Manila, Philippines, January 21, 2025: The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) made key appointments during its first General Assembly of the year, held at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Parañaque City on Monday, January 20.
Ricky Vargas was named Chef de Mission for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, while Al Panlilio will oversee preparations for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
Other appointments include Rep. Richard Gomez for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Dr. Jose Raul Canlas for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December and Stephen Arapoc for the Chengdu 2025 World Games.
Richard Lim will lead the delegation for the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China next month.
POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino emphasized the importance of early preparation to ensure teams and athletes were ready for international competitions.
The assembly also approved a P35 million (USD625,000) working budget for 2025, reflecting an adjustment to prioritize Paris Olympics preparations. Additionally, the POC reported a P15 million (USD268,000) savings from last year.
Other notable appointments include former football president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta as ethics committee chairman and Atty. Daniel Hofileña as arbitration committee head.
The assembly outlined upcoming events, including the SEA Games in Thailand this December and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, underscoring the POC’s focus on long-term planning and athlete support.