Buhain vows transparent leadership

Newly-appointed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain hardly touched his food at breakfast in his Fort Bonifacio home in Makati yesterday as he talked about the daunting challenge ahead of him in an exclusive STAR interview.

His appointment papers, signed by President Arroyo, came through last Wednesday — two days after rumors spread like wildfire that he was the Chief Executive’s choice to replace Carlos Tuason.

On Monday, Buhain and Tuason will meet with presidential legal adviser Avelino Cruz in Malacañang to discuss turnover procedures. No date has been set for President Arroyo to swear in Buhain but it will likely take place Tuesday.

Six months ago, Buhain submitted his resumé to Malacañang for a possible appointment in the PSC. He had also applied during the Ramos and Estrada Administrations but was disqualified because of age restrictions — an appointee had to be at least 30 years old.

Buhain, 32, forgot about his latest application and never followed it up. So when Cruz called to inform him of his appointment last Tuesday, he was surprised. He couldn’t believe it at first — until he saw the President’s signature on his appointment papers the next day.

Is he scared of occupying what he described as a "hot seat?"

"No time to get scared — there’s just so much to do that I don’t have the luxury of even thinking of being scared," replied Buhain. "I’m calm but excited to get to work. My mission is to bring pride back to Philippine sports. I want our people to read good things about sports in the newspapers, not squabbles or debacles. I’m looking to create heroes."

Transparency, he continued, is vital. "It’s important for the PSC to earn the athletes’ trust and confidence," he said. "We’ve got to work as a team — Team Philippines. No hidden agendas. Is this position a stepping stone for a political career? No. My wife Eileen (Representative from Batangas) and my father-in-law (Gen. Eduardo Ermita) are in politics — they’re the politicians in the family. All I want is to work for athletes, I’m happy just being with them. I want to share with them my experience in winning. Of course, there’s pressure in the job. I’m used to it, having been a competitor. The key is turning pressure into an advantage."

Buhain, the oldest and only boy of three children, said he listens to his father Bien, a former college volleyball player, and his father-in-law for advice. "My father told me to keep the passion in sports and reminded me that whatever decisions I make, I should be prepared to defend them in media," he noted. "My father-in-law told me to stay humble — simple lang — and stay focused. Who do I turn to for advice on sports? My own instincts."

Asked if he’ll surround himself with sycophants, Buhain laughed. No cordon sanitaire for him, he said. "The other day, the PSC chief of security asked if he could escort me around the Rizal Memorial," the native of Bacoor, Cavite, related. "What for? The athletes are my security. I don’t need a bodyguard."

The close kinship that Buhain has with athletes is a big plus in galvanizing unity in sports. He’s a member of the fraternity Crux Ansata, made up of 1991 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medallists and formed by former PSC commissioner Anthony Nicanor. A "brod" is former weightlifter Jaime Sebastian and a "sis" is track queen Lydia de Vega whom he called "a good person."

Would he draft De Vega as a PSC Commissioner? "That’s up to the President, not me," he replied. "I know she’s a Councilor so she has to organize her priorities if she’s appointed."

Buhain, a finance graduate of La Salle in Philadelphia, said he realizes that taking the PSC job entails a lot of sacrifices. "For one, less time with my family," said Buhain. "My wife and I have one child so far — Einicka who turns two in March. Another is leaving my learn-to-swim school to the staff. We’ve taught over 10,000 students how to swim since 1994. And a plan to set up a bargain center, like a tiangge, has to be put in the backburner now. Also, I’m not sure if I can continue swimming two kilometers or playing golf at the Orchard twice a week. But the sacrifice is worth it — if we do a good job for the athletes."

On leadership disputes in National Sports Associations (NSAs), Buhain said the PSC is not involved in resolving such problems. "If I can help in a personal capacity, why not?" he continued. "But I respect the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). There are procedures in the POC Constitution and By-laws to follow in resolving leadership disputes. The PSC will never encroach on the NSAs or the POC. It is the PSC’s policy to closely coordinate with the POC, NSAs and the athletes — that’s a four-way relationship."

Will he prioritize sports for funding purposes?

"No," said Buhain. "I leave that up to the NSAs. If an NSA can substantiate that it has a gold medal prospect for the Asian Games, then the PSC will find a way to fund the project. Remember, while five percent of our national pool is competing in the Asian Games, the rest are training for the next SEA Games. In 2005 when we host the SEA Games, I’m hoping we finish No. 1 or No. 2 — that means total participation in a lot of sports. The NSAs are the experts — they should tell the PSC what to fund. I know funding is a long-time problem for us. But we just can’t sit and wait for whatever government gives us. If we need to appeal to the private sector for assistance, we should do it. We shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask for help — after all, it’s for the athletes, nobody else."

Buhain recalled that in 1993, he led a protest rally against the PSC. "It was the right thing to do," he said. "We did it for the athletes. We had to expose the sexual molestation of athletes, sleeping in bathrooms, and the physical abuse. When we got rid of the PSC chairman (Perry Mequi) and three Commissioners, I retired as an athlete. I wanted to make it clear that I would not personally benefit from what we fought for in the rally."

The most bemedalled swimmer in Philippine sports history, Buhain said the secret to success in the PSC is systematic management. "It’s making sure we’ve got the resources to support the athletes, to arm them with equipment, overseas exposure, and training," he explained. "In sports, we can debate and discuss for days but while we’re in the conference room, athletes must keep on training. Athletes must never be made to suffer because of officials. I know that athletes get affected when they see sports officials quarreling. We must be goal-roeinted."

As for PSC officials junketing, Buhain said that’s a thing of the past. "We don’t need all the Commissioners in the Olympics or the Asian Games," he said. "Officials should set a good example to the athletes. We’ve got to save on costs so we have more to give athletes."

What about alleged corruption in the PSC?

"I leave that to the proper authorities like the Commission on Audit," he said. "I’d like to start fresh. I don’t intend to dwell on the past and put the blame on those who preceded us. If I’m called to testify before a government panel, of course, I’ll cooperate."

Buhain estimated it will take one to two weeks for him to get an overview of the PSC’s operations. He’ll review existing contracts, assess the effectivity of the manpower complement, and rationalize such programs as the Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy, and the Philippine National Games.

"It’s not enough for us to hold a competition," he said. "What’s more important is that after a competition, we can offer the winners a training program so they can get better."

Will he play favorites among NSAs?

"The other day, Ed Ledesma, the president of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, complimented me by saying I’m mature and responsible enough to treat all NSAs equally," he said. "In my administration, there will be no favorites."

In Buhain’s eyes, only athletes will be favored. The PSC has finally found the right man for the job.