Let us hope that the meeting of 18 NSA representatives at the Manila Polo Club last Oct. 2 will spark long-delayed reforms in Philippine sports.
The marathon meeting, which lasted for five hours, was aimed at identifying the problem areas in Philippine sports and find solutions to avoid embarrassments like what happened in the recent Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games.
Among those who attended the meeting were POC chair Tom Carrasco and current board member Cynthia Carreon, the Philippine SEA Games contingent chef de mission who predicted a 50-gold haul from the Kuala Lumpur Games.
Carreon emphasized that they are “not a rebel group” and the meeting was not about ousting POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco. It was about self examination.
The group will submit a manifesto containing their demands to the POC in a few days.
POC vice president and spokesperson Joey Romasanta called the meeting a “welcome development” and said they will look into the manifesto.
Steve Hontiveros, POC secretary general, said the issue was not tackled in Friday’s general assembly because it was not in the agenda.
In Huddle, however, is a bit puzzled with the timing of the Manila Polo Club meeting.
An NSA official acting as spokesperson of the group warned that if no action is taken by the POC, a vote of no-confidence will be called against the leadership of Cojuangco by the end of November.
So, if their action is nothing personal why call for a vote of no-confidence?
Remember that Cristy Ramos was impeached as president of the POC after the general assembly passed a vote of no-confidence against her in April 1999.
So by November, let’s see if this will happen or it’s just another worthless endeavor from those clamoring for change in Philippine sports system.