(The idea to write this article occurred to be back in 2018 but I’ve held off since I thought it wasn’t much of an issue. Events of the past few days have made me think that perhaps, I should address this.)
WHEN you join the Cebu football community for the first time, you notice two things–it seems everyone knows everyone else and that there are so many Bosconians–players, coaches, and organizers. You’d often see them interact casually, seemingly as friends, in the announcers booth, organizers table, or even the referees’ tent.
And as you continue your involvement in the game in Cebu, and because of their sheer numbers you’ll often see Bosconian organizers make decisions involving Bosconian schools, then, sometimes you’d hear the oft-repeated comment or sentiments.
“Biased man sila kay mga Bosconian sila.”
“Sila-sila raman ga-sabot.”
“Pabor-pabor man ni sila.”
And that’s the Don Bosco conundrum.
Don Bosco Technical College, or simply Don Bosco, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, football entity in Cebu and as such there’s a trace of Don Bosco everywhere. Football is so ingrained in the school that most who have gone through the school are still in football in whatever capacity–a player, an organizer, or even a parent.
If you learned to love football because you went to Don Bosco, must every decision you make be colored? I’ve covered Cebu football since the 90s, when some of the new generation of football parents were in diapers, and I can’t remember a decision where a Bosconian team got the favor because a fellow Bosconian was on the organizers’ table. What is common is the perception of bias because one of the organizers involved is a Bosconian.
If we are to require organizers with Bosconian roots from recusing in making decisions involving Don Bosco teams, we’d be left with a Cesafi like setup, where there are four teams in college and five teams in high school.
Cebu football wouldn’t be where it is now if it was a Bosconian-led affair, with decisions favoring DBTC.
Do you know when Cebu football grew exponentially? When teams other than Don Bosco began winning tournaments.
The high school and elementary divisions were boring affairs until Paref Springdale ended the Don Bosco-Ateneo duopoly. And when football festivals became the norm, other schools, and clubs got to shine, contributing to Cebu football’s growth.
That wouldn’t be possible if every organizer–most of whom have Bosconian connections–would decide matters with St. John in mind. That would stifle growth.
What we have now is a perception of bias, and sadly, it’s a perception that some coaches fuel, especially if they face irate parents who pay their salaries. They say what the parents want to hear, “they won because the organizers are Bosconians, they got the favorable decisions because the organizers are Bosconians.”
Sadly, this sentiment is widely shared among those who think their success is being stifled.
Cebu football is the envy of the rest of the country because of the people behind them–organizers, players, coaches, and yes, parents–but that wouldn’t be possible if there is a Bosconian conspiracy meant to stop other teams from excelling.
There’s no Bosconian conspiracy. There’s no Old Boys Network meant to stop other teams from winning titles. There’s none. It only exists in the minds of those who seek it.
The notion that Bosconians are out to prevent teams from winning tournaments is not only ridiculous it stifles the growth of Cebu football because most decisions are seen under that light. Besides, Bosconians have tournaments among Bosconians schools they can join if they want to keep the title in the family.