MANILA, Philippines — A WELCOME celebration for a new baby boy at Chef Jessie's at Rockwell segued to a show of full support behind Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino who's seeking a fresh four-year term as president during the Philippine Olympic Committee's (POC) elections on Friday.

Tolentino and national sports association (NSA) leaders were to savor sumptuous food and interesting conversation on sports to welcome POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan's youngest son, Drake.

But was a get together that was enough to mimic a POC General Assembly with Tolentino earning the commitment of dozens of NSAs—61 of them eligible to cast their votes for president, first and second vice presidents, treasurer, auditor and members of the Executive Board.

Ricky Vargas, now chairman of the boxing association but a top honcho at the Manuel V. Pangilinan Group, was most vocal in supporting Tolentino's bid to head the POC and add on the three gold medals won in the Olympics under his watch—weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's in Tokyo 2020 and gymasts Carlos Yulo's two titles in Paris 2024.

"I'm solidly for the continuation of the programs of Bambol [Tolentino]," Vargas said. "He's been able to help not only the POC stature, but bring up the stature of the POC and he also helps many athletes."

"We need a man like him especially in the POC where politics is painful," he added.

It was a who's who of NSA leaders—Vargas, Tolentino's second vice president bet in his "Working Team" ticket Rep. Richard Gomez and treasurer Dr. Jose Raul Canlas and board member candidate Lenlen Escollante,, Paolo Tancontian, Joebert Yu, Ting Ledesma, Epok Quimpo, Geourgina Avercilla, Karen Tanchiangco, Nikki Cheng, Ramon "Tats" Suzara, Ricky Lim, Mico Vargas, Mariano Araneta, Chan, Jarryd Bello and Bones Floro.

The POC Elections Committee, meanwhile, junked a petition filed by presidential candidate Chito Loyzaga's group to disqualify Tolentino from running on grounds bordering from a potential conflict of interest for his being mayor of Tagaytay City to failure to file annual financial statements.

The committee chaired by Atty. Teddy Kalaw with members Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Olivia "Bong" Bong Coo and Colegio de San Juan de Letran President and Rector Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion, OP, also decided to disqualify only one from Loyzaga's group—Executive Board candidate Rommel Miranda who's no longer the secretary-general of kurash.

Also in Tolentino's ticket are Al Panlilio for first vice president, Don Caringal for auditor and Aguilar of wrestling, Ferdie Agustin of jiu-jitsu, Escalante of canoe kayak, Alexander Sulit of judo and Leah Gonzales of fencing for members of the Executive Board. TMT