The Full Monty: Ramos' reaction on PFF memo (complete version)
This is to clarify the points raised in the memo written on 01 February 2006 by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Acting General Secretary Domeka Garamendi on the national U19 women's team:
1. "The AFC had set the deadline for submission of confirmation forms by 31 August 2005 which the PFF had failed to adhere due to a clerical oversight. The clerical error was only discovered during the latter part of December when the PFF inquired about information pertaining to the competition since no notification was ever relayed leading up to the end of 2005."
What did Mr. Garamendi mean by "clerical oversight?" Did they dial the wrong number? Sent the wrong forms? What?!? I personally checked in the PFF if they sent out any documents, such as a letter of intent to participate or the official entry form itself, to the AFC on or before 31 August 2005, but no such documents were found in their files. No records regarding the Philippine team's entry to the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition sent on or before the deadline were found at all. In other words, there was NO clerical oversight nor clerical error committed since there was NO entry form submitted by the PFF to the AFC IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Naturally, as the AFC presumed that the Philippines was not going to compete since they did not send any entry form, there was no need to send information regarding this competition to the PFF.
2. "During this period, the PFF was under the impression that it had been already accepted as a participating country and therefore began to scout and recruit potential players and to organize and train the National Women's U19 Team."
Why was the PFF "under the impression" that it had already been accepted as a competitor when it never sent entry forms on time in the first place? (The PFF sent the entry forms on 03 January 2006, FOUR months after the deadline!)
3. "At the discovery of this unfortunate situation last December, the undersigned immediately sought for an appeal and was consequently informed by the AFC to submit a reconsideration letter."
It is incredible that the undersigned discovered this "unfortunate situation" only in December, considering that a national team was going to compete in a major, important competition in the AFC. The AFC U19 Women's Championship selects the Asian teams for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, which will take place in Russia in September this year. In fact, in its 03 January 2006 letter to the AFC asking for reconsideration for the Philippines' participation, the PFF explicitly stated that the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Tournament was one of the competitions which the PFF intended to join in for 2006.
Additionally, why did the PFF not call the AFC immediately after sending out the entry forms to confirm if the AFC received them? (Presumably, such documents were sent by fax or email for expediency.) This is a standard procedure which any office would follow regarding important matters. Obviously, the PFF considers the Philippine team's participation so minor that the PFF can actually afford to leave things to "clerical oversight" and "clerical error." The AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition is by no means insignificant and does not deserve token attention from the PFF.
4. "It is quite sad and disheartening to note that the Deputy Chairperson of the AFC Women's Committee outright declined our request for assistance with the AFC."
Although Mr. Garamendi did not even have the courtesy nor the respect to actually mention my name (clerical error? Clerical oversight??) together with the title of Deputy Chairperson of the AFC Women's Committee, obviously he was referring to me as I am the only one who currently holds that position.
I would like to clarify that Mr. Garamendi and Mr. Romualdez NEVER asked for my help at all on this matter either vocally or in writing. I had one brief meeting on 23 January 2006 in the PFF board room with Mr. Garamendi when I found out that the Philippines was not included in the competition. When I asked what happened to the Philippine entry, he claimed that the information was given to the PFF Women's Committee but the Women's Committee "never got back to me." I clarified with Ms. Linda Schaefer, PFF Women's Committee chairman, if indeed she was given any information regarding the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition before the given deadline, and she said none was given to her. Additionally, Mr. Garamendi just said "it won't happen again." Sensing that I would not get any sufficient explanations, I thanked him for his time and promptly ended the brief meeting.
To clarify matters, Ms. Schaefer called a Women's Committee meeting shortly thereafter to discuss the matter with Mr. Garamendi so that he could explain the situation to the Committee. Although this would have been the opportune time for Mr. Garamendi to ask for my assistance, he did not ask at all. So it is incorrect for him to claim that I declined their request for assistance with the AFC when they again NEVER asked for my assistance on the matter in the first place.
I did openly say, however, that I would not help the PFF on the attempt for reconsideration because I could not accept their reasons borne out of sheer negligence and irresponsibility. Aside from this, I already anticipated the AFC's rejection, as the reasons given by the PFF are not grounds for reconsideration. So it would have been useless to ask at all. If it were reasons such as force majeure (typhoon, tsunami, earthquake, etc.) or civil war, then maybe the AFC would have reconsidered the late PFF entry.
