Hopes soar for Philippine sports

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and former lawmaker and basketball coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards at the Diamond Hotel in Manila on Monday, February 16.

Philstar.com / Geraldine Santos

MANILA, Philippines — With Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio as chief enabler and pro coach and former lawmaker Joseller “Yeng” Guiao providing the key to more funds, both heartily agreed that things are looking brighter for local sports and athletes during the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards held Monday night, February 16.

In front of a packed and star-studded audience, including co-PSA Athlete of the year Carlos Edriel Yulo, at the Diamond Hotel Manila grand ballroom, Gregorio, the PSA Executive of the Year, and Guiao, recipient of the PSA President’s Award, shared their similar sentiments after being cited by the country’s oldest media organization during the celebration co-presented by the PSC and ArenaPlus.

“The PSC and its staff are enablers, not gatekeepers, not disciplinarians. The PSC’s success is not just about single authorship. We let all sectors participate in what we want to do, and that is our secret,” Gregorio stressed in getting things done in record time.

The dynamic PSC head said that when he took over the government sports agency in July 2024 “I already had a plan. Alam ko na kung ano ang aking gagawin, paano gagawin at gagawin ng mabilis.

“I have been committed and focused on three things since that day: athletes’ welfare, strategic infrastructure development and sports tourism.”

Being a former athlete himself and sports executive in various capacities, Gregorio was keen on creating “an enabling environment that creates opportunities for athletes. Let the athletes be in the limelight. They are our compass. For when our athletes succeed, we know we have succeeded.”

“Sinabi ko na po ito minsan na dapat maging maligaya ang ating mga atleta, maligaya din ang 150 million Filipinos. Pinatunayan na ito ni Hidilyn Diaz. PInatunayan na nito ni Caloy (Yulo),” he said referring to the country’s gold medalists in the Tokyo and Paris Summer Games, respectively.

The PSC now has more than ample resources to fulfill these lofty goals, thanks to Guiao, whose uphill legal battle in the Supreme Court that began a decade ago finally resulted in an SC ruling restoring the full five percent of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s income and other remittances as mandated by the law.

“I would like to thank chairman Pato. I don’t know of any other person with his dynamic leadership who is deserving to manage the funds that we got from our Supreme Court victory,” the Rain or Shine mentor noted in the gala event backed by major supporters Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Premier Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy and Acrocity.

“So huwag ka (Gregorio) na mag-isip na lumipat pa ng ibang posisyon and stay in PSC. That is giving you a signal guys to make a difference for Philippine sports,” quipped the former Pampanga congressman, who filed the petition in 2016 demanding that PAGCOR and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office comply with Republic Act 6847 of 1990 that created the PSC.

“Sumuntok tayo sa buwan, pero paminsan-minsan tatamaan ninyo yung buwan,” Guiao said while Atty. Jun Guzman and Mon Navarro, his executive assistant while he was Pampanga 1st District Representative, who were pivotal to the SC success, stood on the stage with the champion coach.

“To take away billions of funds from the Office of the President was political suicide. But maybe somebody has to commit political suicide so that Philippine sports can breathe some fresh air,” Guiao recalled of the often lonely ordeal in the quest of uplifting the welfare of local sports and athletes.

The celebrated and multi-titled mentor said he took the risk because “this is my way of paying it forward. Sports has given me a good life. It has given me material things, wisdom and knowledge, great experiences.

“The best way to pay it forward was to stake my effort and reputation in pursuing this case.”

He underscored that the SC decision was “a victory for our sports leaders and our countrymen in general. So sana pa dumami pa ng ang mga Caloy Yulo, dumami pa ang mga Hidilyn Diaz dumami pa ang mga Alex Eala at EJ obiena. And I will be satisfied to have played a small part I that.”

Summing up their efforts, Gregorio said that "we are leaders and we won’t be here forever, but we will leave a legacy that all of you will be proud of.”

“We hope that our sports leaders and athletes will do the same. Make life a little better for those coming after you. Make the athletes have a better chance of being successful and give our countrymen a lot more to cheer about,” Guiao echoed. (PSA pool story)