What 31 years of the Philippine Sports Commission mean to the country

Shunning fanfare for charity, the Philippine Sports Commission, on Jan. 24, 2020—30 years after the Eighth Congress created and established Republic Act No. 6847 known as the PSC Act.

- TITO TALAO

Shunning fanfare for charity, the Philippine Sports Commission, on Jan. 24, 2020—30 years after the Eighth Congress created and established Republic Act No. 6847 known as the PSC Act—celebrated three decades of existence by donating its anniversary budget to victims of the Taal Volcano explosion a week earlier, little knowing that a deadly global crisis that would require more than just foregoing party funds was about to break out less than eight weeks later.

The first case of coronavirus infection was still a blip in the radar of national consciousness at the time, and the country was still in euphoria after national athletes harvested 149 gold medals, 116 silvers, and 118 bronzes in capturing the overall title in the 30th Southeast Asian Games on home ground in December 2019, surpassing the 112 golds, 85 silvers, and 92 bronzes accomplishment of their champion predecessors during the 23rd SEAG, which Manila hosted.

“We were all hoping and praying for this, but it is still a sweet surprise now that it is happening. I am so proud of our athletes. All of them deserve our respect and love,” PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, one of eight men to hold the position and the only one to be appointed twice, said back then. “This is a result of all the sacrifice and hard work of everyone who pushed for chances at victory. This victory is very sweet given the many difficulties we had to face. This win proves that we can achieve a lot when we come together united as one team.”

“Achieve a lot when we come together united,” added Ramirez, clearly with an eye on an even bigger, much larger prize—a first-ever Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Summer Games in July that year.