Say a prayer for Butch

Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Carlos (Butch) Tuason is in San Francisco undergoing treatment for cancer of the tongue at the Stanford Medical Center.

PSC Commissioner Richie Garcia told The STAR the other day Tuason flew to the US last week after being diagnosed of the ailment by doctors here. Garcia said the 55-year-old Tuason hadn’t felt well for months and was even hospitalized while attending a sports event in Mindanao last year.

Apparently, the cancer was found deep under his tongue. It’s not certain if the cancer has spread.

"We were worried for him in the last year of his term," noted Garcia. "With all the problems he faced in the PSC, Butch was stressed out and smoked a lot." Tuason was particularly concerned about embarrassing President Arroyo and offered to resign to spare the First Family of accusations that he was untouchable because he is the First Gentleman’s first cousin.

Whether fairly or unfairly, Tuason took the brunt of the blame for the Philippines’ debacles at the Sydney Olympics two years ago and the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last year. Several athletes lashed out at Tuason and called for his resignation in the wake of exposes of alleged irregularities.

Tuason was appointed PSC chairman by former President Estrada in 1998. He succeeded Philip Juico. Tuason was the PSC’s sixth chairman after Cecil Hechanova, Aparicio Mequi, Dominador Cepeda (who served in an Officer-in-Charge capacity), Mel Lopez, and Juico. The PSC’s forerunner was Project Gintong Alay whose heads were Mike Keon, Joey Romasanta, and Arturo Ilagan.

Last month, Tuason’s resignation was accepted by President Arroyo.

Tuason, a graduate of La Salle elementary and high school, was the president of the National Sports Association in shooting before his appointment to the PSC. He comes from a family of seven. A sister Chuchay was once a Miss Philippines and a brother Emilio used to be a top amateur golfer. Another brother Bolo owns the Squires Bingham gun and ammo company.

Tuason’s final public appearance as PSC chairman was at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night last January. He mingled with athletes and the press that night – exchanging pleasantries with friends and foes alike. It was a night of camaraderie, of burying the hatchet. Tuason seemed in high spirits, like a big burden had been lifted off his shoulders. Perhaps, he knew that it was just a matter of time before he would be relieved as PSC chairman.

Please say a little prayer for Tuason. His fate is in the Lord’s hands. Let’s hope he bounces back from this big test.

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Player agent Chiqui de la Rosa confided that he heard someone was out to torpedo the application for Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmation of national team hopeful Jimmy Alapag’s Filipino citizenship and offered P50,000 to make sure the papers wouldn’t reach Secretary Hernando Perez. De la Rosa suspected a rival agent, who lost in the bid to represent Alapag, hatched the conspiracy. He said it was also possible that someone floated the rumor to put a price on a "facilitation fee."

No money, however, changed hands as the DOJ finally confirmed Alapag the other week. The conspiracy theory turned out to be a hoax.

Purefoods assistant coach Mon Jose’s mother Ollie, who works in Secretary Perez’ office, said she wasn’t aware of anyone trying to hold back Alapag’s application. "You must understand that the Secretary has a lot of other priorities and a lot of urgent matters to attend to," she explained. "I guess it was just a matter of time before Jimmy’s papers reached his desk."

Ollie, the wife of former national tennis star Johnny Jose, said her son is doubling as a practice player and assistant coach at Purefoods. He scouts games with the Hot Dogs interim head coach Ryan Gregorio and playing assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc. She said his dream of playing in the PBA is still alive. Jose saw action as a Pop Cola rookie in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) last year.

Ollie was in Baguio supervising the renovation of the DOJ staff house when Alapag made his PBA debut for Selecta. That was the game when Alapag fractured his hand.

Incidentally, a certain Danny Alapag phoned The STAR asking how to contact Jimmy. Danny said he is a second cousin but has never met Jimmy who was born in the US. Danny, 46, is the oldest of four children of Marcial and Perpetua Alapag. Curiously, the maiden name of Danny’s mother is also Alapag although she’s not related by blood to her husband. It is Perpetua who is related to Jimmy as she is a first cousin of Jimmy’s father Crispin.

Danny’s grandfather – his mother’s father – was Pedro Alapag. The Alapags on Jimmy’s side trace their roots to Pintuyan on Panahon Island, near Surigao del Norte, in Southern Leyte. Danny said his mother, who is 75, recalls Jimmy’s father used to visit her family when he was still single at the Alapags’ old home in San Juan.

When Jimmy was a baby, his parents – Crispin and Inday – brought him to Manila for a visit and Danny’s mother saw them.

Danny, who is self-employed, said he hesitates to introduce himself to Jimmy, fearing that he might think he has an ulterior motive. All he wants is to bring Jimmy to his mother and gather the relatives to meet him. Danny’s family lives in Greenwoods Executive Village in Pasig.