FELIX O. TIUKINHOY, JR.
Fair but fearless collegiate basketball czar
He takes pride for being the longest- serving commissioner of Cebu's premiere collegiate basketball league. For seven years, he served as basketball czar of the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA) until it was dissolved in 1999. Upon the inception of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) in 2000, he was hired as commissioner of the league, a position
he held until at present.
His term is actually co-terminus with the president of the league. But because of his untarnished reputation, sense of fairness in deciding ticklish issues and innovative ideas for the professional growth of players and for the betterment of the league, he had been of service to six school presidents for nearly two decades already. That's how trusted and revered a person he is in the local hoopdom.
One may wonder how he lasted that long. Come to think of it, he doesn't receive any monetary compensation in handling such a tedious task. He could have just focused on his business being the President of Virginia Foods, Inc. but he opted to embrace all the rigors, challenges and 'headaches' the job of a commissioner entails.
For Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr., it's all for the love of service. It has always been his desire to be a worthy and productive member of the society where he belongs.
" From the start of my involvement in the school league, I have never received any salary. My work in CAAA and CESAFI is a community service, my way of giving back what I have attained in my professional life. I intend to continue this voluntary work as long as the league needs my services," said Tiukinhoy.
He carries on his shoulders a heavy responsibility. He must see to it that all rules and regulations are properly implemented in a given tournament. However, there are some quarters who tend to break the rules, some are daring enough to commit an infraction on the league's by- laws just to challenge his authority and test his firmness in handing judgment.
For a well-established athletic organization involving prestigious schools, one cannot commit a mistake even in the slighest form in deciding a delicate matter. Worse, you have already subjected yourself to ridicule and possible backlash from the aggrieved party.
"Controversies are always part of the territory. Once they are solved, I learn from it and release it to the universe as part of my experience. I just focus on my work and seek what is best for the league," said Tiukinhoy, who is also the assistant secretarygeneral of the Federation of Schools Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP).
Tiukinhoy has dished out a stack of controversial decisions that drew adverse reaction against him, but it doesn't dampen his spirit nor soften his resolve knowing that he based his judgment on the basic principles of what is fair, what is right and what is good for the institution he is tasked to take care of.
"My guiding principle in serving as CESAFI Commissioner is simple: To uphold the spirit of excellence and fairness in sports and to complement the schools’ academic programs," said Tiukinhoy.
"Resolving an issue is a matter of discussing the concern on hand based on the approved rules and regulations of the school league, consulting the commissioners and tournament managers of the league; and, reaching a decision following due process," he added.
Aside from being an awardwinning sportsman, Tiukinhoy, a Certified Public Accountant with a Masters in Business Administration degree from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), is also an accomplished businessman. The man at the helm of VFI is also the National Chairman of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI). He is also a Trustee of both the Cebu Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (CCCI) and the European Chamber and Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)-Cebu Chapter.
When asked on what is by far his biggest achievement and contribution to Cebu sports, Tiukinhoy humbly replied: "I really can’t say what is my biggest achievement but I think I was able to contribute in making CAAA and CESAFI into a relevant, credible and prestigious league particularly in screening the credentials of student athletes to ensure that only those qualified are allowed to play in the tournaments."