Philippines’ biggest sports win wasn’t won on the court – it was in court
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Jan 12
- 7 min read
From rising tennis star Alex Eala’s phenomenal run in the Miami Open up to Team Philippines' impressive campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, 2025 added to the growing chapters of Philippine sports books. More than that, Filipino athletes showed they belong on the international stage.
Behind the historic records and international recognitions, though, are untold stories of sacrifices and hardships that athletes endured to represent the flag and its people.
Most recently, Philippine national shooting team head coach Julius Valdez called for support for his shooters who faced challenges in their preparations for the 2025 SEA Games, particularly ammunition, guns, jackets, and a shooting range.
“Kahit sa anong anggulo kung support ang kailangan. Nanawagan kami sa mga gustong sumupport sa amin sana na kung maaari bigyan ng pansin ang aming problema sa sports. Hindi lang sa shooting, halos lahat e,” Valdez told One Sports.
The former three-time SEA Games medalist also called out the alleged corruption in the government, which is among the persisting issues that hound Philippine sports until today.
“Mga taong masyadong gahaman sa pera ng gobyerno, dapat 'wag na 'yun,” said Valdez.
Despite the struggles, Filipino shooters still collected four golds, five silvers, and five bronzes in the biennial meet in Thailand to nearly surpass their combined tally of 15 medals since 2015. In 2017, they only brought home a single bronze. Shooting events weren't held in the 2013 and 2023 editions.
Sadly, it wasn’t the first time that a player, coach, and team official spoke against the inconsistent funding and poor support structures, aside from the embezzlement of sports funds.
To recall, Filipina golfer Dottie Ardina criticized the lack of uniforms for her and teammate Bianca Pagdanganan when they represented the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a video posted by her mother that swiftly went viral, Ardina was seen patching a Philippine flag in her vest that she wore during the third round of the women’s golf event.
“Sana all may uniform, kami lang wala kailangan pa bumili ng t-shirt. Diyos ko ano ba namang klaseng Olympics ‘to,” said Ardina.
Their uniforms not only arrived late but were also ill-fitting and incorrectly stamped with the “PHI” logo. On the last day of the competition, a replacement shirt only fitted Pagdanganan, forcing Ardina to wear the one she bought herself. Dottie also lamented that they had to rely on their own resources as golf balls, head covers, gloves, and umbrellas, among essential gear, weren't provided, the Tiebreaker Times reported.
Disappointingly, no one has been held accountable for the embarrassing treatment that athletes suffered in representing their motherland in the Olympics, SEA Games, or any international competitions. At worst, some, if not all, could be on the receiving end of unfounded hate and mockery if they lose among their countrymen.
While losing is part of an athlete’s life, it’s disheartening, if not infuriating, to lose winnable games or competitions. With due respect, thank yous and we-are-proud-of-yous could only soften the pain of defeats. Athletes need more than words, especially from top sports officials. More than rosy proclamations and congratulatory press releases, they need concrete, long-term funding.
Funding essentially works as fuel that powers the country’s participation and competitiveness in international sports conclaves. Veteran journalist Atom Araullo wrote that wealth is among the most frequently cited factors that drive success in the Olympics.
“Many studies have explored the relationship between key national characteristics and Olympic success. Two of the most frequently cited factors are population and wealth. The logic behind this is intuitive. A larger population means a larger pool from which to recruit and develop talent. Meanwhile, athletes from richer countries would likely have the advantage of better facilities and equipment, while a higher standard of living improves general fitness and opportunities to participate in sport,” he said in part one of his two-part investigative report on how Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal.
Athletes need more than words, especially from top sports officials. More than rosy proclamations and congratulatory press releases, they need concrete, long-term funding.
From 2020 to 2024, the annual budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has shown significant fluctuations. The PSC is the government agency responsible for funding and developing national sports programs. It receives and allocates these resources to support athletes and their respective national sports associations. In the table below, it dipped to over P761 million in 2022 from more than P1.3 billion in 2021, then averaged around ₱1.753 billion in subsequent years.
The budget spikes to support preparations whenever a big sporting event like the SEA Games, Asian Games, or Olympics. A pair of Olympics and SEA Games and an Asian Games occurred in this five-year span, particularly in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
The problem, however, comes in years between major competitions when the budget, as seen in 2022, flattens or remains minimal. This glaring inconsistency undermines long-term development. Not only does it lead athletes and coaches to face uncertainty, but also impacts the country’s grassroots programs.