As the Deputy Chairman ot the AFC Women's Committee, I am concerned with all of Asian women's football and obliged to protect its integrity. I do not only protect the interests of the PFF if there is a need, but of all those in the AFC family. I find it highly improper and unethical for me to appeal to the AFC in behalf of the PFF for reasons of "clerical error" and "clerical oversight" when the other countries did their homework and submitted their entries on time. Had I appealed for the PFF on those accounts, I would have risked my own personal integrity and suffered great embarrassment.
5. "The staff member responsible for this clerical error is no longer connected and/or associated with the PFF and the direct superior of the erring staff member submitted his resignation which was not accepted by the PFF President."
While no name of the "erring staff member" was mentioned in Mr. Garamendi's memo, I believe he was referring to Mr. Ian Amane. Mr. Amane started working in the PFF only around July 2005 and was terminated in December 2005. Assuming that Mr. Amane was given the task to handle the submission of the RP U19 women's team's entry form to the AFC, shouldn't the PFF have been more careful in letting Mr. Amane handle important matters as he was a new staff member? Shouldn't there have been a more direct supervision of Mr. Amane in handling such matters from his direct superior to prevent any errors or oversight?
6. "We would like to clarify that no funding from the Philippine Sports Commission was ever used for the training and the preparation of the National Team contrary to certain uninformed sectors."
Regardless of the source of funding for the RP U19 women's team, the point of the matter is that the PFF needed to be more prudent in spending money and using scarce resources. The PFF still allowed this team to be formed when they already missed the deadline.
"Walang budget" may as well be the PFF's motto, since every time an activity or program is proposed, this is the answer that they give. Money was used for transportation and board for a 5-day training camp at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. The reason for spending that money was to train the team for the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition, not for the 24th South East Asian Games 2007, not for a proposed international invitational tournament in October.
7. "We would like to point out that the end-all and be-all of this National Youth Team was not simply to participate in the AFC Qualifiers but to identify and prepare these players for their possible inclusion in the Senior team.
"The main objective of this youth team was to inject fresh new footballers to the Senior Team which is focusing on next year's AFC Women's Senior Championship and the 24th South East Asian Games in 2007."
Indeed, it would be very nice to have a team prepare this early for the AFC Women's Senior Championship and the 24th South East Asian Games Thailand 2007. Most likely, the 24th SEA Games will be held in December 2007. Wow! A two-year preparation! What a lucky team!
I do not understand, though, the PFF's insistence in retaining this RP U19 women's team (aside from trying to cover up their great blunder). Clearly, the Philippines has missed the deadline. Why continue the charade, the moro-moro, the zarzuela, the soap opera, the deception? Why doesn't the PFF just terminate the training of the U19 team at this point and instead shift its focus on forming the RP U16 women's team, which might still have a chance to represent the Philippines in September this year in the AFC U16 Women's Qualifying Competition? That is, if the PFF does not have another "clerical oversight" and "clerical error."
Or better yet, just spend all that precious money, which they now seem to have so much of, on LOCAL competitions and help the provincial football associations start their own girls'/women's football programs. If the intention is to discover new talents for the senior team, why not organize local competitions instead? The PFF would have hit two birds with one stone: the local competitions would have contributed to women's football development among the provincial FAs and the PFF would have found the talents they needed.
The PFF's consuelo de bobo for the RP U19 women's team is to have an international invitational tournament in October. Well and good. The PFF claims that it will bring the Philippines some (pogi, or rather ganda) points to up its FIFA ranking by holding this non-bearing friendly tournament. Has the PFF actually calculated how many points it will give the country? (To note, the Philippines' FIFA ranking in the men's teams before December 2005 was 187 out of 205 countries. In December it was down to 191.)
But again, shouldn't the PFF now be focusing and investing on the U16 women's team, as this is now the focus of FIFA and the AFC? And if it really wants to host an international competition, why does the PFF not just bid to host the AFC U16 Women's Qualifying Competition? At least it's an official competition, and not just a pa-cute tournament to make the PFF just that: CUTE.
