BIG changes await the Philippine Sports Commission with newly-appointed chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio at the helm.
That is what the 13th chairman of the government sport agency promises after he officially took over from Richard Bachmann on Tuesday, with his vast experience in sports and the corporate industry.
“I am your lucky 13th chairman of the PSC. What I can promise you is expect big changes. Don’t expect anything less than a vibrant and exciting transformation,” the 55-year-old said on Tuesday shortly after a turnover ceremony between him and Bachmann at the PSC office in Manila.
“I think I’ve been known to do that out of the box, kaya natin ‘yan, tulungan tayo, at importante sa akin ‘yung tulong ng men and women of the Philippine Sports Commission. Very, very important sa akin ‘yun. Dapat magtulungan kami lahat. Walang away, walang tampuhan. I will understand that we understand each other."
READ: Bachmann says he leaves PSC with 'deep sense of fulfillment'
Before his appointment as PSC chairman, Gregorio had other extensive roles in sports particularly as Philippine Basketball Association chairman, Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director, and Association of Boxing Alliances executive director.
Recently, he headed, and will soon relinquish, the Philippine Rowing Association, which produced two Olympians in Cris Nievarez in 2020 and Joanne Delgaco in 2024, and chairman of Duckworld, which spearheaded the organization of the Tour of Luzon last summer.
In laying out his plans at the PSC, Gregorio said he has three roles that he will strongly implement including pushing for more support to the Filipino athletes that will even extend to their families so that they can focus on their training and competition.
“Let us continue to enable and inspire our national athletes,” said Gregorio later in the day during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on his first day in office as PSC chairman
“Sabi ko nga po, when you say laban para sa Pilipinas, laban para sa bayan, ang atleta po, bago lumaban para sa bayan, ang unang iniisip niyan ay ‘yung kapakanan niya siya bilang atleta at siya bilang Pilipino. Pangalawa, pamilya niya. Pangatlo, laban para sa bayan. So before we even tell our athletes na laban para sa bayan, inaalagaan naman po natin siya at ang pamilya niya para lumaban siya ng matibay para sa bayan,” said Gregorio.
To turn that dream of getting more support for the ahletes to reality, Gregorio said he will be urging the help of the private sector through a sports foundation that would also chip in outside of the government funds that the PSC is receiving annually from the General Appropriations Act and the National Sports Development Fund.
“Kung kaya po nating tumulong ang private sector… maybe even doing a foundation similar to PDRF (Philippine Disaster Relief Foundation) na lahat ng malalaking kumpanya, may isang sports foundation, makikipag-tulungan ang PSC so that tuluy-tuloy ang funding, hindi lang kapag mananalo,” said Gregorio.
Also part of the roles that the new PSC chairman wants to implement is for sports to play a major role in economic development, and promote a healthy Filipino citizenry.
Being part of the private sector particularly in the tourism industry, Gregorio believes that a strong sports program leads to a better economy for the country, and one of his plans to make it a reality is make the PSC accessible to the countryside.
“Because it is my background, let us leverage sports as part of economic development. I’m sure that is what our leaders want to hear, ang isang matagumpay na bayan ay may matagumpay na sports program. At malalaman mong matagumpay ang sports program kasi matibay ang bayan natin. It goes hand in hand,” said Gregorio.
“I was told that the PSC conducts twice a month board meetings and sabi ko nga, tweak natin ng konti. Once a month dito tayo sa Rizal, once a month lalabas tayo ng probinsya kasama ‘yung Mancom, kasama ‘yung Komisyon because that’s the only way you will realize na maraming grassroots out there,” he added.
Gregorio also added the PSC wants to be active in promoting a healthy lifestyle to the Filipinos.
“Yes, very important ‘yung medalya. Pero very important rin po na ‘yung 110 million Filipinos healthy. And mandato rin ng Philippine Sports Commission ‘yun sa pakikipagtulungan with the LGUs, with DILG, with Pagcor, and with the state universities and colleges. Let us all reach out to them. ‘Yung healthy citizenry po ang idadagdag ko sa aking pagka-chairman,” said Gregorio.
Gregorio is also urging the support from PSC employees, telling them: “sisiguraduhin ko na mapapagod kayo kasi ang sports talaga, dapat mapagod ka para manalo ka.”
“That is my message to the men and women of the Philippine Sports Commission. Samahan niyo ho ako. Hindi pwedeng ako lang ang pagod. Tayong lahat pagod. Pero at the end of the day, kapag tayo na pagod, tayo we do our best and we perform well. Then pati ang PSC, pati ang taong bayan, papalakpakan tayo,” he continued.
“So until the term of the President ends in 2028, I promise to do my best, but I can only do that if I have the support of my friends."
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