Months and weeks before the conduct of the first BDM 102, I sent letters of request for support to almost everybody in the government, most especially to politicians whom I know, could support such a sports endeavor. Not one of the politicians gave me a positive response on my request. The Philippine Sports Commission which I depended to be supportive in any sports development gave me a negative response. At least, the PSC gave me a letter of response indicating that they don’t have any budget for the said request. Guys, I am not asking for hundreds of thousands or millions of pesos for this event, I just wanted a “token” for the additional support for the Aid Stations along the route.
Actually, these letters that I’ve sent to these personalities were just a “test” on how far can they support a sports event that commemorates a celebrated part in the history to honor our heroes who fought for freedom and democracy that we enjoy right now. Most of the “politicians”/Senators did not send any letter of response but a number of them sent a written negative response on the said request. Unfortunately, I received the following letters from them.
On the brighter side, one of the politicians whom I know personally gave me P 5,000 as support, five (5) weeks after the conduct of the race. The support was too late, however, I immediately contributed the said money to the Charity to help the hundreds of families affected due to a typhoon in Cagayan Valley on that very week that I received the money.
As for the other politicians who, most of them are running for the highest political position of the land next year, they did not answer those daily calls for us to follow-up our request and some of them whom we talked would tell us that they could not support our event. So, these politicians did not pass our “test”. They are only good for their “soundbytes”, “appearances” and “pronouncements” that they support sports up to the point that you see them and read their news releases printed on the broadsheets. I hope and pray that these “presidentiables & vice-presidentiables” will not win in the next election and for the other “politicians” not to be able to be re-elected in their positions.
In one of the posts I’ve read in the Internet, I came up with the following allegations about how much “these politicians” would receive during their stint in their positions. Based from the “source”, these allegations could be true!
GUSTO KONG MAGING SENADOR NG PILIPINAS
ANG SARAP MAGING SENADOR!
Miriam Defensor Santiago was featured in Correspondents last week.
Maganda rin naman ang naidudulot ng pagiging prangka ni Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Ayon kay Santiago , marami ang tumatak-bong Senador dahil sa laki ng budget na ibinibigay sa kanila kada buwan.
Lumalabas na P35,000 suweldo nila kada buwan ay pakitang-tao lang sa milyun-milyong budget ng bawat senador. Kada buwan ay may Fixed Monthly Budget ang bawat Senador ng humigit-kumulang P2 Milyon.
Sa opisina pa lang nila ay humigit-kumulang P500,000 ang budget nila sa Maintenance and Operating Expenses (Rental, Utilities, Supplies at Domestic Travels) at P500,000 para sa Staff at Personal expenses. Kaya para makatipid ang ibang Senador, kaunti lang ang staff na kinukuha nila. Nagtataka ka pa kung bakit mayroong mga Ghost Employee?
Bukod diyan, may P760,000 allowance pa sila kada buwan para naman sa Foreign Travel. At ang masakit pa nito, hindi na kailngan i-liquidate ang mga resibo ng mga gastusin ‘yan kundi Certification lang ang Requirement.
Heto pa, lahat sila ay Chairman ng mg Komite sa Senado. Ang Committee Chairman ay tumatanggap din ng budget na sinlaki ng tinatanggap ng mga Senador na humigit-kumulang P1 Milyon din! Hindi sila mawawalan ng Komite dahil 24 lang ang ating mga Senador at 37 naman ang Committee sa Senado. There’s food for everybody ‘ika nga! Lumalabas na doble ang kanilang benepesiyo at kita kapag sila ay nabiyayaan ng Committee Chairmanship.
Sa P200 milyon na Budget para sa Pork Barrel ng mga Senador bawat taon, awtomatikong may 10% na S.O.P. o kita ng Senador na P20 milyon. Ito ang porsiyento na ibinibigay ng mga kontratista sa mga Senador na nagbibigay sa kanila ng mga Infrastructure at Livelihood Project.
Bago matapos ang termino ng isang Senador, kumita na siya ng P100 milyon sa Pork Barrel pa lang. Yung ibang Senador mas gahaman, hindi lang 10% kundi 20 – 30% ang komisyon hinihingi sa mga kontratista.
Pansinin niyo na lang ang pagbabago ng buhay ng ilan sa ating mga Senador simula nang manungkulan sa puwesto. Kung dati ay simple lang ang kanilang pamumuhay ngayon ay nakatira na sila sa mga eksklusibong subdivision, maraming bahay sa Pilipinas at abroad at mahigit lima ang sasakyan.
Ngayon nagtataka ka pa ba kung bakit gumagastos ng daan-daang milyong piso ang mga Senador sa kampanya para sa isang posisyon na P35,000 lang ang suweldo kada buwan? Bawing-bawi pala ang gastos kapag naupo na!
ANG SARAP MAGING SENADOR! ! !
I wonder how much is the budget for a Cabinet Secretary or in a Department under the Executive Branch of the Government.
“Bakit kaya hindi nila maisipan na magdagdag ng Cabinet Position para sa Department of Youth and Sports Development (or Excellence) para mawala at palitan na ang Philippine Sports Commission?”