1. "The AFC had set the deadline for submission of confirmation forms by 31 August 2005 which the PFF had failed to adhere due to a clerical oversight. The clerical error was only discovered during the latter part of December when the PFF inquired about information pertaining to the competition since no notification was ever relayed leading up to the end of 2005."
What did Mr. Garamendi mean by "clerical oversight?" Did they dial the wrong number? Sent the wrong forms? What?!? I personally checked in the PFF if they sent out any documents, such as a letter of intent to participate or the official entry form itself, to the AFC on or before 31 August 2005, but no such documents were found in their files. No records regarding the Philippine team's entry to the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition sent on or before the deadline were found at all. In other words, there was NO clerical oversight nor clerical error committed since there was NO entry form submitted by the PFF to the AFC IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Naturally, as the AFC presumed that the Philippines was not going to compete since they did not send any entry form, there was no need to send information regarding this competition to the PFF.
2. "During this period, the PFF was under the impression that it had been already accepted as a participating country and therefore began to scout and recruit potential players and to organize and train the National Women's U19 Team."
Why was the PFF "under the impression" that it had already been accepted as a competitor when it never sent entry forms on time in the first place? (The PFF sent the entry forms on 03 January 2006, FOUR months after the deadline!)
3. "At the discovery of this unfortunate situation last December, the undersigned immediately sought for an appeal and was consequently informed by the AFC to submit a reconsideration letter."
It is incredible that the undersigned discovered this "unfortunate situation" only in December, considering that a national team was going to compete in a major, important competition in the AFC. The AFC U19 Women's Championship selects the Asian teams for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, which will take place in Russia in September this year. In fact, in its 03 January 2006 letter to the AFC asking for reconsideration for the Philippines' participation, the PFF explicitly stated that the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Tournament was one of the competitions which the PFF intended to join in for 2006.
Additionally, why did the PFF not call the AFC immediately after sending out the entry forms to confirm if the AFC received them? (Presumably, such documents were sent by fax or email for expediency.) This is a standard procedure which any office would follow regarding important matters. Obviously, the PFF considers the Philippine team's participation so minor that the PFF can actually afford to leave things to "clerical oversight" and "clerical error." The AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition is by no means insignificant and does not deserve token attention from the PFF.
4. "It is quite sad and disheartening to note that the Deputy Chairperson of the AFC Women's Committee outright declined our request for assistance with the AFC."
Although Mr. Garamendi did not even have the courtesy nor the respect to actually mention my name (clerical error? Clerical oversight??) together with the title of Deputy Chairperson of the AFC Women's Committee, obviously he was referring to me as I am the only one who currently holds that position.
I would like to clarify that Mr. Garamendi and Mr. Romualdez NEVER asked for my help at all on this matter either vocally or in writing. I had one brief meeting on 23 January 2006 in the PFF board room with Mr. Garamendi when I found out that the Philippines was not included in the competition. When I asked what happened to the Philippine entry, he claimed that the information was given to the PFF Women's Committee but the Women's Committee "never got back to me." I clarified with Ms. Linda Schaefer, PFF Women's Committee chairman, if indeed she was given any information regarding the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition before the given deadline, and she said none was given to her. Additionally, Mr. Garamendi just said "it won't happen again." Sensing that I would not get any sufficient explanations, I thanked him for his time and promptly ended the brief meeting.
To clarify matters, Ms. Schaefer called a Women's Committee meeting shortly thereafter to discuss the matter with Mr. Garamendi so that he could explain the situation to the Committee. Although this would have been the opportune time for Mr. Garamendi to ask for my assistance, he did not ask at all. So it is incorrect for him to claim that I declined their request for assistance with the AFC when they again NEVER asked for my assistance on the matter in the first place.
I did openly say, however, that I would not help the PFF on the attempt for reconsideration because I could not accept their reasons borne out of sheer negligence and irresponsibility. Aside from this, I already anticipated the AFC's rejection, as the reasons given by the PFF are not grounds for reconsideration. So it would have been useless to ask at all. If it were reasons such as force majeure (typhoon, tsunami, earthquake, etc.) or civil war, then maybe the AFC would have reconsidered the late PFF entry.
