|
|
|
GAB Expansion Programs; the Boracay Convention By Alex A. Paglumotan, GAB Commissioner PhilBoxing.com Fri, 04 Aug 2006 GAB EXPANSION PROGRAMS: A PRIORITY IN 2006 Recent achievements of the Games and Amusements Board in matters of acquiring global recognition for the country courtesy of our top world class fighters of the ring headed by now “the worlds most popular boxer” Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao may proved not more than enough to the members of this incumbent Board headed by proud Chairman Eric R. Buhain. His number one policy is that “ bringing the GAB closer to the hearts and minds of the Filipino people” is now gaining more ground in essence. Government by example and mean business is his consistent battle cry. The GAB as an agency being tasked by the Office of the President as its active watchdog in the conduct of all professional sports in the Philippines and it is serious in dealing with all forms of ill-motivated activities within the sphere of sporting activities. Successful as it is , they have won their campaign in combating illegalities within the purview of their authoritative power and influence. Hence, it is now evident by the smooth working dynamism between the agency and the organizations considered as their co-partners in promoting the enrichment of all professional sporting agenda of the national leadership. Buhain must be credited for all of this. His performances are truly remarkable and unprecedented. During his term as the top honcho of the nation’s pro sports, the first ever “GAB Philippine Boxing Convention” came into reality. The increase in the budgetary set-up of his turf as well as the strengthening of manpower under him is worthy of recognition. As a matter of fact , the GAB now is becoming a fast growing agency of the country today with the eventual release soon , and again for the first time in 55 years of the GAB’s existence , the “Manual of Operations”. This would serve as the professional sports “bible” to be used by all concerned groups and common individuals in the environment of pro sports. For only this fiscal year of 2006, there will be three (3) sub-regional offices in the pipelines of the Buhain administration due for their successful opening. The Iloilo sub-regional office has been inaugurated just this July 25, 2006 and soon to follow is the GAB’s extension office in Zamboanga City which is slated this 11th of August and hopefully in Baguio City before the year ends. All of these expansion is not motivated by any taint or pinch of political color, but the desire to effectively evolve the services of the agency and with an end goal of pump priming our strength and potentials to produce “national champions at all level and eventually develop a world class athletes for global competition”, Buhain further stressed. Though, I would say that, the realization of these special areas is not solely by the GAB but with the unconditional support given by local government officials. It is worthy to mention the names of Iloilo Governor Neil Tupas, Board member Angelo Briones and Congressman Erbie Fabian of Zamboanga City.What is obvious here is that, it is not impossible for the national government unit to reach-out the common interests of our constituencies by reason of expansion, and only if knowing no political boarder lines. Everything is possible under the heat of the sun. What is needed is determination and hard work in every aspects of undertakings. And mind you , we are able to expand our services without so much cost to the coffers of the national government. We perfectly implemented these projects in a “joint venture” mode with our visionary local government executives and hard working lawmakers. By so doing, we do not want personal credit here. We only hope to address some national concerns through sports enhancement, like peace and order, unemployment and most of all giving accessibility to our young generations the opportunity for them to build a bright future through sporting activities. The President herself proudly announces during her SONA that she wants to transform the Philippine regions into a “Mega Regions”. And we strongly believed that we are in subscription into these Presidential agenda for development and progress. What is needed right now is the solid foundation of our people’s support. Lastly, this column is informing the readers that there will be a “JOINT GLOBAL CONVENTION” here in the country scheduled to take place in the Boracay Island Paradise this October 21-25,2006 to be hosted by the Games and Amusements Board and to be participated by foreign delegations coming from both Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) based in Florida, USA and the World professional Boxing Federation dominated by China which is based in Virginia, USA. THE BORACAY JOINT GLOBAL CONVENTION The massive preparations for the conduct of this upcoming joint global convention is on. Once again the Games and Amusements Board through this humble representation via this Board’s unanimous approval, to handle the double main event to be participated by a large delegations of foreigners coming from the