MANILA, Philippines — Three gold medals in the last two Olympics and four golds in the Asian Games – including the coveted men’s basketball title – highlighted Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s watch as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) over the last four years.
Add the overall championship and the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019 where Filipino athletes won 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals in 56 sports – more than 50 golds over second-placed Vietnam.
In that glorious stretch, the country produced Carlos Yulo who won two gymnastics gold medals in Paris 2024 and before that Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo giving the Philippines its first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2020.
“It’s about teamwork, it’s about setting and achieving goals, it’s about cooperation,” said Tolentino who recently announced his “My Working Team” for the POC’s quadrennial elections on Nov. 29 at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Parañaque City.
Tolentino, head of the cycling federation since 2008, will seek a fresh four-year mandate as POC president with his “Working Team” composed of Alfredo “Al” Panlilio (basketball) first vice president, Rep. Richard Gomez (modern pentathlon) second vice president, Dr. Jose Raul Canlas (surfing) treasurer and Donaldo “Don” Caringal (volleyball) auditor; and Alexander “Ali” Sulit (judo), Ferdinand “Ferdie” Agustin (jiu-jitsu), Leonora “Len” Escolante (canoe-kayak), Alvin Aguilar (wrestling) and Leah Jalandoni Gonzales (fencing) members of the Executive Board.
“This is ‘My Working Team’ and the mission is ‘Faster, Stronger, Higher – Together,’” Tolentino said.