Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino feels embarrassed when told that he must have been doing something right given the Filipino athletes’ enormous success on the world stage the past few years.
“Perhaps, it is destiny,” Tolentino said without batting an eyelash as he deflects credit over the string of solid performances by the Philippines starting in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019 in the country up to the recently-concluded Phnom Penh edition.
“The stars have aligned, I guess,” Tolentino said, citing the mystical powers of astrology as the main reason behind the vast improvement of Filipino athletes.
But, in reality, it could be Tolentino’s strong personality that has compelled athletes to go the extra mile in their bid to reap honors for the country not just in the lowly SEA Games but in the Olympic Games as well.
Who could forget what happened in Tokyo when the Philippines finally put an end to its century-old hunt for the elusive gold medal.
Not only did lifter Hidilyn Diaz score a breakthrough victory, two others came tantalizingly close to capturing a medal of the same glowing color as fighters Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio settled for silver while Eumir Marcial added a bronze to the hefty collection.
Once again, Tolentino refuses to believe his way of running the Philippine Olympic Committee is the immovable force that has turned the Philippines from a wimp into a serious threat.
“Maybe, it is bound to happen. Astrology is in play here,” said the 59-year-old Tagaytay mayor and the city’s former two-term congressman.
Turning serious, Tolentino feels a crucial factor could be the athletes’ newfound confidence and the rich cash reward the POC has been dangling over the years.
“The athletes are all pumped up,” Tolentino said, citing the POC’s unprecedented financial reward given even to SEA Games medalists.
“They are also inspired,” he said.
But what Tolentino describes as “hands-on approach” could be the game-changer.
“The (POC) leaders are hands-on and when everyone is, the athletes and everyone are motivated to do the same thing.”
Tolentino stressed: “I think the athletes feel the TLC (tender loving care) we have been giving them. They are not just seeing it — they are actually feeling it.”
Told that the Philippines might just be plain lucky, Tolentino swears luck is merely a part of the success.
“It’s not a coincidence when you are winning medals consistently,” Tolentino said, noting that the last three SEA Games and the Tokyo Olympics are proof that Filipino athletes are beginning to take charge and are getting rid of their inferiority complex.
And it doesn’t look as if the POC leader is about to rest on his laurels with Paris 2024 just around the corner.
“We are looking forward to the 2024 Olympics,” Tolentino said, sounding upbeat that the Philippines will win not just one gold medal in Paris.
If and when things fall into place next year, you can be rest assured that Tolentino will have a celestial response.
It is written in the stars.
