I CAN’T help but tip my hat off to Pató Gregorio. Barely warming up his seat as the newly-minted chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), he has already done tremendous strides to uplift sports to heights of prominence.
He has even stepped out of the box, flying to Davao to fulfil an appointment to speak before my fellow sportswriters in that far-flung part of Mindanao.
I like what Chito Malabanan, an eminent member of the Davao Sportswriters Association and a columnist of the prestigious Neil Bravo-edited Edge Davao, lifted from Gregorio’s speech, and I quote: ‘Politics in sports is worse than politics in politics.’
Pató, known for being an action man and a decisive thinker, has upped athletes’ allowances to P5,000 a month and increased to 1,600 the number of athletes and officials to the Southeast Asian Games in December in Bangkok.
‘C’mon, this is the nearest competition for our grassroots athletes, why deny it to them,’ said Pató, who scrapped the restriction that only athletes that matched the bronze medal finish in the previous edition are qualified.
Ever the humble fellow, the PSC chair, in his dealings with either the high or the low, loves to remind them to address him as simply ‘Pató,’ his nickname that has endeared him to one and all.
But Pató’s biggest achievement thus far since he took over in July 2025 is his forging a partnership with the Philippine Airlines (PAL).
This means the three-year agreement from October 2025 to October 2028 will make PAL the airline sponsor for PSC’s official sports delegations to major events, including the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, 2026 Asian Games, 2027 SEA Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In a statement, PAL said it will extend special travel support to the PSC to help enhance the comfort and convenience of national athletes on official trips, including exclusive fare discounts and additional travel benefits.
PAL will also reward medal-winning athletes from the Southeast Asian and Asian Games with Mabuhay Miles incentives.
‘At Philippine Airlines, our vision is to be a globally recognized airline trusted for our world-class excellence and customer experience,’ said PAL President Richard Nuttall. ‘As the country’s flag carrier, our pledge is to promote Filipino athletes and the values that inspire pride and global recognition for the whole nation. We stand together with the country’s sports champions as they aspire for greatness, ensuring that they are supported with the warmth and care of the Filipino heart.’
Gregorio called the alliance as ‘a crucial step in streamlining athlete mobility and representing Filipino excellence abroad.’
‘When you touch the heart of an athlete, they start winning.
And when they start winning, they touch the hearts of 110 million Filipinos,’ Gregorio said. ‘Philippine Airlines is giving our athletes a runway to take flight and achieve for the nation.
We are blessed that they understand this so well: that we are one flag, one heart.’
PAL said the collaboration ‘underscores PAL’s ongoing mission to uplift Filipino sports and strengthen the nation’s presence in global competitions. By easing the travel burden and celebrating athletic triumphs, the airline reaffirms its role not just as the country’s flag carrier but also as a proud supporter of the Filipino sporting spirit.’
Here’s to a partnership that cements unity in sports. A knockout.
THAT’S IT Golf goes global when Bingo Plus presents the LIV International series at Sta. Elena from this Thursday to Sunday with 144 players entered in the US$2-million event that features former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen facing the challenge of a crack local crew led by Asian Tour winner Miguel Tabuena.Deepest condolences to the family of Gen. Eduardo R. Ermita, the former executive secretary of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Ermita was a key cog in the country’s national golf association when we hosted the World Team Golf Championship at the Manila Southwoods in 1996, a milestone event since it will not happen again here in 50 years or so due to rules on continental hosting rotation. Rest in peace now, General. Fond memories will remain in the heart.