Wish list

Days to go before Christmas, traffic in the metropolis has become unbearable. Last-minute shopping stresses people out. At least it doesn’t cost anything to make a wish list.

The first item on my wish list is a bigger budget for Philippine sports. I wish that the friends of sports in both houses of Congress come out and come together to support a bigger budget for the country’s sports program, more so now that the Philippine Sports Institute is already a reality. That will be the biggest gift for our athletes and coaches, to be given the tools to do the best job they can for the country.

The next thing I wish for is a quick, fair resolution to the leadership problems in various national sports associations (NSAs). Without true resolution, these will continue to cast doubt on and weaken the reelection of Peping Cojuangco as Philippine Olympic Committee president. With at least five NSAs under contested leadership or voting status, these still bring up questions on the legitimacy of his reelection. After the holiday lull, expect the fireworks to heat up again. Hopefully, the issues are resolved either legally or amicably, so that we can all move on.

The third item on my wish list is for continued health and greater prosperity for our sports heroes, most notably Manny Pacquiao. May he escape the financial downfall that had befallen almost all of our great boxers, and continue to reap the rewards of his hazardous profession.

For 2009, my wish for our national pride is for him to get past both Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and finish his career intact and at his peak, before he tackles the next phase of his career as a politician.

My fourth wish is for us to sort out the problems in Philippine basketball. This wish is two-fold. First, may BAP either stop contesting the legitimacy of the SBP or join the team, and end all the filibustering that has gotten us nowhere. The next is for us to field both national men’s teams successfully for international competition, particularly to the SEA Games (where hopefully, the sport is included) and SEABA.

Speaking of the SEA Games, may we prepare well, despite the limited number of sports included. And may we finish at least in the top three, despite the uncertainty of other sports’ inclusion. May we be able to fully fund our campaign, may the NSAs get their acts together, and may the athletes come up to the challenge of being the country’s heroes once again.

Next, I would like to see the launch of an international sports television network in the Philippines. Talks have been going on for some time, and a local channel has been in discussions with this global brand for months. May all the nitty-gritty be settled fully, and may we experience the first Filipino version of this global sports network early in 2009.

After that, may we see the laying down of the groundwork for a long-term development plan for amateur boxing, as the new leadership of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines implements its plans in time for the SEA Games. May the new boxing structure be all-inclusive, so that all stakeholders feel they are a part of the solution to the sport’s past problems.

Also, a complete cast for the Philippine Sports Commission. As of now, the PSC board only has four members, with a fifth member’s appointment still pending. The current board of chair Butch Ramirez, executive director Fr. Vic Uy, Eric Loretizo and Akiko Thomson have been doing yeomen’s work, and a fifth member would be a blessing. Hopefully, no recycled politicians or former PSC officials will be considered anymore.

Next, I wish for more sports to make the mainstream. Sport stacking, underwater hockey and others have been waiting for more media attention to build up critical mass. Since advertisers are looking for niche sports for to co-brand, maybe they may consider these two. More sports, more people playing, more healthy Filipinos, more events to cover. Everybody happy.

I also wish for economic recovery for international sports leagues.

The NBA, NFL, NHL, Formula One and other global sports leagues have already felt the pinch, and have laid people off coming into the holidays. Hopefully, the trend reverses itself soonest.

Lastly, more environment-friendly sports products out on the market, like the new golf brand Greentee Products (www.greenteeproducts.com, tel. No. 856=7746). Just to show that sports can have a conscience.

A blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year to all. God bless and many thanks for patronizing The Philippine Star.