Though I think the ending may have come five months late, I’m happy that the EJ Obiena and Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) issue has been settled with both parties smoking the peace pipe. I say five months because I think this could have been settled as early as November when the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) asked both parties to refrain from issuing public comments.
The simple issue got more complicated when a lot of people chimed in and it worsened when the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) declared Philip Ella Juico persona-non-grata and suspended Patafa. That POC’s move as short-sighted was made obvious when it had to rescind the suspension, owing to the PSC mediation.
In any other issues, I would have supported POC’s move but in this case, the Olympic body was wrong. It was quick to suspend Patafa for what was essentially an internal affair but supported Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) when the International Tennis Federation (ITF) admonished it for limiting its membership.
And I hope that would be a lesson in future athlete vs. NSA conflict, because this isn’t the first and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
First lesson? As taught to us by PSC chairman William Ramirez, get both parties to talk. The Obiena vs. Patafa issue dragged on because both parties didn’t talk and politicians chiming in certainly didn’t help. I laughed out loud in my head, learning of how politicos suddenly decided to become the Pinoy athletes’ champion. Where were they when Patafa made it hard for Mary Joy Tabal to join the Olympics?
Where were they when collegiate leagues made it hard for high school students to choose a college?
Where were they when Philippine tennis got suspended because the NSA (national sports association) officials refused to acknowledge that there are tennis communities outside of Manila? The national tennis team members appealed for support and I don’t remember hearing any of the politicos voice out their support.
Bandwagon supporters.
But now that the EJ Obiena vs. Patafa issue is settled, I hope the politicians who are suddenly the national athletes’ champion will look into the plight of tennis in the country. I’m sure they can relate to what ITF wants Philta to do.
In political terms, it would be like the ruling party getting suspended because it refuses to accept members from outside Manila. And I think that’s an affront bigger than the Obiena issue.