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Thursday, June 30, 2005
Sayson: SEA Games hullabaloo
By Homer Sayson
Second Overtime
CHICAGO – I was having one of those routine days in my so-so life yesterday. I got off of work, drove home, picked up my son from the baby-sitter, before fixing myself a glass of rum and Coke while surfing the sports pages of Sun.Star Cebu.
One of the stories I read made me swallow the wedge of lime in my drink: It was a report by Rommel Manlosa and it screamed: “Osmena to ‘withdraw’ support for Cebu Seag.”
Having once worked under him, I’ve known Mayor Tom to be an excellent executive. He does work in mysterious ways, sometimes, and he is emotional. But Tom ain’t stupid. And he’s definitely not insensitive so as to abandon the Seag at such a critical time and leave the Cebu City Sports Commission holding the bag.
The story’s alleged source, I figured, had to be blowing nothing but hot air on Manlosa’s ears. So I called Tom’s cellphone to verify if there was even a germ of truth to his alleged “withdrawal” of support.
No answer. My dad is close to the mayor so I called him asking for an interview. Tom texted: “Not yet.”
I then called the pillar behind Cebu’s Seag co-hosting, Jonathan Guardo. The CCSC chair was at home reading Manlosa’s story. Outraged and choking on his breakfast, Guardo was ready to rise up a storm.
“I understand that Manlosa has a deadline to meet, but I wish he were a little slower on the trigger. I know that in your business, it’s good to be first. But I think it’s better to be right,” Guardo lamented.
Manlosa’s story said that “Philsoc’s Ritchie Garcia will arrive today for a meeting with Cebu organizers to tackle delicate issues at 10 a.m.” So Guardo asked, “Could he have waited at least until then before writing an article that scares our sponsors and deflates the morale of those who have tirelessly worked for this project?”
“If you were able to reach me from Chicago, why can’t Manlosa contact me or Mayor Tom?” Guardo asked. “I realize the sanctity of protecting the identity of your sources, but that privilege should be exercised with utmost prudence. It’s easy to talk about generalities, to hide behind anonymity. I can only hope that Manlosa checked the credibility and motive of his source.”
Guardo told me that he knows who Manlosa’s source is: “Someone texted me his name and I am saddened that he chose to politicize an undertaking that will enhance our image before the international sporting community and therefore serve the welfare of the Cebuanos.”
“But like I said, Manlosa had a job to do. And while I now look at him in a different light, I have faith in Sun.Star Cebu sports editor Jobannie Tabada. Jobannie and Paul Taneo have always treated me and my office fairly. I can’t thank them enough for supporting the many causes of the CCSC,” Guardo said.
As it turned out, Manlosa’s story was all shock, no value. All sizzle, no steak.
At around past noon, after the PhilSoc’s Garcia met with local leaders at the Waterfront Hotel, a relieved City Councilor Jack Jakosalem called to inform me that “Garcia spoke with mayor Tom on the phone and the mayor reiterated his support to the Seag.”
Danao City Councilor Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez was also in the meeting and he also called me. “It’s all systems go for Cebu, Mandaue and Danao. It was just a little misunderstanding with the MOA. Everything was ironed out with Mayor Tom. The three city mayors – Tommy, Teddy and Nito – Gov. Gwen, as well as Representatives Tony Cuenco, Raul Del Mar and Red Durano will ensure the hosting’s success.”
Like Guardo, Boying is puzzled by the story. “It wouldn’t have hurt Manlosa to hold on to his article while verifying the authenticity of his source’s story,” Rodriguez said. “That article undermined our efforts these past 14 months. We worked so hard to reel in the sponsors, only to be held back with a minor scare like that. What a disappointment.”
Cheryl Ouano, Mandaue City sports development executive director, was also in the meeting and she couldn’t have been more relieved that Mayor Tom’s support of the Seag hosting will go on as planned.
Well, there’s a good ending here. Jonathan, Jack, Boying, and Cheryl, who form the cornerstones of Cebu’s Seag co-hosting remain united as ever. And they all slept well last night.
P.S. Councilor Boying and I go a long ways back. If I had even half of his dashing good looks, Eva Longoria would probably be hanging all over me right now, leaving her boyfriend Tony Parker faster than a Spurs fastbreak.
Anyway, Boying and I talked a lot yesterday and tomorrow’s column will feature Danao sports, including hopefully, a chat with Mayor Nito Durano, who is a Spurs fan and never misses this column.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
(June 30, 2005 issue)
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