MANILA, 16 May 2003 — After consultations with stakeholders for the Palarong Pambansa, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) postponed indefinitely the 2003 edition of the games set May 18-25 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

PSC Chairman Eric Buhain announced the postponement even as military and police officials gave strong assurances on their capabilities to secure the safety of the delegates to the week-long meet for elementary and high school students.

“I respect the declaration of the AFP and the PNP about the peace and order in and around Tubod, but after consultations with majority of the stakeholders in sports, we deemed it prudent not to hold the Palaro at this time when there are conflicts in other areas, however far they are from Tubod,” Buhain said.

“The PSC is also thankful for President Arroyo’s concern and support for the Palaro and her wanting desire to hold the games in Tubod, which is close to her heart. The AFP and the PNP also did an excellent job in securing the venue but we also took into consideration the sentiments of the parents, the athletes and other stakeholders before we decided on the postponement,” he added.

The postponement was announced a day after Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya and Police chief Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane declared their forces could secure Tubod and its surroundings for the Palaro.

Security concerns cropped up again in the wake of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front attacks in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte,and earlier in Maigo, Lanao del Norte, which led to the suspension of the peace talks. But after consultations with Department of Education officials and the hosts led by Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo and Rep. Bobby Dimaporo, the PSC saw it fit to postpone the Tubod Palaro again. “While sports is apolitical, we also feel for the innocent victims of this conflict in Mindanao. Sports leaders, athletes, journalists — all of us involved in ensuring the success of the Palaro, are praying for peace and the quick settlement of the conflict. We cannot play while deep in our hearts there are other Filipinos, specially children, who are victims to this conflict,” Buhain said.

But the PSC chief called on the athletes not to relax just yet and continue with their training. “We are again in consultation with Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, so we can plan and set a new date for the Palaro. We will also consult with some of the coaches, so we can make a timetable, which we will consider at the time their athletes reach peak form,” he said.

Buhain added President Arroyo, the AFP and PNP top brass, and the Dimaporos accepted his position on the postponement and gave him the blessing to do what is best for the athletes. “It is our job to ensure the Palarong Pambansa’s success, and we will work for it as soon as we set a new date for the games,” he said.

Pacquiao’s Next

Title Defense in LA

World junior featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is not going to defend his title before his hometown fans.

International Boxing Federation (IBF) president Marian Muhammad made known her decision in favor of her estranged husband Murad Muhammad’s M & M Sports which will stage Pacquiao’s next title defense on July 26 against Mexican Emmanuel “Carnecerio” Lucero in Los Angeles, California.

Filipino matchmaker Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. earlier wrote the IBF regarding his intention to promote Pacquiao’s second title defense in Manila on July 19. But the IBF president said Elorde cannot negotiate a fight with a boxer who is under promotional contract to another promoter.

Dayrit Wants Athletes

Under One Roof

As long as the national sports associations are left on their own to develop their athletes, Philippine sports won’t make significant progress.

This was the assessment of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Celso Dayrit, who expressed belief the solution to the country’s bleeding sports is the adoption of the fabled Project: Gintong Alay concept of the 1980s.

“In Gintong Alay, athletes could get the much-needed sports medicine and sports nutrition needed to improve. Much more attention would be given to them. Nowadays, NSAs are on their own to develop athletes. Some athletes even just win by sheer talent,” Dayrit explained. Dayrit actually suggested the government to “restudy” its sports program, advising Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Eric Buhain to revive the Philippine National Games, which was scrapped in 1998 when then PSC Chairman Carlos Tuason took over. The POC chief said the Gintong Alay could still be an effective way of producing new sports heroes.

Gintong Alay, under the leadership of Michael Keon, produced track superstars like Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Elma Muros, Isidro del Prado, Hector Begeo, among others. “Other Asian countries are advancing quite fast. We in the POC have made a careful study and thought the revival of the Philippine National Games is vital. It’s really a pity to see the country abandon the national games,” Dayrit said.

Cebuano Chesser Now

an International Master

Joseph Sanchez became the country’s newest international master when he won the 2003 Trofeo Vedior-Bugnion category II closed chess tournament in Milano, Italy.

The Philippine Navy stalwart scored seven points in nine games, edging Fide master Llambi Quendro of Albania with a higher Bucholz tie break points of 29.00 to Quendro’s 25.25. Sanchez, a Cebuano who holds an Elo of 2342, won over Valerio Di Fonzo (Elo 2233) of Italy, Fide Master Quendro (Elo 2346), Corrado Astengo (Elo 2165) of Italy, FM Folco Castaldo (Elo 2338) of Italy and FM Marco Sbarra (Elo 2217) of Italy. He drew with IM Andjelko Dragojlovic (Elo 2335) of Yugoslavia, IM Mario Lanzani (Elo 2356) of Italy, IM Daniel Contin (Elo 2340) of Italy, and Giorgio Bertazzo (Elo 2120) of Sweden. Sanchez is the coach and trainer of GM-candidate Mark Callano Paragua. According to Fide or World Chess Federation rules, a player who obtains three IM results, two from the Swiss event and one in the closed tournament, automatically earns an IM title. The player needs only to furnish a copy of the result to the governing chess body in his country (National Chess Federation of the Philippines), which will then apply the IM title of Sanchez to the Fide main office which is based in Switzerland.