CESAFI DARES AT 10
The Philippine Star
08/02/10

With pomp and aplomb that could rival, perhaps even surpass, the opening ceremonies of the UAAP and NCAA, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. with now 12 members held its parade of colors last Saturday to a jam-packed Cebu Coliseum.

The event, with the theme of “Power and Dominance,” also commemorated the 10th year of partnerships among some of the biggest schools and universities in the island of Cebu to foster and promote sports camaraderie and development.

Just like in Manila, collegiate basketball is a major crowd drawer with the student population, and Coach Joe Lipa and I were suitably impressed with the progress made by CESAFI member teams in nurturing the local hoop talents of their basketball players. Without doubt, they are the country’s third strongest mother league in basketball to date.

This is one of the reasons why Joe and I, together with Peter Musngi of ABS-CBN, had made a pitch to include the top two winners of the CESAFI basketball league in the Sweet 16 Finals of the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Championship games.

While no Cebu team has ever taken the PCCL championship title since it started in 2003, CESAFI schools have always made it to the top 16. The University of Visayas Green Lancers, for example, has been a Sweet 16 Finals participant for seven times, the most number among those who made it to the tough knock-out phase of the Champions League.

Other noteworthy CESAFI teams that have made an appearance in the Sweet 16 are University of Cebu Webmasters, University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars, University of San Carlos Warriors, and the University of Southern Philippines Black Panthers.

Festival Island

Other than basketball, Cebuanos are fanatically proud of their colorful cultural blessings – and they should rightly be so. During the CESAFI opening, the audience was treated to a pageantry of dance from eight localities, justifying their claim as the country’s festival island.

Cebu is certainly putting up a strong bid to become the tourism capital of the country, not only by showcasing an enviable tradition through dance, but also by exuding a warmth that can only come from an ingrained culture of hospitality.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our hosts during our short visit in Cebu for such a wonderful time. In between watching the games and brief excursions to the city’s dining places, UC’s Atty. Baldomero Estenzo and CESAFI commissioner Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy Jr. provided us with essential updates that would help further upgrade collegiate basketball in this country.

The CESAFI basketball season will end at about the same time as the UAAP, NCAA and many other smaller mother leagues from other parts of the country. This early, we look forward to hearing from Cebu who will represent their gracious province in PCCL’s final round.

Visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net for more updates on the PCCL 2010 Philippine Collegiate Championship games.

More on the peso

We give way once again to our readers. One of our regulars, superpinoypower, in the online Star edition, gives his views of our column on the peso. Read on.

“Most OFWs’ views on the peso strength or weakness can be summed as: ‘What is good for the country is unfavorable for the OFWs and vice versa.’ Why do I say this? Simply when the peso strengthens, we get less for our dollar remittances.

“The country on the other hand gains from having to pay less for their dollar denominated loans. The same is true with semi-government and private companies like Napocor, Meralco, Maynilad, PLDT and others which will be paying less for their foreign loans. As a result, most Filipinos benefit through lower rates mostly from these utility companies.

“The same benefits of a strong peso can be said with the oil companies as their importation bill of petroleum products will be lower and subsequently these will be reflected in the retail price of gasoline and diesels. Again the general public stands to benefit at the expense of the OFWs.

“Another group that shares the woes of the OFWs with regards to a strong peso is the exporters. Whenever the peso appreciates, they lose their competitiveness. Therefore, a strong or weak peso will always have advantages and disadvantages.

“Government intervention, as in the case of China with the yuan may be good or bad as well. So the best approach is to maintain the status quo of allowing the peso to float in accordance with the economic conditions that govern it.

“If the OFWs want to take advantage of these fluctuations then they simply have to save their dollars and sell or exchange at favorable times.”

Not a true leader

Another reader, Pian None, has voiced his agreement with an earlier column featuring some readers, including my brother, Roberto Gamboa, Jr.,on what President Noynoy Aquino should do. Here is what he says:

“I agree with the many unsolicited advices of your brother.

“However, I’m not optimistic that any of them will come into fruition under the Noynoy administration. Why? Because given his track record in Congress, he worked for 12 years as a lawmaker but wasn't able to pass any law.

“If he claims there are already too many laws, then he shouldn't have been a lawmaker. He was obviously elected to the highest office simply because of the popularity of his parents.

“With his lackluster performance, he doesn't have the leadership skill and he will only be dictated by the people surrounding him, namely the Lopezes, his family and relatives, people from Hyatt 10, the Black and White Movement, and many more. I foresee chaos in his administration.

“What we need is one with true leadership, to lead us to progress. Goodness of heart alone is not enough for a true leader. We need one who has shown that capability as a leader or one who has the potential for it, given his intelligence. Unfortunately, Noynoy has none of the qualities of a true leader.

“So better just keep those unsolicited advice.”  

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, SalcedoVillage, 1227 MakatiCity. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net