Puno elected ABAP president
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 22 Apr 2023
Rep. Robbie Puno was elected ABAP president in a special Board meeting via zoom teleconference the other day and vowed to work hard in honoring the memory of his predecessor, the late Ed Picson. ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas called for the emergency meeting to fill the vacancy created by Picson’s passing last Wednesday. The election was the only item on the agenda with former Rep. and ABAP vice chairman Raul Daza presiding.
Vargas said he was touched by the remarks that several Board members shared after the meeting was formally ended. Coaches representative Pat Gaspi broke down as he spoke about how Picson went all-out to support the national boxers, win or lose. Referees and judges representative Ludy Ceriales recounted how she nearly quit in studying to become a boxing official and revealed that it was Picson who encouraged her to aspire for an international three-star rating. Former Rep. Oscar Moreno recalled how Picson often visited Cagayan de Oro to back the local boxing program that produced Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam. Athletes representative and former world champion Josie Gabuco also paid tribute to Picson as her father figure.
“There are very few like him,” said Vargas. “He never asked any favors that would personally benefit him. He shied away from the limelight and gave all the credit to others when he was the man on the ground who worked very hard for the love of boxing. His selfless dedication was the reason why we won multiple medals in the Tokyo Olympics. I lost a true friend whom I had the honor to work with. ABAP will surely miss Ed and it will be in his memory that ABAP continues its pursuit of excellence in competition and leadership.”
It was Vargas who prodded Picson to undergo an executive medical checkup when he lost over 40 pounds since the pandemic. Nearly two months ago, Picson was diagnosed with cancer and the mass that grew beside his liver was as large as the organ itself. His condition was inoperable. He was confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City, for a total of 28 days over two stays and went through a session of immunotherapy. Picson was scheduled for another session on May 3.
Puno said he met Picson during the 1998 Asian Games and described him as a talented broadcaster and true sportsman. “I can only hope I am worthy to step into his position,” he said. “My friend, I wholeheartedly dedicate to you my tenure as ABAP president. The thought of you nodding approvingly and smiling down at me is enough to assuage my apprehensions as I take on this huge challenge.” Puno said a priority in his to-do list is to visit the national team’s camp in Baguio and get to know the boxers intimately as Picson did.
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