of the two opposing athletes and coaches’ groups so as to end, once and for all, the bickerings and squabbles that have been creating divisiveness in RP sports.

"One of my first priorities as PSC chairman is to unify the two athletes associations," said Buhain, who led the 1993 athletes’ revolt that led to the ouster of former chairman Aparicio Mequi.

Athletes and Coaches Association of the Philippines president Jaime Sebastian was the first Buhain talked to although the former multi-SEAG swimming gold medalist promised to also sit down with Nelia Sy-Ycasas, head of the other athletes’ group, PAAFI.

He, however, said that addressing the grievances of the athletes will not be that simple considering that some complaints are general in nature.

"I told one of the athletes’ group to be specific because it will be difficult to address their grievances if they are too general," said Buhain. "Pero sinabi ko rin sa kanila na samantalahin na nila ako habang andito ako."

Buhain also said he is looking forward to a meeting with outgoing PSC chairman Carlos Tuason and commissioners William "Butch" Ramirez, Ricardo Garcia, Cynthia Carrion and Amparo "Weena" Lim on Monday to lay the ground for a swift transition.

"We have to set all things in order by talking first to chairman Tuason and the commissioners," said Buhain. "I won’t disrupt anything at the moment because I’m a team man and we need to work together to achieve our goal."

Tuason, for his part, was not in his office yesterday but some of his staff coterminous to him have started packing up their things and stuffs in anticipation of Buhain’s arrival.

Ramirez, meanwhile, have formally submitted to Malacañang his courtesy resignation, barely a week after Tuason himself filed his resignation.

"I have submitted my courtesy resignation to the President as a sign of delicadeza," said Ramirez, who instituted the PSC’s sports for peace program via the first Mindanao Friendship Games in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

"I’m happy because I know I have served decently well despite my short time here and sad because I’m leaving my friends and programs which I know could help RP sports," he added.

Ramirez welcomed Buhain’s appointment saying that the former athlete has new ideas that could serve RP sports well.

"He is a young man full of hope and promise and he’s got the qualities of becoming a great leader which could be attributed to his past achievements as a former athlete," said Ramirez.

"I believe in my heart that he has new ideas beneficial to the PSC but we need to help him to make those ideas successful," he added.

Unlike Ramirez, Lim and Garcia have opted not to follow suit but the two welcomed Buhain’s appointment.

"I’m happy for him (Buhain)," said Lim. "Athletes should be the first beneficiaries of his appointment because now, there are two former athletes aside from myself who can best represent them in the PSC." - Joey Villar