Ramirez sworn in as 7th PSC chair

Seven must be his lucky number.

On the seventh day of the seventh month of the year, William "Butch" Ramirez was sworn in yesterday morning as the seventh chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Ramirez took his oath before President Arroyo. He thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the government then vowed to do his best.

"Maraming salamat po for your trust and confidence," Ramirez told the President as she shook his hands after the oath-taking ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacanang.

"Then the President told me, ‘You deserve it. Just keep up the good work,’" said Ramirez who was sworn in along with PSC commissioners Ritchie Garcia and Jose del Mundo.

"Only after I was sworn in as the seventh chairman did I realize that it was the seventh day of the seventh month. Then I remembered that I am the seventh of 12 children to my parents," he said.

"Malalim ang pasasalamat ko sa Presidente. Kung baga sa slot machine, jackpot dahil puso number seven. Pero jackpot ito for a poor boy who worked his way to the top," he said.

Those who’ve served the same post are Cecil Hechanova, Aparicio Mequi, Gemiliano Lopez, Philip Juico, Butch Tuason and Eric Buhain.

Ramirez, who was appointed PSC commissioner by former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, was a former working student. He also became a Boy Scout leader, a corps commander and team captain of the basketball team in high school.

"As a Grade 4 student, nagwawalis ako ng bakuran para kumita ng kaunti. You know, I came from a poor family. A family with a very good spiritual and educational background," said Ramirez, whose father was a former policeman while his mother ran a canteen.

As chairman of the government sports agency, Ramirez once again vowed to look after the welfare of the national athletes. He promised to provide a leadership that will be worthy of the President’s trust and confidence.

"I want to leave a legacy that the others can live by. A want to create a PSC with a heart for the athletes. I want to make a legacy that will stay kahit na wala na ako dito," he added.