Message from a proud dad

Philippine Aquatics president Miko Vargas isn’t embarrassed to admit that he wasn’t a model student in school. His father Ricky, who holds various corporate executive positions and is chairman of both PBA and ABAP, said he’s ready “to tell the whole world how proud I am of the once bad boy of the family.”

Vargas, 43, said as the middle child with an older brother and a younger sister, he was “a bit of a challenge growing up during my Ateneo grade school and high school days.” He recalled that “it was a yearly suspenseful moment whether I was going to move on to the next grade or let go of the school (but) fortunately, I managed to graduate.”

The alarm bells, however, continued to ring even after Vargas reached Ateneo college. “I saw myself transferring out of Ateneo and did my university tour in different colleges in the Philippines,” he said. “I also did a redemption tour as after finally getting my bachelor’s degree from Thames International School, I returned to Ateneo to complete my MBA-Regis degree. Just recently, I also finished my post-graduate diploma in Organizational Leadership at the Oxford University Said School of Business.”

When Vargas walked up the stage to claim his diploma at Oxford this year, his parents and wife Marga were in the audience in London. “Our three kids and even my older brother and younger sister’s spouses and kids were present,” he said. “Isang barangay kami. It was a proud moment but what made it even more special was the time of togetherness of us being all complete.”

While finishing his Oxford studies, Vargas resigned from his government post after close to 15 years of service. “My father is a corporate guy through and through and he was probably a bit surprised that I chose a career in government,” he said. “For now, while considering my future options, I devote most of my time helping out in sports, which I consider a vocation, not a job. At Oxford, we were taught to study Organizational Culture and how it affects driving change as a leader. I think this can be useful in sports. Sports administration in our country has many organizations that drive it – PSC, POC, NSAs, the private sector. Each has different organizational cultures and this can lead to productive interactions. I think the approach should be one of respecting each other’s organizational cultures’ differences while finding commonality that can drive better performance and results.”

At the recent Paris Olympics, Vargas joined the Philippine delegation in the boat on the River Seine for the opening fluvial parade. “It was beyond anything I could imagine,” he said. “It wasn’t only a personal moment but also for the country, para sa bayan talaga. I’m thankful that POC had allotted one NSA official to join the athletes in the parade. For Philippine Aquatics, it was Secretary-General Cong. Eric Buhain or me. Sec-Gen Eric gave way and convinced me to represent our NSA, noting that he had experienced quite a few Olympic parades and he wanted me to experience it. The feeling was overwhelming, being with the athletes contingent and other NSA reps. The rain was a challenge but at the end of the day, you forget all about that and just relish the moment.”

Vargas, who was previously ABAP treasurer and PNVF board member, is a third-generation sports official with his great-grandfather Jorge Vargas the first Filipino IOC official and his father a former POC president. “Since last October, World Aquatics has recognized Philippine Aquatics as the national federation of the Philippines,” he said. “Cong. Eric is our Sec-Gen and Anthony Reyes our Executive Director. We were given a fresh mandate by World Aquatics and POC last year. We plan to hold an election coinciding with the next Olympic year in 2028.” The father has a lot to be proud of with his son.