Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao delivered a powerful speech when he received the President’s Award at the PSA Awards Night on Monday, February 16.
At a time when dissenting was tantamount to political suicide, then congressman Yeng Guiao staked everything in 2016.
All was worth it in the end, as the Rain or Shine mentor won a decade-long legal battle that saw the Supreme Court ordering Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to remit five percent of their gross income to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), per Republic Act 6847.
[ALSO READ: 'For generations to come': Yeng Guiao lauds SC decision ordering PAGCOR, PCSO to remit funds to PSC]
“So sumuntok po tayo sa buwan. Pero paminsan minsan tatamaan niyo yung buwan. And that's really what happened here,” said Guiao when he received the President’s Award during the PSA Awards Night Monday, February 16.
It was a fight the Pampanga first district representative, along with Atty. Jun Guzman and his former chief of staff Mon Navarro, knew was doomed to fail. But the trio waged that war anyway even though odds are stacked against them.
“Sino ba si Yeng Guiao to go to the Supreme Court and ask the Supreme Court to take away billions of funds from the office of the President? It was political suicide. Pag nagalit si presidente patay ka,” said the many-time PBA champion mentor.
“But maybe somebody had to commit political suicide so that Philippine sports can breathe some fresh air.”
Because of Guiao and company's courage and resolve, the PSC, under the leadership of Pato Gregorio, will now stand to receive billions in accumulated funds.
“From my estimate, so Chairman Pato, the commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission, the sports federations, the Philippine Olympic Committee, our athletes, our youth, our regular countrymen will benefit from around, if I'm not mistaken, a total of 37 billion [pesos] in accumulated funds,” he said.
“And if I'm not mistaken, from 180 million a month to most likely closer to 500 million a month for Philippine sports.”
For Guiao, there’s no one more capable to handle and appropriately use these additional funds than Gregorio.
“I don't know of any other person with this dynamic leadership who is deserving to manage the funds that will come from our actions and our victory in the Supreme Court,” he said, referring to the PSC boss.
“So wag ka nang mag isip lumipat ng ibang posisyon. Just stay in Philippine sports. I think that's a signal that God is giving you the resources to make a difference in Philippine sports.”
[ALSO READ: Not just paper judgement: Yeng Guiao says focus shifts on seeing SC decision for PSC funds through]
As someone who has benefited from sports since time immemorial, Guiao made it clear he didn’t do all this for the clout but to pay it forward.
“Lastly, this is my way of paying it forward. Sports has given me a good life, my family and I. It's given me material things, wisdom and knowledge, great experience. And for me the best way to pay it forward was just to stake my effort and reputation to pursuing this case with attorney June and Mon,” he said.
He added: “In a week, in a month's time, in a year's time, we will be forgotten. But that is not important because we did not do this to be remembered. We did this to be of service, whether we’re forgotten or not. And we know we will be. But the satisfaction that is knowing that, in our own small way, we have paid it forward.” With this win, there’s no doubt in Guiao’s mind the Philippines will produce more champions who will continue putting us on the map for generations to come.
“So nagwagi po tayo. This victory is a victory for athletes of the coming generation. It's a victory for our sports leaders. It's a victory for our countrymen in general,” he said.
“So sana po dumami pa ang mga Caloy Yulo. Dumami pa ang mga Hidilyn Diaz. Dumami pa ang mga Alex Eala, mga EJ Obiena. And I will be happy and satisfied that we've had a small part in that.”
Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.