Friday, February 23, 2007
PSC chief chooses sports over politics
By Marian C. Baring
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
BECAUSE of the positive critiques that his governance over the Philippine Sports Commission gets, it is not surprising why Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez is being sought after by politicians to run for public office.
However, the sports educator, as what he calls himself, would rather work for the betterment of the Philippine sports than to get his hands dirty in the crazy world of politics.
“I would rather continue being a sports educator. This, I believe, is my vocation for this country,” said Ramirez last Sunday at the PSC regional office.
Ramirez admitted that he has been pursued by church leaders, community members and some politicians to run. One of his avid pursuers is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Close
“I have been closely associated with Mayor Duterte as I had served as his chief development officer before,” Ramirez, a Davao-native, added.
However, the lure of politics is not enough for Ramirez to sever his ties with the sports sector.
“Hapit gyud, especially since you see people willing to back me up. But there are so many things that need to be done for Philippine sports (I almost ran for (run for public office),” said Ramirez, who added that his family also opposed a possible political career.
“I am with what I do best,” he said.
Ramirez, the very first PSC chairman from the south, had sat as the seventh PSC head in 2005.
Five months after being named officer in charge of PSC back in 2005, he brokered the RP-China Sports Agreement, wherein China vowed to help train the Filipino athletes in 14 sports for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. Ultimately, the Philippines snagged its very first Sea Games overall title in that same year.
Last December, the RP team finished its most productive Asian Games ever. And now, Ramirez seeks for the RP team to win the very first Olympic gold in Beijing next year. A mission he thinks is doable.
Last year, Ramirez also facilitated the transfer of national athletes to a modern Athletes’ Dormitory in Philsports, which was also re-launched to serve as the national training institute for athletes, coaches and trainors.
Busy
He reinstated Class C athletes’ monthly stipends and food allowances, now bringing the number of PSC-funded athletes to 1,033 on top of the 243 coaches, trainors and masseurs.
For this year, Ramirez keeps himself busy with overseeing that the athletes get the proper training so that we can defend the Sea Games title in December. The athletes from 14 sports will get the needed exposure and training not only to prepare for the Bangkok Sea Games but for next year’s Olympics as well.
The focus sports include boxing, taekwondo, track and field, swimming, diving, archery, fencing, equestrienne, rowing, gymnastics and weightlifting.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2007 issue)
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