Corruption in the 2019 SEA Games live broadcasting contract?

THINKING PINOY

By RJ NIETO

Organizers take pride in hosting a record number of sports in this year’s installment of the Southeast Asian Games, but it appears that they had no intention of making all the 56 sporting events as accessible as possible to the Filipino public that paid for hosting them, or they’re simply too stupid to realize what they’ve done.

The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chose only two networks — ABS-CBN and TV5. While both have multiple channels at their disposal, there’s simply no way for both of them to air all 56 events live.

Phisgoc Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano and COO Tats Suzara ignored this reality and decided to grant live broadcasting rights exclusively to these two networks, to the detriment of sports that these two networks will inevitably fail to air live, and of the general public whose taxes paid for hosting the games.

Water polo is a prime example.

For whatever reason, neither ABS-CBN nor TV5 was there to broadcast live the crucial November 29 match between our men’s team and Singapore’s, so the Philippine Water Polo Team itself took the initiative to live-stream the game on Facebook.

Some time in the second half, online viewers heard a Phisgoc official telling the cameraman that live-streaming is prohibited. The stream abruptly ended, to the irritation of thousands watching the game online.

Being an avid fan of the Water Polo team myself, I vehemently protested against Phisgoc’s rules. I told Phisgoc officials that the rule is grossly disadvantageous to taxpayers who wish to support our hardworking and talented water polo athletes.

I argued that the Filipino people, whose taxes paid for these games, have the right to watch live whichever game they want in the most convenient way they want to.

Hours later, a high-ranking SEA Games official told me that he would allow live-streaming if the official live broadcasters aren’t available, and I took his word for it.

On December 1st, I went to the New Clark Aquatics Center to watch the game between the Philippines and Malaysia. Neither ABS-CBN nor TV5 was there, so I started live-streaming the event as soon as it started.  During the 2nd quarter, and just like what happened to the Philippines-Singapore match, a Phisgoc official approached me and told me to stop streaming because I am not an “accredited broadcaster.”

I asked, “So how will Filipino water polo fans watch the game live?”

No answer.

Exasperated, I told the Phisgoc official that it is the right of every Filipino to watch the games, and Phisgoc rules make it impossible to do so. I also told them I will not stop streaming the water polo match, and the only thing that can stop me if they forcibly throw me out of the premises.

After the match and out of sheer frustration over Phisgoc’s corruption and/or stupidity, I told my 1.4 million Facebook followers that I would stop live-streaming altogether.

I said covering such events is expensive, and I have used my hard-earned money to pay thousands for gasoline, telecoms, and manpower, to do so. I wanted to do it for you guys for free as part of public service, but Phisgoc illogical rules prevent me from doing so.

The post has garnered over 16,000 reactions to date, which likely prompted Phisgoc to issue an advisory shortly after the post.

The relevant part of the grammar-optional advisory stated:

“The live-streaming of portions of the games via social media shall be uploaded and shared on personal platforms and social media accounts only.”

Phisgoc, in so many words, basically told me that nobody except ABS-CBN and TV5 could stream the games live, even if neither are streaming the game, even if the live-stream is for non-commercial use.

Surely, streaming a game that both networks ignored should be no problem, unless the live-stream takes away viewers from the other games they chose to air.

As they say, never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.

With the generous assumption that Phisgoc officials concerned are not morons, there is only one possible explanation that I can think of: Phisgoc wants to protect the ratings of its two exclusive live broadcasters.

But worrying about TV ratings is not Phisgoc’s job. Instead, Phisgoc should worry about whether taxpayers get the most value out of the billions of public funds used to stage the SEA Games.

I blame neither ABS-CBN nor TV5 for this. It is their job, as a commercial enterprise, to optimize returns on investment.  Capitalist enterprises are by nature greedy, and the government’s primordial responsibility is to put a cap on that greed for the sake of the people it governs.

Either Phisgoc forgot that, or Phisgoc never knew that the entire time.

With that said, I believe that a review of the live broadcasting contract is in order, as soon as the SEA Games end on the 11th.

The live broadcasting contract is disadvantageous to the government.

I believe some Phisgoc officers engaged in malfeasance or, worse, violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

For reactions, please email Tp@ThinkingPinoy.net

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/07/corruption-in-the-2019-sea-games-live-broadcasting-contract/

Regencia finally gets his time on ice

The Philippines’ Jan Aro Regencia battle Thailand’s Ken Kindborn for the puck during the Ice Hockey preliminary round of the 30th South East Asian Games 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

Aro Regencia’s favorite moment as a hockey player is not the Philippines’ gold medal clincher over Thailand in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

“I couldn’t even remember it,” he told the Inquirer with a chuckle. “I barely had ice time so I was just tense and was praying the whole time.”