With recurring budget woes, it’s safe to say that the Philippines cannot simply expect its athletes to win as many golds as they can. Sheer determination alone cannot guarantee success. While they fight against the odds, another struggle has been quietly waged off it – ensuring that the funds meant to support them actually reach the PSC.
Last December, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its May 2024 ruling in the petition filed by Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, compelling the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to remit their full, legally mandated shares to the PSC.
In denying the motions for reconsideration of both PAGCOR and PCSO, the high court rejected arguments that Guiao violated the “principle of hierarchy of courts” by filing directly before it. The justices ruled that the case involved exceptional and compelling circumstances, noting that “the redress desired cannot be obtained in appropriate courts,” as cited by Philippine sports media outlet Spin.ph. The court likewise brushed aside PAGCOR’s appeal to equity under the doctrine of operative fact, calling the argument “untenable.”
For Guiao, who filed the petition in 2016 while serving as Pampanga lawmaker and chairperson of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development in the House of Representatives, it's a “lonely fight,” as Inquirer Sports described. He got the much-needed assist from lawyer Jun Guzman in what would become a nearly decade-long legal battle.
“Naglakas loob lang tayo. ‘Coach, pati na naman Malacañang, lalabanan mo d’yan?’ Tama naman ginagawa natin, eto ’yung nasa batas,” Guiao recalled in One PH’s Power & Play with Noli Eala. “Walang gustong sumama sa’kin, ako lang nag-file.”
At the heart of the case was a long-standing failure to follow the law. Guiao argued that PAGCOR and PCSO had not fully complied with their mandatory remittances to the PSC since 1993 and 2006, respectively, as required under Section 26 of Republic Act No. 6847 or the Philippine Sports Commission Act.
“Sa [Office of the President] pumapasok 'yung pondo na 'yun na dapat sa PSC, walang gustong kumontra,” Guiao told Eala in their interview. “'Pag kumontra, [baka] magtampo si Malacañang. Inquirer reported that the PSC only received half of those revenues, with 2.5% being funneled to the president's discretionary funds.
With recurring budget woes, it’s safe to say that the Philippines cannot simply expect its athletes to win as many golds as they can. Sheer determination alone cannot guarantee success.
In the Philippine budget discourse, discretionary funds refer to certain presidential budget items that allow some degree of executive flexibility in use, such as confidential and intelligence funds and unprogrammed appropriations. They, however, must be authorized by Congress and are subject to rules and conditions under law.
But as the law explicitly states, the remittances by PAGCOR and PCSO are obligations, not discretionary allocations. PAGCOR must remit 5% of its annual gross income to the PSC, while PCSO is required to transfer the full 30% share from its charity fund, derived from the proceeds of six lottery and sweepstakes draws.
Guiao could now at least breathe a sigh of relief, but noted that the win wasn’t his only.
“This is a victory for Philippine Sports and our people in general. It's been a long delayed justice that the Supreme Court has rectified with this landmark decision,” he said.
The estimated potential back pay amounts up to P33 billion, PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio told Inquirer. But the final amount will still depend on PAGCOR and PCSO’s full accounting, including audits, deductions allowed by law, and compliance with the court’s computation guidelines.
Staggering as it is, this overshadowed Philippine sports achievement could be used in a variety of ways for a holistic sports development across the archipelago. This includes building sports complexes per region, paying athletes and coaches well, and financing training abroad, Guiao said.
“May pondo na tayo para dyan,” the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor said. “May pondo na,” he reiterated, as it was nonetheless a historic win for Filipinos.
His solo fight could be celebrated, but Guiao warned that the war is far from over.
“Kailangan ay vigilant pa rin tayo kasi alam naman natin na pwedeng masalaula pa rin ‘yan [funds],” he said. “Kailangang alam pa rin natin na matitinong tao ‘yung ating mga sports leader.”
Holding those in power accountable is within the hands of the Filipino people. Protecting the upcoming remittances is an utmost responsibility of everyone to ensure the future of Philippine sports.
By now, Filipinos should have learned and understood their role in keeping government officials in check, especially after widespread and systemic corruption scandals engulfed 2025.
Guiao’s case is a perfect example of patience and perseverance in the long fight against injustice. This isn’t a medal-winning moment Filipinos could see on television, but it is historic and deserves to be remembered for years to come.
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