For next year’s edition of BDM 102, we will never send any letter of request to these sports institutions and “politicians”. We will try to seek support from the private and corporate sector this time and from the “usual friends” who have the “heart” to support us and who believe in our advocacy.
Bald Runner 
It’s a sad, sad fact and I’m glad you posted it to reveal their true identities, that’s why we can’t trust majority of politicians.
Don’t worry, their wealth, power and glory will only be for a moment. Without sincerity, it cannot stand the test of time.
God bless.
LikeLike
ang masama ay gusto pa nilang maging presidente!
LikeLike
nakakalungkot isipin na ang karamihan ng ating mga politico ay puro satsat lang.lip service kung tawagin.ano ba naman ang kaunting barya na maiabot.isang kape lang naman ang halaga sa shangri-la o mandarin ang mababawas sa mga bulsa ng mga ito.ang nakakainins makikita mo sa mga tv interview,tigas ng pagsasabi na mahal nila nag bayan at ang mga pilipino.mga minamahal kong politico,magpakatutoo kayo!
maghunos-dili po kayo.di naman lingid sa bayan ang mga s.o.p. ninyo.isang order lang ng steak sa le cirque,ayos na ang bdm.mabulunan sana kayo.gamit-gamit niyo pa pera ng bayan pag may escort kayong mga hagad habang nagpipilit kayong lumusot sa traffic ng edsa.yun pala,magkakape lang kayo sa manila pen.
kung gumastos naman kayo sa tarpaulin at ads sa tv, parang wala ng bukas.tapos sangkaterbang kalat pa kayo sa dami ng tarpaulin sa kalsada.kulang na lang batiin ninyo ang birthday ng alagang aso ng barangay tanod.
huwag nga kayong makatakbo-takbo sa mga karera ha? please lang.
LikeLike
amen! basta ang importante ay huwag natin silang iboto at syempre i-kampanya natin sa mga kapamilya at kasama natin na huwag silang iboto sa susunod na eleksyon.
LikeLike
nakakalungkot naman po ang naging kasagutan nila. 😦
LikeLike
nakaka-iyak talaga.
LikeLike
very disheartening indeed. sports is really at the far most end of our politician’s priorities or of our government for that matter. their idea of sports is limited to giving away trophies, uniforms and constructing basketball courts. no wonder our sports program is in such a mess. the only thing that they say after our endless debacles in world competitions is, “at least, we tried our best!” if only they could give awards to the biggest delegation of sports officials, we would win hands down.
in this country, you really have to make a name on your own. it is only after you have become famous will these politicians start coming to you. it’s the part that they love most – the accolades and cheers for the winner. (sigh)
LikeLike
you are right. that is how it goes, you have to win an international event before you are being recognized by the gov’t’s sports authorities/institutions.
LikeLike
Sir BR, its sad to read all of these things. Ang mahirap nyan, malapit na naman ang eleksyon, and with the second edition of the BDM coming up (which coincidentally, malapit sa eleksyon) for sure, marami na naman mapagsamantalang politiko na hahanap ng paraan para maka kuha ng exposure. Subukan nyo lang uling mag-solicit, for sure makakakuha kayo ng positive response. Pero sana naman wag nyo hayaan mangyari ito. Its sad enough that you caught cheaters in the race last year even more worse when politicians try to get more mileage (no pun intended…hehe) out of your event.
More power to your blog, sir!
Best regards
P.S. Btw, whatever happened to the cheaters you caught in last year’s race?
LikeLike
i will never ask support to these politicians again. as for the cheaters, we have known them and did not give them their respective age category awards.
LikeLike
Despite all these responses you pulled out a successful event. It’s like the movie, Field of Dreams – “If you build it, they will come”. You and several unsung heroes set a high level of standard for others to follow. Mabuhay kayo Sir!!
LikeLike
thanks, ben. it’s due to my exposure in the US road and trail races that i try my best to improve the basic services to the runners.
LikeLike
Do we need a sportsman in the Senate, or any department of the government for that matter, to answer positively to requests like this?
Maybe we do… So, Bald Runner for Senator???
🙂
LikeLike
pls be careful…we have already sportsmen and sports ladies as senators in our government. i don’t have any intention of running in any political position.
LikeLike
hi jovie, so sad to read about the responses to your request/s… with running gaining popularity “month after month”, “year after year”, i wouldnt be surprise if these politicians will “use” the running community in the future especially during election period. maybe(?) by then, you dont need to approach them…
so, good that you posted this piece to make sure most of us are aware (at least!) how these politicians view sports (running to be specific) in terms of priority …..and how they do the math in getting kickbacks..
LikeLike
junrox, i’ve written that post last May and because of the latest pronouncement of these senators, i have to publish it so that the running community will be warned about these politicians. i just hope they will not sponsor road races in the future in order to fool us that they support the running community and sports development & excellence.
LikeLike
This is good publicity for next elections! People should think twice voting this people .. or even voting! I am sure it’s not just them who are like this.
I am sorry to hear with these responses you got.
LikeLike
i actually sent letters to all the senators but when i called their offices to follow-up such request, they told me that they don’t have money to support such event. even my upperclassmen in the Academy did not support me and sorry to say, a senator-runner did not even respond to my letter. very sad!
LikeLike