groups of Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) and the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) formerly World Boxing Empire or WBE. And considering their affiliates such as the WABA, the USBC and the Asia Pacific Boxing Associations primarily based here in the Asia –pacific regions and the Latin Americas. This major project by the GAB to bring into fold into one conclave the conglomerations of professional boxing and their top officials is a big blow to our tourism industry and economy. Not only that, to also show proof that the Philippines is a viable venue for international conventions as big as this will assure us of that global image. If other people keep on wondering the how and the why about this historic event in the history of the country’s boxing, the secret is very simple. The projection that our country has made as an impression before the international arena of sanctioning bodies in the world due to massive and active attendance by this Board to international conferences is very obvious. Aside from being, practically all incumbent members of this GAB Board are sitting as officials in good standing of various world boxing organizations. Chariman Eric R. Buhain is Vice-President of the OPBF or the Oriental-Pacific Boxing Federations. One of the nine (9) affiliates of the prestigious WBC. He is also one of its powerful Board of Governors which is responsible for policy and decision – making. This representation is Commissioner of the WIBA, a Florida, USA based women boxing sanctioning body, to the Philippines. Now newly appointed as 1st Vice-President of the World Professional Boxing Federation, mostly dominated by China but based in Virginia, USA.I also occupied position in the Ratings Committee of the Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) an arm of the oldest WBA here in Asia-Pacific region. Another incumbent Commissioner of GAB is also an official of the World Boxing Organization or the WBO. Our Officer-in-charge of the Boxing Division, the multi-awarded Dr. Nasser V. Cruz is serving as medical officer and adviser to both WBC and the WPBF. History would tell us that since time immemorial, GAB top officials have been involved in so many capacities in so far as the international sanctioning bodies of professional boxing is concerned. The truth is , former Chairman Montano was one of among the three (3) founding fathers of now the biggest WBC. So the trust and confidence given by global boxing organizations to the current Board Members is beyond any question. Our integrity as a nation and as haven of World Class quality boxers is intact and untarnished. That is why to showcase these two World Boxing Organizations especially this time in the island paradise of Boracay is a boast to the morale and interest of our boxing industry in the Philippines. Needless to mention that all of these things will become the springboard if not the show window of next year’s “event of the century”, the world convention of the World Boxing Council (WBC) which the country won as its host in the year 2007.Again and again, give it to the determination and whole hearted dedication of Chairman Eric R. Buhain. He is instrumental for all of these in reality. So what about Boracay in October 2006? Definitely, hundreds of foreigners in the boxing world will come and spend dollars in Boracay within five days of the global meeting. The convention theme suggests that “ Promoting goodwill and solidarity among nations through professional boxing” speaks for such a desirable objective. Plus factor of course is the display of courage and ability of our Filipino pugilists in both male and female professional boxing categories. We will feature for the first time since the opening of pro women boxing in the double championship matches dubbed as the “Rumble in Bora”. We will also be witness to the solidarity fight cards involving Chinese male and female boxers versus Filipino fighters of the ring. So far at this early, the fight cards for the WPBF and the WIBA belts is done. Stacey Reili of Florida, USA, number 7 in the world will be battled against Amalia Padsico number 25 in the world for the WIBA vacant intercontinental super bantam weight division. What an opportunity for Padsico! Other calculated details of the joint confab is now being fine tuned by the organizers, convenor and the strong support for marketing by the Vividminds of Gay Pallada and company. I could feel that God is smiling at the GAB again by doing this. This is rare an occasion wherein we can solidify our strength in boxing to our Asian and international neighbors and at the same term, create a avenue of bright future for our young and energetic professional boxers. In the broader context, our country will be benefited out of this global joint convention in general. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex A. Paglumotan, GAB Commissioner. |
|
PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general. Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com |
PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
developed and maintained by dong secuya © 2024 philboxing.com. |