Ninoy the cheerleader

The Philippine Sports Commission and many National Sports Associations are often cash-strapped. No wonder Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero once urged the government to provide more funding to sports, stressing that the money should be spent wisely.
Said the young bright lawmaker from Bicol: “Sports is not among the government’s priorities although it plays a big role in the development of our youth. Our athletes should be given the support they deserve. However, the government neglects its duty.
“Oftentimes, we give them token incentives and only after they’ve won. We should put our stake on these athletes.”
Escudero said Republic Act 6847, which created the Philippine Sports Commission in 1991, is already outmoded and needs amendments to give the PSC more financial clout and political independence.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the cash-rich government agency, needs to release immediately the five-percent share of the PSC, estimated at P400 million, for the neglected and ill-equipped Filipino athletes, who are training in earnest for several international tournaments, including this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta and the 2012 Olympics in London.
Still, I would like to stress again, that the PSC and NSA officials have to prove they are worthy of Pagcor’s total support by showing sincerity and not treating these international events as a junket. Sports officials who have no personality or business joining the delegations—at taxpayers’ expense—should not go to help conserve precious dollars.
As I have often said, there is no salvation for sports without government support, particularly in a developing country like ours.
* * *
Do you know that the late martyr Ninoy Aquino, father of President Aquino, was a former cheerleader of the Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball team during his college days?
After the Pacific War, Ninoy was a rah rah boy of the Hail Mary quintet in the NCAA cage tournament, then the country’s most glamorous basketball league. Ditto with Raul Manglapus, who served as secretary of foreign affairs, among other government positions; and was also credited with composing Ateneo’s famous song, “Fly High Blue Eagles the King.”
Dick Gordon, a former senator and moving spirit behind the successful management of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and political figure Herminio Aquino were also Ateneo cheerleaders who shouted the Blue Eagles’ battlecry “FIGHT!” during the unforgettable years of the NCAA.
National Artist (for music) Lamberto “Bert” Avellana composed Ateneo’s original official song, “Cheer, Cheer and Go.” Other soaring Blue Eagles were topnotch advertising man, Totoy Avellana, a brother of Bert, and Alex Hontiveros, father of TV and media personality Maan Hontiveros.
Also in this list of Ateneo cheerleaders who became household names were: Leon Ma. Guerrero, Philippine ambassador to London, New Delhi and Madrid; newspaperman Philip Buencamino, son of Dr. Victor Buencamino, who was a charter member of the defunct Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF); Jess Paredes, who perished together with President Ramon Magsaysay Sr. in a tragic plane crash in Cebu where newsman Nestor Mata was the lone survivor; Jessie Paredes, son of Jess; Fr. Bert Ampil, businessmen Boy Tuason and Elpedifero Cuna, father of Elpi Cuna, a former Meralco executive.