REP. ABRAHAM “BAMBOL” TOLENTINO was elected president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and in his victory speech promised a package of surprises for the next four years.
“It’s an honor to serve Filipino athletes and the country. This is a full four-year term and definitely there will be a lot of surprises,” said Tolentino after the nerve-wracking elections where the counting went so close after the first 30 votes when Tolentino and his rival, archery’s Clint Aranas, went toe-to-toe with neither posting leads of more than two votes.
But Tolentino, also the cycling association president, dominated the count after that and went on to win, 30 votes to 22, a far cry from predictions that the winner would be determined by only two votes.
“In more than one year, we did a lot of things. So how about four years with this team? So definitely there will be a lot of surprises,” Tolentino said.
We have to focus on the athletes now. We have a lot of challenges especially the Tokyo Olympics next year. This might be our first gold,” he added.
Only two on Tolentino’s ticket didn’t win in the elections staged under strict health and safety protocols at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque City.
Basketball’s Alfredo Panlilio was elected first vice president, beating Philip Ella Juico, 30-23, while fencing and modern pentathlon’s Richard Gomez was named second vice president, defeating rugby’s Ada Milby, 31-22.
The other winners in Tolentino’s ticket were gymnastics’ Cynthia Carrion-Norton (treasurer, beating wushu’s Julian Camacho, 27-22) and baseball’s Chito Loyzaga (auditor, beating weightlifting’s Monico Puentevella, 27-24.
Only handball’s Steve Hontiveros—who beat triathlon’s Tom Carrasco, 28-25—and netball’s Charlie Ho (28 votes)—who clinched a seat as member of the board directors—managed to win from Aranas’s team.
The newly elected members of the board from Tolentino’s ticket were surfing’s Dr. Jose Canlas (36 votes), muay’s Pearl Managuelod (31) and judo’s David Carter (27).
Squash’s Robert Bachmann (24), billiards’ Robert Mananquil (21) and soft tennis’s Jeff Tamayo (23) from Aranas’s ticket and chess’s Rep. Prospero Pichay (18) from Tolentino’s team didn’t make it to the executive board.
Fifty-three voting members took part in the exercise that is mandated on the last Friday of November of an Olympic year with Election Committee Chairman Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV declaring 27 votes as the magic number for victory.
And when Tolentino breached the 27-vote mark, Aranas, who was seated about six tables away, stood and congratulated Tolentino, a gesture met by a warm applause by everyone in the venue.
“I am thankful to the election committee for handling this election. The voters have spoken. I think democracy has been exercised today,” Aranas said. “I wish all the elected officers will have God’s blessings that they will promote sports in the best of their abilities.”
Kalaw and former International Olympic Committee Representative to the Philippines Francisco Elizalde supervised the elections with the committee’s third member, Atty. Danilo Concepcion, monitoring the proceedings from the University of the Philippines where he is the president, via video link.
The table tennis association was a no-show while Philippine Badminton Association Vice President Jejomar Binay and Secretary-General Epok Quimpo had to agree to a compromised vote for the association to be able to exercise its right.
Image credits: Roy Domingo