As the Deputy Chairman ot the AFC Women's Committee, I am concerned with all of Asian women's football and obliged to protect its integrity. I do not only protect the interests of the PFF if there is a need, but of all those in the AFC family. I find it highly improper and unethical for me to appeal to the AFC in behalf of the PFF for reasons of "clerical error" and "clerical oversight" when the other countries did their homework and submitted their entries on time. Had I appealed for the PFF on those accounts, I would have risked my own personal integrity and suffered great embarrassment.
5. "The staff member responsible for this clerical error is no longer connected and/or associated with the PFF and the direct superior of the erring staff member submitted his resignation which was not accepted by the PFF President."
While no name of the "erring staff member" was mentioned in Mr. Garamendi's memo, I believe he was referring to Mr. Ian Amane. Mr. Amane started working in the PFF only around July 2005 and was terminated in December 2005. Assuming that Mr. Amane was given the task to handle the submission of the RP U19 women's team's entry form to the AFC, shouldn't the PFF have been more careful in letting Mr. Amane handle important matters as he was a new staff member? Shouldn't there have been a more direct supervision of Mr. Amane in handling such matters from his direct superior to prevent any errors or oversight?
6. "We would like to clarify that no funding from the Philippine Sports Commission was ever used for the training and the preparation of the National Team contrary to certain uninformed sectors."
Regardless of the source of funding for the RP U19 women's team, the point of the matter is that the PFF needed to be more prudent in spending money and using scarce resources. The PFF still allowed this team to be formed when they already missed the deadline.
"Walang budget" may as well be the PFF's motto, since every time an activity or program is proposed, this is the answer that they give. Money was used for transportation and board for a 5-day training camp at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. The reason for spending that money was to train the team for the AFC U19 Women's Qualifying Competition, not for the 24th South East Asian Games 2007, not for a proposed international invitational tournament in October.
7. "We would like to point out that the end-all and be-all of this National Youth Team was not simply to participate in the AFC Qualifiers but to identify and prepare these players for their possible inclusion in the Senior team.
"The main objective of this youth team was to inject fresh new footballers to the Senior Team which is focusing on next year's AFC Women's Senior Championship and the 24th South East Asian Games in 2007."
Indeed, it would be very nice to have a team prepare this early for the AFC Women's Senior Championship and the 24th South East Asian Games Thailand 2007. Most likely, the 24th SEA Games will be held in December 2007. Wow! A two-year preparation! What a lucky team!
I do not understand, though, the PFF's insistence in retaining this RP U19 women's team (aside from trying to cover up their great blunder). Clearly, the Philippines has missed the deadline. Why continue the charade, the moro-moro, the zarzuela, the soap opera, the deception? Why doesn't the PFF just terminate the training of the U19 team at this point and instead shift its focus on forming the RP U16 women's team, which might still have a chance to represent the Philippines in September this year in the AFC U16 Women's Qualifying Competition? That is, if the PFF does not have another "clerical oversight" and "clerical error."
Or better yet, just spend all that precious money, which they now seem to have so much of, on LOCAL competitions and help the provincial football associations start their own girls'/women's football programs. If the intention is to discover new talents for the senior team, why not organize local competitions instead? The PFF would have hit two birds with one stone: the local competitions would have contributed to women's football development among the provincial FAs and the PFF would have found the talents they needed.
The PFF's consuelo de bobo for the RP U19 women's team is to have an international invitational tournament in October. Well and good. The PFF claims that it will bring the Philippines some (pogi, or rather ganda) points to up its FIFA ranking by holding this non-bearing friendly tournament. Has the PFF actually calculated how many points it will give the country? (To note, the Philippines' FIFA ranking in the men's teams before December 2005 was 187 out of 205 countries. In December it was down to 191.)
But again, shouldn't the PFF now be focusing and investing on the U16 women's team, as this is now the focus of FIFA and the AFC? And if it really wants to host an international competition, why does the PFF not just bid to host the AFC U16 Women's Qualifying Competition? At least it's an official competition, and not just a pa-cute tournament to make the PFF just that: CUTE.
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