Fr. Vic to leave PSC

CEBU will lose its strongest connection to the Philippine Sports Commission after Fr. Vic Uy was recalled by his superiors in the Society of the Divine Word.

Fr. Uy, who is one of the commissioners as well as the executive director of the PSC, will assume his former job. He confirmed this yesterday saying that his superiors talked to him and asked him to return.

In 2007, then PSC chairman William Butch Ramirez borrowed Fr. Uy from the SVD fathers to help him out at the PSC as the executive director. Despite being buried under a lot of paper work, he was also given another task as the PSC commissioner, which he gladly accepted.

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Fr. Uy, who was serving as the VP for finance and athletic director of the University of San Carlos, has become a permanent fixture in the Cebu sports scene at that time as he raised the standard of the USC athletics department.

He was an active mover and shaker of the sports community of Cebu before being named a regional point person of the PSC. He was the president of the Private School Athletic Association before he packed he joined the PSC.

At the PSC, he put the corrupt officials on their toes as he was known to have put order in the organization.

“It is very timely also since our term will end by June 30. The newly-elected president can renew our appointments but I guess my time has come to return to my old job,” said Fr. Uy.

He will be the vice president for finance for the Holy Name University of Bohol.

“On a personal note, I also decided to return because I want to be near my mother, who is already 90 years old,” said Fr. Uy.

When asked if he has done enough for the country’s sports, he said, it never was enough.

“Kulang gyud gihapon. I want to do more. But leaving the PSC does not mean I will stop helping sports. Rest assured I will continue to do it,” said Fr. Uy.

Some Cebu sportsmen said they were saddened by the news since Fr. Uy has done a lot to local sports and he made it easier for Cebuanos to get backing from the PSC.

Fr. Uy fought to keep the PSC regional office in Cebu when the current chairman Harry Angping wanted to downsize and close the satellite offices. He was also the person athletes approached if they need assistance from the PSC.

“The sports community of Cebu is appealing to the SVD to allow Fr. Vic to continue his role as our only bridge to the PSC, the national office that was so distant and unreachable to Cebu before Fr. Vic came in,” said Dancesport Team Cebu City founder Ed Hayco. “His contribution to Cebu sports in immeasurable. It will be such a big loss to Cebu sports if we lose our only voice in the PSC.”

For organizer and Cebu City Sports Center manager Ricky Ballesteros, Fr. Uy will surely be missed since he made it easier for Cebuanos to ask the PSC for assistance if there were sports projects from Cebu.

“Sayang if we don’t have a Cebuano commissioner anymore. We have a very good linkage to the PSC with him. For me personally, it was easier to request for equipment when we have multi-events. He also facilitated a lot of sports programs for the kids and also for the differently-abled athletes.”

Fr. Uy however assured everyone that even if he will no longer be with the PSC, he will still make sure Cebu and the rest of the region will not be taken for granted.

“I will assure you, I will continue to fight for sports and continue to support it,” said Fr. Uy, who already has a slot in the Prisaa waiting for him.