Release and let him go — FESSAP
Published : Saturday, June 14, 2014
THE Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) urges both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) to give the green light to GM Wesley So “to enable him to pursue his dream of becoming world chess champion.”
At the same time, the POC and NCFP should finally grant the long-overdue recognition to So’s historic gold-medal achievement in the 27th Summer Universiade held in Kazan, Russia last year.
FESSAP president David Ong made the appeal as the clamor for So’s immediate release from the NCFP — a pre-requisite for his plans to switch federations and continue competing at a high-level — continues to gain ground in the past few days.
“While we understand that the NCFP has the prerogative to approve or disapprove such request, we must also reiterate that we respect and support this life-changing decision of So, who has brought honors to the country, said Ong, who privately funded the Filipino delegation’s campaign in the Universiade.
“Losing a national treasure is already bad. But our sports officials make the situation even worse by repeatedly ignoring So’s request and even branding him un-Filipino,” added Ong.
Ong recalled that So proudly represented the country in Kazan.
“He proudly wore the Philippine uniform, walked the length of the stadium while waiving the Philippine flag during the parade of nations and joined fellow delegates in watching the colorfulopening ceremony for hours,” explained Ong.
“Fellow delegates, including his roommates, remembered him as a very nice person, who did not ask for any VIP treatment.”
Added Ong: “Let’s give him the chance to continue to play without sitting out for two years. After all, he will always be a Filipino and proud to be a Filipino as he himself proclaimed.”
Ong’s appeal echoed the sentiment of most of So’s supporters from all over the world, including netizens.
Journalists and plain netizens lambasted both Cojuangco and Pichay for refusing to grantSo’s release and even branding him “unpatriotic”.
“We give (Andray) Blatche a road paved in gold, chess whiz Wesley So heads to US to pursue passion. Shows how sick Phil sports is,” said lawyer-journalist Ed Tolentino in his twitter account.
“I’m already bleeding learning that a national treasure like chess grandmaster Wesley So is changing allegiances,” wrote Philippine Star sportswriter Joey Villar.
“It’s true we have no serious training system and Wesley’s departure should shock us into preparing seriously for tournaments. I wish him all the luck,” said long-time chess analyst Ignacio Dee.
Whether he is American or Filipino by citizenship, he is still a Filipino by birth,” said US-based Herky del Mundo.
Pichay won’t allow it.
Yes Pichay won’t allow it. But he will sooner or later be overruled by a high wind. And yes, Pichay will be once again humiliated.
Nakamura will allow it. But it does not matter cause Nakamura is still better than So and the rest of GMs in the Philpines.
Nakamura will allow it. His approval should be enough coz him and Prospero Pichay look alike anyways. Google Pichay’s image he looks exact like Nakamura
The Philippines is only good in claiming successful people who had some Filipino blood and heritage.
It’s always in the news that so and so who won something is Filipino. But that’s just the extent of it, they just want to say and promote the Philippines.
In reality, they don’t get support from the Philippines other than self promotion that they have Filipino roots.
And here you are, Wesley So, born in the Philippines, lived in the Philippines, very young and trying hard, and his parents has to immigrate to Canada to seek greener pastures, a possible world chess champion challenger, and the Philippine does not do anything for their/his quest.
No financial grant, no scholarship, NADA.
An allowance to represent the country in international tournaments is not enough to live. They even use it to scare athletes to accept their deeds and just say amen all the time. No wonder 10% of the population go to other places to make a living!
And watch out when Wesley becomes a champion (I hope he does), the Philippines will be so fast in proclaiming him that he is a Filipino or has Filipino roots.