New year, new goals: Gregorio wishes more success for Phl sports

Except for good health and more energy to fulfill his role, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio has nothing more to ask for in this brand-new year.

But for Philippine sports, he has a long list of wishes.

In a message to DAILY TRIBUNE on New Year’s Day, Gregorio said he wants nothing but success for the national athletes as they compete for pride and glory in major international tournaments in 2026.

Topping the list of international events is the 20th Asian Games that will be held in Nagoya in Japan from 19 September to 4 October.

During the previous staging of the Asian Games in 2023 in Hangzhou, the Filipinos won only four gold medals courtesy of Ernest John Obiena, Meggie Ochoa, Annie Ramirez and Gilas Pilipinas. This time, Gregorio wants the Filipino athletes to surpass that as they parade a powerhouse cast bannered by world No. 53 Alex Eala of lawn tennis and double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo of gymnastics.

“For myself, I have no wish except good health and energy,” said Gregorio when asked about his New Year wish on Thursday morning.

“But for Philippine sports, my wish is for us to garner more than four gold medals in the Asian Games in 2026.” 

But emerging successful in the Asian Games is just one of Gregorio’s goals this year.

Also included in Gregorio’s wishlist is to sustain the rehabilitation of regional training centers and sports facilities around the country to help boost their grassroots sports program.

Among those that are lined up for development are the sports facilities in Ilocos Norte, Athletic Bowl in Baguio City, University of the Philippines Mindanao in Davao, and other regional training centers. He said he will work closely with the Bases Conversion Development Authority to maximize land assets that can be converted into more training facilities.

Of course, not to be outdone are the rehabilitation of government-owned training centers at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in the City of Manila, Philsports compound in Pasig City and the Teachers Camp in Baguio City, where the majority of the national athletes are training and staying.

Gregorio also wants to strike more collaborations with national sports associations (NSAs) and international federations so that the country can host more major international events.

Last year alone, the Philippines hosted three major events — the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup and the FIG Men’s Artistic Junior Gymnastics — that brought in multi-million revenue to the local tourism industry.

Gregorio, a heavyweight in the hospitality industry before venturing into sports administration, is set to get the ball rolling this year when they host the Philippine Women’s Open 2026, a Women’s Tennis Association 125 event where Eala has a solid chance of seeing action depending on her Australian Open campaign, from 26 to 31 January at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

“We want to pursue more international sports tourism events through the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee,” said Gregorio, who was appointed as chairman of the special body formed by the President to oversee the successful staging of sports tourism-related initiatives.

Gregorio also said he wants to sustain his healthy and harmonious relationship with his fellow stakeholders like the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executives and the NSA leaders so that Philippine sports can really take off. 

“We want to have a harmonious relationship with the POC and all the NSAs,” said Gregorio, who enjoys a warm relationship with POC chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and other NSA leaders for being a former NSA executive, POC secretary general and Philippine Basketball Association chairman.

He, however, stressed that if there’s something he really wants for Philippine sports in this brand-new season, it is to put back the smile on the faces of the national athletes.

“We want to make them happy. We will continue to wow them,” said Gregorio, who impressed the national athletes when he raised their monthly allowances by P5,000 in his first two days on the job.

“Everything we do is for them.”