POC President Peping Cojuangco. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The venerable Ramon J. Farolan called the Philippine’s dismal performance in the last Southeast Asian Games an embarrassment. That was putting it kindly.
How bad was it?
It was not merely a shameful showing.
Wasn’t it a shocker?
It’s the sob story of the year that should have sent Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chief Peping Cojuangco to tears.
That was hoping for the incredible, though.
There was no way Cojuangco would do a Bato dela Rosa and cry in public. In fact, instead of express regrets, the overstaying POC chief shrugged the humiliating debacle off. Forget it, he said, and just move on.
Not too fast. Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez said they first have to investigate what went wrong (again), before making urgent repairs.
It’s quite doubtful if Cojuangco would bother to heed the call from the PSC, government funding agency for national sports associations.
For one, Cojuangco has all the while been feeling like a great winner after indulging in political arm-twisting that forced President Duterte to make a blind turnaround and allow the hosting by the country of the previously junked 2019 SEA Games.
Big deal: As a result, the gullible Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano, favorite Duterte crony, sucked it all and was thus appointed chair of the 2019 SEA Games Organizing Committee.
That means the Philippines, with all the built-in advantages allowed the host country, will be able to move up in the medal ladder, if not top it, as it did in 2005 hosting under Cojuangco.
It’s also no secret the host country is given the courtesy of turning the biennial regional games into a hometown fiesta, not only for average national athletes, but for sleepy, jaded national sports leaders.
That, indeed, is national sports development Cojuangco-style.
Not to worry. While Gen. Bato dela Rosa at least showed he’s capable of remorse, snorting a teary sob that has been described as tired, hackneyed (gasgas, kumita na), Cojuangco will have his moment in 2019.
No crying please, Ok. But doesn’t this mean that the proud, overstaying head of the POC is also of the kapalmuks breed, meaning immune to defeat and shame?