GAB, Immigration threats to World 10-Ball tourney
THE GAMES and Amusements Board and the Bureau of Immigration should be held jointly responsible if the scheduled World 10-Ball Championships set to open on Tuesday is cancelled.
In a cheap effort to try and make some money in a sport where Filipinos have remained dominant since the days of Jose “Amang” Parica and Efren “Bata” Reyes, the GAB and the BID sought to compel 128 foreign players competing in one of the most prestigious events in the annual pool calendar to secure work permits and licenses.
Nowhere in the world do countries require sports competitors to obtain a work permit or to secure a license and, for both requirements, pay fees. What is worse is that the two government agencies threatened to cancel the five-day event at the World Trade Center should the foreign players who have, in the past competed in several similar events in the country, refuse to comply.
Our country and millions of pool fans around the world will be the losers. The Philippines will lose income from the many fans and tourists who normally fly in to watch these tournaments as well as from the players who stay in our hotels for the duration of the tournament.
The international television coverage and media attention will also reinforce Manila’s acknowledged position as the epicenter of pool. Perhaps our government officials haven’t heard of sports tourism which is a major thrust especially in Europe and the Middle East where countries compete to stage sports events with an international flair similar to the World 10-Ball Championships.
If the BID considers competing in a major international pool event as work, then it cannot comprehend the obviously different nuance between work and play. Besides, the pool players are unlike PBA imports for instance who enjoy fixed salaries for a contracted period of time and earn whether they win or lose.
Billiards is different. Players only earn should they finish in the top rankings. Which means there is no guarantee of income.
They are certainly unlike some of the reported hostesses or “call girls” who somehow are able to enter the country and ply their trade without any hassle from the BID.
Raya Sports CEO and journalist Yen Makabenta put it succinctly when he said “this is a violation of our right to practice our game of choice.”
If this is the case then what about the roosters flown in to compete in the various big international derbies at the Araneta Coliseum. Do they too have to be licensed and secure work permits?
If this ridiculous effort by the BID and GAB pushes through, then, using the same yardstick, the Indonesians who will host the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games could require our pool players and competitors in other sports to secure work permits and pay license fees to the Indonesian government.
This attitude of the BDI and GAB is typical of the myopic thinking of these agencies which perhaps need to replenish their coffers for the unwarranted expenses they incur.
For instance GAB officials were in Las Vegas for the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday when there was absolutely no reason for them to be there because Congressman Pacquiao is perfectly capable of taking care of business in the ring as well as outside.
We are confident President Noynoy Aquino will take the cue and prevent this farcical effort by the BID and the GAB which is bound to make the Philippines the laughing stock of the sporting world.
