Retired government employee and longtime swimming supporter Michael Vargas would have chosen to stay in the background, away from the limelight, quietly supporting th e swimming activities of former Olympian and Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain and his group.
But this time, the 43-year-old Vargas took a new direction and accepted the lead role of Philippine Swimming, Inc. president.
“Me and Cong. Eric (Buhain) have always been working together. I have been an unnamed supporter of swimming for a long time. That’s because, my support was to Cong. Eric and his activities. ‘Yun na nga, iyung mga regionals,” said Vargas.
A recently retired government service officer at the Bureau of Customs, Vargas garnered 10 votes from the 11 board of trustees following a series of elections held under the supervision of a Philippine Olympic Committee-designated electoral committee on Thursday.
Buhain, who was tipped to be the next PSI chief, decided to take another path, though, as secretary general during the World Aquatics-ordered polls at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque City.
“We are like brothers, who have been helping Philippine swimming. I asked him to come out and show himself,” said Buhain, adding his role as secretary general will bring him close to the heart of activities in swimming.
Vargas and Buhain, who also got 10 votes as secretary general, have been involved with organizing events put up by the Congress of Philippine Aquatic, Inc.
“He asked to be in that role. He wants to be in the heart of swimming (as secretary general) para hagip niya kayong lahat,” added Vargas.
The 11 new members of the board of trustees will come from 19 representatives of over 300 swimming clubs, which earlier participated in the National Congress held last May 25.
Jessie Arriola was named vice president, also with 10 votes, while diving official Marie Dimanche is the new treasurer.
POC president Abraham Tolentino swore Vargas, the new officials and the board of trustees into office.
“It was a smooth and democratically held process,” said Tolentino.
Asian Swimming Federation official May Chen of Malaysia witnessed the proceeding, with the electoral committee, headed by POC secretary general Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Atty. Wharton Chan, and with Atty. Avelino Sumagui and Atty. Marcus Antonius Andaya as the other members.
The polls took place some four months after World Aquatics suspended the PSI and ordered the conduct of elections for the national federation’s board of directors through the POC.
Last December, the world governing body for swimming withdrew its recognition of the PSI, after the FINA scrapped from its list members of the PSI’s board of trustees and officers.
The POC then created a stabilization committee that ran the association’s day-to-day operations, aside from amending its by-laws and conducting new elections.
