New calling for ex-PBA coach

MANILA, Philippines - Former PBA coach Binky Favis said yesterday he’s anchoring his campaign for a councilor’s seat in the second district of Parañaque as a Liberal Party candidate in the Grand Union of Opposition ticket of mayoralty bet Rep. Ed Zialcita on his advocacy of youth empowerment.

Favis, 40, is a neophyte in the political ring but he said his experience as a coach for over 15 years has prepared him for a career in public office where teamwork, unity and faith are vital.

Favis is one of several candidates with a sports background in the coming elections. In the list are included former PBA cagers Franz Pumaren (congressman, third district, Quezon City), J. B. Yango (board member, first district, Nueva Ecija), Elmer (Boy) Cabahug (board member, Mandaue), Kenneth Duremdes (board member, Koronadal, South Cotabato), Joey Marquez (mayor, Parañaque), Rosalio (Yoyong) Martirez (vice mayor, Pasig), Mar Morelos (vice mayor, Valenzuela), Boybits Victoria (councilor, first district, Taguig), Bong Alvarez (councilor, Manila), Gerry Esplana (councilor, Valenzuela), Jason Webb (councilor, Parañaque), Atoy Co (councilor, Pasig), Bobby Jose (councilor, Bulacan) and Ato Agustin (councilor, San Fernando, Pampanga). Cris Bolado is involved with the Pwersa Ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) but it’s not certain if he will be one of the party list’s nominees.

Among the candidates with sports credentials are former La Salle varsity basketball player Edu Manzano (vice president), former La Salle junior varsity cager Henry Cojuangco (congressman, first district, Tarlac), seven-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (congressman, Sarangani), Burger King coach Yeng Guiao (vice governor, Pampanga), former PBA technical and legal consultant Chito Salud (vice mayor, Makati), former La Salle and PBL cager Francis Zamora (vice mayor, San Juan), taekwondo star Monsour del Rosario (councilor, first district, Makati), boxing referee Ferdinand Estrella (councilor, first district, Makati), Burger King assistant coach Roehl Nadurata (councilor, Caloocan) and POC chairman Monico Puentevella (mayor, Bacolod City).

Favis said three months ago, he never figured to be involved in politics.

“It all started when I played golf with Congressman Zialcita one day,” said Favis who was an assistant coach at San Miguel, Ginebra and Pop Cola before moving up to head coach of Coca-Cola in 2005. “Before I knew it, some of the Congressman’s political leaders began talking to me about running for councilor. Then, Congressman Zialcita himself spoke to me. At first, I thought it was a big joke. But when the Congressman talked to me, I knew this was serious. I gave myself a month to think it over.”

Favis said he went around Parañaque’s second district, met with the poor people in depressed areas, played basketball with the youth, felt the pulse of the common man and observed how he could possibly make a difference.

“I asked myself several questions – do I want to do this, am I qualified to serve, will my family support me in politics, could I do something positive to make life better in my district, do I stand a chance of winning,” continued Favis. “After about a month, I decided to go for it, to give it a good fight. If it is destiny calling, I wanted to hear it out.”

Favis said it took a lot of soul-searching, praying and consulting with those close to him before making up his mind.

“One of the things I did before deciding was putting on my shorts and playing basketball with kids in sandlots,” said Favis. “I wanted to know what’s on their minds. I saw the absence of dreams. I told myself I wanted to make them dream again and make their dreams come true. That was when I committed myself to championing the youth, giving them a chance and the voice to be heard. I want every purok, every depressed area to have a representative from the youth sector to complement the SK. I want to hear them out, activate them. I believe the negatives in the world are rooted in the idleness of the youth – the vices, the temptations of doing bad. If I can address the youth now, maybe in five to 10 years, they’ll become solid leaders of our community.”

Favis said because of his basketball background, he’s coined the slogan “Team Tayo Parañaque.”

Favis said he has never turned his back on destiny calling.

“I never imagined to be a coach but when I was playing my last year for UST in 1992, my theology professor asked me to coach our intramural basketball team,” related Favis. “I wanted to get a good grade so I agreed. Would you believe, I coached the team to the championship against all odds. Then three days after we won the title, the UST high school varsity coach Mady Tabora died. Suddenly, I was asked to take over and for the next four years, I coached the team to two UAAP junior championships.”

Favis said coaching the juniors and serving as an assistant coach with the UST seniors earned only P5,000 a month and in 1996, decided to get “a real job” because his salary couldn’t pay all the household bills. Favis prayed for Divine intervention and it came through a call from Joseph Uichico to join San Miguel’s coaching staff under Ron Jacobs in 1997.

Favis worked for Jacobs, had a brief stint as the Batangas Blades head coach in the MBA, piloted Letran to the NCAA seniors crown, joined the national team as assistant coach under Jacobs and Chot Reyes and took over the Coca-Cola helm after serving as assistant coach for Reyes at Pop Cola.

“Fortunately, I’ve won championships both as head coach and assistant coach,” said Favis who took up computer science at La Salle and UST. “I hope to coach the youth back to a position of responsibility in my district as councilor.”

Favis has four children – Kit, 22, a graduating engineering student at La Salle, Karlo, 9, Bernice, 7, and Kio, 2. He is married to Ella Aldeguer whose brother Boris is coach of La Salle Zobel high school and the Perpetual Help seniors. Another brother-in-law is former La Salle basketball star Dino Aldeguer. His father-in-law Fernando is ALA boxing gym owner Tony Aldeguer’s brother.