Aquino vows to rid sports of politics

GOLDEN DRAGONS IN MALACAÑANG. President Aquino poses with members of the Cobra Philippine dragon boat team who paid a courtesy call on the President in Malacañang on Friday. The dragon boat team received a presidential citation for bringing honor to the country by winning five gold medals and two silvers in a world competition in Florida. EDWIN BACASMAS

Vowing to rid sports of politics, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday gave the victorious Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) team the heroes’ welcome it didn’t get from the country’s top sports agencies.

The President received the team at Heroes’ Hall in Malacañang and told them he would look into how they could get their due rewards and benefits.

He presented the team with a presidential citation for winning five gold medals as well as two silvers and breaking two world records at the 10th International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Tampa, Florida, last week.

The team—at least six of whom are children of fishermen—lost funding from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)  after the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)—headed by Mr. Aquino’s uncle, former Representative Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.—refused to sanction the team’s trip to Florida, making them ineligible for assistance from the PSC.

The PDBF is not recognized as a national team by the PSC and the POC.

‘An inspiration’

Mr. Aquino chided the country’s sports officials, saying politics should be left to politicians and not be allowed to infect sports. He said sports should unify, not divide.

“Thank you for bringing honor to the country. Thank you for being an inspiration. Thank you for being role models. Thank you for proving that if you work at it, you will really succeed,” Mr. Aquino said during the group’s courtesy call.

“It’s just sad that you are being subjected to politics. I hope that they would just leave the politics to us, politicians,” he added.

The team gifted the President with a rowing paddle autographed by the team members.

About 2,000 paddlers from 17 countries took part in the biennial races involving boats of various sizes.

Aquino pledge

“To those of you who really provide significant and positive role models to our country, I can assure you that the government will be behind you,” Mr. Aquino said.

“We will strive especially to remove politics from sports. It should be a unifying activity rather than a divisive activity. Thank you in behalf of the country for the achievements you have achieved,” he added.

The President said he would look into ways of rewarding the team.

“I think there are several lawmakers who already pledged rewards. We are having it studied right now,” he said, adding: “I have to also talk with the PSC.”

All-star cast

Members of the Malacañang staff posed with team members for pictures.

The team is composed of members from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and the Philippine Air Force.

They include Junrey Dayumat (PCG), Raymond Morales (PCG), Salvador Sumagaysay (PA), Rico Pradilla (PN), Romy John Dionio (PA), Ruperto Sabijon (PN), Ramie Leano (PA), Joemar Ocquiana (PA), Crisanto Pabulayan (PAF), Usman Anterola (PA), Ronald Tan (PA), Jose Ijalo (PA), Annabelle Tario, (coach and drummer);

Thea Bartolome (paddler), Ma. Theresa Realizan (paddler), Ma. Ailene Padrones (PAF), Amina Anuddin (paddler), Michelle Ebio (paddler), Liza Margret (paddler), Rowena Enriquez (paddler), Maj. Hanold Cabunoc (deputy spokesperson PA, team manager), Marcia Cristobal (Philippine Dragon Boat Federation president, team manager), and Priscilla Pinky Castillo (PDBF secretary).

Six cousins

The six who are children of fishermen from Negros Occidental province and who are cousins are  Sumagaysay, 29; Ocquiana, 32;  Pradilla, 38; Pabulayan, 30; Dayumat and Padrones.

A heroes’ welcome awaits them in their hometown of E. B. Magallona (formerly Saravia).

“We will honor our very own paddlers, our heroes, so their stories and hardships will serve as inspiration to our young Saraviahanons that there’s nothing impossible if you set your mind to it,”  E. B. Magallona Mayor David Albert Lacson said.

The six come from the coastal village of Latasan, where their backyard is the sea, their homes located only about three meters from the shoreline.

Parents’ lament

“They are children of fishermen who had been engaged in fishing and catching crabs and shells before they moved to Manila,” Latasan village captain Merlinda Dioneo said.

Most of the six did not finish an elementary education, she said.

Pradilla was first to join the team in 1995. A year later, Pradilla  asked his cousins to join him.

They had been winning boat races in the Philippines and abroad since then.

The parents of the paddlers lamented the lack of government support for the team.

‘They deserve the best’

Pradilla’s father, Arsenio, said that for four years, his son was unable to send money home because he was training in Manila and the government was not helping the team. Their house constructed three years ago is still unfinished.

Haydee Pabulayan, mother of Crisanto, wished the government would help their children since they had brought honor to the country.

“But we’re thankful that our mayor (Lacson) will honor our sons,” she said.

Lacson said the municipal government would give cash incentives to the six fishermen.

The E.B. Magalona Municipal Council passed a resolution commending the PDBF, especially the six Saraviahanon paddlers.

“They truly deserve the best from our town,” Dioneo said.