The first-line forward, though, has emerged as one of the Philippine Eagle’s integral cogs in its hot start in this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

And that’s quite a statement for one of the only three teens in the bunch, and for someone who had been sickly most of his life.

“I used to have asthma; I was also prone to flu, colds and the like,” said Regencia. “Miraculously, they’re all gone.”

Regencia, 19, was clutch in the Nationals’ match with Singapore, where the Philippines was lethargic in the first and middle periods.

He hit a pair of goals late to preserve the heavy lifting of skipper Steven Füglister and Sam Bengzon, and eventually seal the win for the Eagles.

Regencia also had a steady outing in the crucial win over Indonesia last Wednesday, the game that assured the Eagles a semifinal slot.

The two other youngsters in the team are 17-year-old Jann So Tiong and 16-year-old Carlo Tigaronita.

If there was a pivotal moment for his young career, Regencia said it would be during the team’s campaign in the Challenge Cup of Asia here last year.

“That was the first time they made an experiment—they tried putting me on the first line,” he said.
It probably also helped Regencia that he is close to Füglister.

“There was a time we just talked purely hockey. He just told me to not put so much stuff in my head. It all became clear to me after that,” he said.

As it turned out, it was the moment of clarity he needed. As a teen, Regencia said he was expectedly cynical.

“Since [some of us] are young, [we’re] prone to negativity,” he said. “Whenever we look at other teams, we see they’re big. They have better builds. [We felt there’s so much] difference.”

“But I told myself and the others that the only way we cope with those differences is by being smart,” he said.

“Hockey’s a really fast game. It’s a game of mistakes. You can’t afford to be indecisive because one slip up could adversely affect the team’s play,” he said.

Regencia swears by this approach, as he feels it’s also the very reason why he has been on a roll lately—also after the fact that the Eagles are now given ample attention, which translated to six months of proper training.

“I thought to myself, I need to step up,” he said of his recent showing. This is the first line, so I might as well.”

“I don’t want to be the one that hinders this team’s potential.”

https://sports.inquirer.net/377446/regencia-finally-gets-his-time-on-ice

SEA Games: Semis-bound PH men’s volleyball drops 1st match

The Philippine men’s volleyball team failed to sweep Pool B, losing to Indonesia, 25-23, 32-30, 25-20, in its final preliminary match in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Philippines managed to stay in step with the 2017 silver medalists, thanks to excellent receptions and a bunch of highlight plays, to help them lead 16-11 in the third set.

However, on-point attacks from scoring ace Rivan Nurmulki and Doni Haryono, who registered 19 and 18 points, respectively, snuffed the life out of the Filipinos.

“Our execution was bad earlier. We lacked but we’ll know needs to be done if in case we’ll face them again,” Philippines’ head coach Dante Alinsunurin said in Filipino.

Indonesia’s air tight defense was also evident throughout as the Filipinos had a hard time making their hits go past the mighty Indonesian wall.

Former NU standout Bryan Bagunas lead the scoring for the Philippines with 24 points, all from attacks, while Marck Espejo tallied 17 points and 10 excellent receptions.

Despite dropping its first game, the Philippines still goes to the semifinals and will face perennial champions Thailand on Sunday.

https://sports.inquirer.net/377444/sea-games-semis-bound-ph-mens-volleyball-drops-1st-match

SEA Games: Philippines absorbs 1st loss in ice hockey

The Philippines’ Rigel Lancero II battle Thailand’s Patrick Forstner for the puck during the Ice Hockey preliminary round of the 30th South East Asian Games 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

The Philippines fell to Thailand, 10-1, for its first loss in the ice hockey tournament of 30th Southeast Asian Games Friday night at SM Mall of Asia ice skating rink.

The Eagles found themselves trailing early, 0-3, after an early barrage led by Papan Thanakroekkiat six minutes into the contest.

Already assured of a semifinal slot after their hot 3-0 start, the Nationals settled for the second spot in the preliminaries.

The Thais, who the Filipinos beat for in the 2017 gold medal match, went on to convert four more in the middle period.

Philippines’ lone goal make came from Carlo Martin Tenedero, who scored in the sixth minute of the second frame.

The Eagles crank their title-retention bid up when they play Singapore, a team they beat 5-3 in the group phase, when the knockout stage gets going this Saturday.

Thailand faces Malaysia in the other semifinal pairing which comes off wraps at 3 p.m.

https://sports.inquirer.net/377423/sea-games-philippines-absorbs-1st-loss-in-ice-hockey