Cebu City coaches, officials optimistic about Pages as CCSC chief

John Pages (second row, third from left)  is the new Cebu City Sports Commission or CCSC chairman.

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Several sports coaches and officials of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) are optimistic about their newly-appointed chairman, John Pages, who have taken his oath last Sunday.

The 49-year-old Pages succeeded Edward Hayco who helmed CCSC’s chairmanship for 12 years. He was appointed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to lead CCSC moving forward.

One of those, who vowed to support Pages in his CCSC leadership, is no other than Cebuana Olympian and ‘Marathon Queen’ Mary Joy Tabal who had a grassroots program for running under CCSC together with trainer John Philip Dueñas. 

“To the recently appointed Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman, Sir John Pages who’ve been with me since my early years in running until my professional years, Congratulations on your appointment, Sir. Rest assured that I’ll be here to support your great command, Sir, and may we inspire more Cebuanos to take part in Sports and develop more champions. Looking forward to meet you soonest, Sir!” said Tabal, who focused her grassroots program in the mountain barangays of Cebu City.

Also, CCSC Commissioner and University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters athletic director Jessica Honoridez wishes Pages the best of luck. 

She is also very optimistic that Pages should retain his position regardless of who wins Cebu’s mayoral seat in the upcoming elections.

“As far sa pagkaila nako ni John (Pages), sa iyang involvement and presence sa sports, we know he is very capable. John can do it. Kahibawo man ko nga kaya niya maunite tanan sports sa Cebu City,” Honoridez said.

(As far as I have known John [Pages], in his involvement and presence in sportts, we know he is very capable. John can do it. I know that he can do all those involved in sports in Cebu City.)

“I trust him, kay ang nakanindot niya, he is a sportswriter. Naa na siyay knowledge daan in many sports. Hopefully, maextend siya sa next administration whoever wins the elections. Hopefully, John will remain and have the same opportunity that sir Edward Hayco had with CCSC,” said Honoridez.

(I trust him, because what I like about him, he is a sportswriter. He already have a knowledge in many sports. Hopefully, his term will be extended in the next administration, whoever wins the elections. Hopefully, John will remain and have the same opportunity that of Edward Hayco had with CCSC)

During Hayco’s term, he established the Cebu City Sports Institute in 2015 that produced hundreds of public school athletes through free grassroots development program from volunteer coaches in the City. 

He also organized numerous Guinness World Records events for Cebu City. He is best known for organizing numerous events that set records in the Guinness World Records for Cebu City. He organized the ‘Largest Dance Class’, Largest Board Game’, and the ‘Largest Arnis Class’ featuring CCSC’s grassroots development program beneficiaries. 

Athletic coach Arvin Loberanis said that he believed that Pages has the heart to become CCSC’s new chairman and wishes the latter to continue what they’ve started.

“As a coach, my expectation to the newly-appointed chairman is to continue the program of CCSC for the youth and to let them engage in different sports programs which are fit for them. I believe John Pages has the heart for his position because (he) is a sportsman himself. We coaches will support his program and cooperate (in) whatever the CCSC can offer,” said Loberanis.

Ramon Solis, an Olympian weightlifting coach who also volunteered to CCSC’s grassroots development program, said that he also wished Pages the best as the new chairman, but he would be expecting that he could further strengthen and continue the grassroots program of the city. 

“I wish the very best, and my expectations for him, maayo unta nga mahatagan og dugang equipment atong grassroots program. Maayo sad unta naa ta supply for nutrition or pagkaon ba kaha sa mga members sa Team Cebu City weightlifting kay importante man sad ang nutrition sa atong weightlifters,” said Solis. 

(I wish the very best and my expectations for him, I hope that our grassroots program can be given additional equipment. I also hope that there will be a supply for nutrition or food for the members of the Team Cebu City weightlifting because nutrition is very important for our weightlifters.)

Also, CCSC’s grassroots coach for arnis, Miko Cañete of Cacoy Cañete Doce Pares Worldwide expects Pages to continue CCSC’s program. 

“My expectations would be nga mapadayon ni sir John Pages ang program nga nasugdan and unta mas mo promote sila sa atong very own nga Filipino martial arts,” said Cañete.

(My expectations would be that John Pages would continue the program that has already been started and I hope that they can promote our very own Filipino martial arts.)

CCSC’s grassroots program in sports became a model for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in 2015 for its volunteerism and close collaboration with the Department of Education to penetrate public schools in finding talented athletes. 

The grassroots program continues today virtually due to the restrictions brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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