Malonso’s frustration

As a former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president, Lt. Col. Julian Malonso shudders when politicians snake their way into the corridors of power in sports.

Malonso, 80, is a purist. In his mind, sports and politics don’t mix. He is adamantly against politicians getting involved in National Sports Associations (NSAs) and questions their motives. While Malonso realizes a Third World country like the Philippines sorely lacks the funding to develop internationally competitive athletes, he refuses to compromise his principles in begging for government assistance because of the usual strings attached.

It’s bad news for Malonso when politicians wiggle their way into positions of authority in sports. He recalls the halcyon days of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation and considers the creation of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the government arm to develop sports, as a dark chapter in the history of Philippine sports.

Malonso has no kind words for the PSC and blames the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for tolerating its existence. The PSC is living proof that government is firmly entrenched in Philippine sports and to Malonso, that’s like nursing a snake in the grass.

But what Malonso fails to appreciate is the stark reality that confronts Philippine sports. Without far-reaching and coordinated private sector support, Philippine sports is doomed. The Philippines isn’t the US. China and the Eastern European powers wouldn’t be where they are today in world sports without state sponsorship. That is the reality of sports.

Malonso, however, is steadfast in his convictions. Listen to his latest commentary: "When Baron Coubertin revived the Olympics, he prohibited government, religious and economic intervention in sports.

"The creation of the PSC is government intervention arrogating the prerogatives of the POC which is the recognized body of the IOC. No matter who heads the two agencies, there will always be conflict which is not good for the development of sports.

"As long as the PSC exists, which was the creation of politicians with ulterior motives, sports will always be as it is–in the doldrums. It is the duty of the IOC representative in the Philippines to expose this anomaly, otherwise let us forget sports.

"Fortunately, the Church does not interfere in sports. The commercial teams interfere in sports using it to advertise their products, spoiling the athletes who play for money. Players prefer to play for commercial companies instead of representing the country in international competitions."

Malonso says despite his frustrations, he remains a lover of sports because it is his passion. If not for his passion, Malonso wouldn’t bother to speak out on what he perceives to be the "anomaly" of government intervention in sports.

Here’s more from Malonso on the importance of sports.

"Sports is a way of life. The objective of sports is to develop the youth spiritually, morally and physically. An athlete should live like a religious, no smoking, no drinking and no women in order to succeed.

"Knute Rockne, a great football coach, a maker of champions, was once asked how he produces champion teams. Rockne was a Protestant converted to Catholicism. His reply was, ‘Because my athletes are spiritually, morally and physically in condition– I go to the communion rail with them every morning.’

"There was a university president who was asked how he judges his athletic coaches. He answered, ‘By the number of gentlemen he produces out of the athletes.’

"St. Thomas Aquinas, a doctor of the Church, said, ‘If one does not exercise, one commits a sin of omission for neglecting the body which is the temple of the soul.’ St. Thomas wrote this in his famous Sumna Theologica.

"Gen. Douglas MacArthur was not only a soldier, he was also a literary man. There is an inscription in the West Point gym in New York quoting him as saying, ‘On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds which in other years on other fields will bear the fruits of victory."

Surely, Malonso deserves to be heard.