THE Philippine Racing Commission was in the news recently for sponsoring two charity races held last Nov. 30, the proceeds of which were turned over to charitable organizations last week.
The charity races were hosted by Philippine Racing Club, Inc. COO Santiago N. Cualoping III at PRCI’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, for the benefit of the Senate Spouses Foundation, chaired by Mrs. Bing Pimentel, mother of Senate President Koko Pimentel; and the Rotary Club of Manila Bay (RCMB) Foundation, for the benefit of Pintig Puso Foundation and Luwalhati Foundation.
Government network People’s Television Network, Inc. aired a clip last week that showed officials of Philracom at the Senate of the Philippines for the turnover ceremony. These included Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez; Commissioners lawyer Wilfred de Ungria, Bienvenido C. Niles Jr., lawyer Jose Santillan, and Lyndon Guce; and Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino, a veterinarian.
Mrs. Pimentel thanked Philracom, saying, “…if you do it to the least of your brothers, you do it unto me. [This is our way of] reaching out to our brothers and brothers in need. We thank all those who helped.”
RCMB Secretary Genevieve Gandia said that their share of the proceeds will fund two projects: their Pacemaker Bank project, which has 250 patients waiting for pacemakers; and the Luwalhati ng Maynila Home for the Aged.
Dr. Buencamino remarked that Philracom “can hold charity races for charitable institutions…We exist to serve the marginalized.”
This charity aspect of the local racing industry is a feature shared by some other racing organizations. For instance, the Hong Kong Jockey Club operates as a non-profit organization and is the area’s largest community benefactor. Its HK Jockey Charities Trust donated a record HK$3.6 billion in 2014 for charitable causes in Hong Kong.
Philracom has more charity races lined up for 2017 as it ramps up its efforts in line with government goals related to social welfare.
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Dr. Buencamino, who was recently in Hong Kong to attend the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) International Movement of Horses Committee (IMHC) conference, reports in its aftermath that the Philippines is now “recognized by [IFHA] as an affiliate member of the [Committee].”
Founded in 1993, IFHA is the organization of racing authorities around the world. The group’s objectives are to coordinate and harmonize rules of member-countries regarding racing, breeding, and wagering; ensure the quality and fairness of racing; and other similar goals, with the aim of promoting good regulation and best practices.
The IMHC was conceptualized in 1990 to look into quarantine problems. It became a permanent committee in 1994, and received its present name in 2004. Today the committee facilitates the international movement of racehorses, and looks into equine health policies and related government regulations to harmonize them across member-countries. It seeks to do the same for breeding horses.
The Philracom began applying to join IFHA during the time of then-Chairman Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, who was setting up a quarantine area and fulfilling other requirements for IFHA membership during his term. Negotiations for membership proceeded slowly under the succeeding administration, to be subsequently renewed and fast-tracked under the term of Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez.
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Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember.