Ramirez opens door for collaboration

MANILA, Philippines – Newly designated PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said the other day no one has a monopoly of ideas and welcomed a collaboration with the POC, NSAs, Department of Education, CHED, schools, media and experts, particularly former PSC heads, in pushing for a progressive sports agenda in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to drive the country forward.

“I’m 66 and it’s like I’m in the last quarter of my life,” said Ramirez. “When I was PSC chairman before, I got by with hard work and sincerity. Now, I’m excited to serve with more depth, vision and experience. The first order of the day is to do a quick data-gathering just to be familiar with our current state of affairs. I’ll consult with (POC president) Peping (Cojuangco), we’ve worked together in the past and we know what sports can do in building national pride. I’ll consult with former PSC chairmen like Popoy Juico, Perry Mequi and Richie Garcia. I want to learn from them and continue the good things they started.”

Ramirez said when he was PSC chairman from 2005 to 2009, the Philippines won the overall championship of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. “That was the result of team effort,” he said. “Everyone contributed to the success.  The janitors, drivers, everyone did his part. During my term, I want us all to work together towards a common goal. Sports is my life and I’m grateful to the President for giving me this chance to serve our people in the PSC again.”

Ramirez admitted that when the President initially broached the idea of returning to the PSC, he was reluctant. “There’s a pending case of graft against me and I didn’t want to embarrass the President,” said Ramirez. “Actually, I’m not the culprit. The case involves the misuse of P37 Million given by PAGCOR to the Philippine swimming NSA for the training of swimmers for the 2012 London Olympics so the charge sheet is centered on PAGCOR and swimming officials. I happened to be a signatory as PSC chairman although the money never passed through the PSC. I explained the case to the President who told me if I’ll be imprisoned for it, he’ll join me.”

The hesitation also considered the trauma that Ramirez’ wife Mercedes experienced because of the graft case. “We’re a simple family,” he said. “My wife is a basic education teacher. We still live in the same house where we lived when I was a teacher at Ateneo de Davao. We will die living in that same house. Our three children have finished their studies and are now working abroad, one in the UK, one in Santa Barbara, California and one in Brisbane, Australia. At first, I didn’t want to bring up the relocation with my wife. We prefer to live in Davao. But we’re both willing to sacrifice and die for our country. The President spoke with me heart-to-heart then I accepted the appointment.”

Ramirez said at first, he’ll stay in Manila during the work week and go home to Davao on weekends. Like in his first term as PSC chairman, Ramirez said he will stay with the athletes at the PhilSports quarters. 

“There’s no substitute for living with the athletes who are the heart and soul of sports,” he said. “That’s how to get information about how they’re doing, what they need. Eventually, my wife will move to Manila so we can be together.”

Ramirez said he’s aware of the sports master plan formulated by Juico and he’s not about to try to reinvent the wheel. “We’ll set a direction,” he said. “I don’t plan to make a sophisticated blueprint and it won’t be personal to me. I’m hoping that whatever priorities we establish now will be the same priorities in the next administration. In the past, the PSC has suffered from lack of continuity because of personal considerations. Good projects started by a previous administration aren’t continued because the new administration wants to do its own. In the Australian Institute of Sport, the executive director is a constant so the program continues even with the change of administration. Once we’ve got our plan, we’ll submit it to the President, Congress, PAGCOR, POC and the NSAs and if it’s okay, we’ll start moving.”

Ramirez said he will support regional training centers and push for the Institute of Sports to educate athletes on science, technology and the development of skills. “I’ve visited Cuba twice and their sports facilities are nowhere near ours,” he said. “If ours rank a seven or eight, they’re way below at one. But Cuba has a rich culture of sports, it’s a way of life. They’re able to identify talents at a young age and develop the athletes to the elite level. In our case, we shouldn’t just rely on the talents of the UAAP and NCAA. We should identify talents in the elementary and high school levels, bring them to the Institute of Sports and create a pool of outstanding athletes for the next generation. We’ll need inputs from UP, UST and other schools to build a strong curriculum for the Institute.”

As for a National Training Center, Ramirez said the plan to build a 50-hectare facility at the Clark Freeport Zone has apparently hit a snag. “It’s a beautiful project but there isn’t even a MOA between the PSC and Clark,” he said. “I’ll speak with Peping about it. It’s an ideal project, something we could invite private corporations to participate in.”

Ramirez said if he’s not able to convince PAGCOR and PCSO to remit the appropriate amounts to the PSC as mandated by law, then he doesn’t deserve to be chairman. “I know PAGCOR chairman Andrea Domingo and president Attorney Fred Lim well,” he said. “Same with executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and the President’s right-hand man Bong Go. Surely, they won’t let me and Philippine sports down. My job is to provide leadership and assume the responsibility to boost Philippine sports with the President’s backing.”

Regarding a Department of Sports, Ramirez said it may not be necessary. “It’s not easy to establish a department at Cabinet level,” he said. “But it’s what the President wants, let’s do it. However, right now, let’s just make things better all around with what we’ve got. Let’s help each other out. I come from humble beginnings. I went to public school but I also had the benefit of French-Canadian and Jesuit education. I’m a former seminarian, teacher and college basketball coach. I’m willing to listen to anyone who has good advice. My goal is for Philippine sports to succeed in the next six years.”