Philippine Asian News Today Vol 21 No 7 | Page 30

30 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY April 1 - 15, 2019 For simply wearing her uniform, Ateneo volleyball player harassed online A photo of a volleyball player from Ateneo de Manila University became the subject of sexual remarks mostly from men because of her fitted uniform. The photo was posted on the fan page of AdMU’s volleyball team early in April but had since been deleted. Concerned users were able to make screenshots of the offensive comments and called for them to stop sexualizing women based on clothing. The comments placed under the photo of a student athlete wearing a sweater and shorts contain messages suggestive of online harassment. Twitter user @marie_analain pointed out that volleyball players wear the uniform that are mandated by official rules and so that they could move comfortably. “Because of guys like them, do you think we can play properly knowing that there are guys with that kind of mindset?” she said. The photo was taken during the team’s match against the University of the East based on the schedule of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball competition. Standards for volleyball uniforms Volleyball players whether male or female wear shorts and jerseys to help them move when training and during the game. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, the governing body of the sport, dictates that jerseys should have an “athletic look.” “Player uniform consists of jersey (shirt), short, training suit and socks, and must be same for the whole team,” the FIVB said. “Jerseys must not be loose or baggy and should follow the bodyline,” it added. Jerseys should also be collared. However, this requirement is not followed in uniforms in the Philippines. Meanwhile, shorts for women should “fit the bodyline, tight in waist and length.” The piece of clothing should also have an “inseam of maximum 5 cm or cut in an upward angle towards the top of the leg.” “Women are allowed to use a one piece uniform if the standards for jersey and shorts are met,” the agency said. Wearing tight shorts is also beneficial for Filipino players when playing under the summer heat. The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 that prevents forms of crimes in cyberspace does not have a specific provision against cyberbullying. The Anti-Sexual harassment Act of 1995 that punishes sexual harassment at work, in training and in educational institutions also do not include acts of online harassment. (C.R Madarang, Interakson) Vargas wants transparent, honest POC JUST 14 months into his job as president of Philippine Olympic Committee, Ricky Vargas is learning the hard way it’s lonely being on top. As much as he wants to cultivate changes right away within the country’s Olympic governing body, Vargas admitted yesterday it will take some time before solid transformation can be effected. For the moment, he’s trying to fit into the system currently ingrained within the organization while attempting to put in place some changes. “Where I am not comfortable in the PCO is the culture, and how my own personality or leadership is being forced to a situation that I don’t like in terms of running the organization,” Vargas said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila. “I’m not too happy about that and we’d like to move forward to seeing to it that the culture changes into a more transparent, more honest, and less political organization,” he added. Vargas and Tagaytay Rep. Bambol Tolentino were voted president and chairman, respectively, in 2018, beating Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and Ting Ledesma in a court-ordered poll at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Getting the post of president is just half of the job. Vargas had to work and deal with a POC board that was a holdover from the previous administration. And he’s learning it’s not that easy. “So we have to live to the culture of the board that we are trying to work with,” said Vargas, who was also with POC communications director Ed Picson in the public service program presented by San Miguel Corp., Tapa King, Amelie Hotel-Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. “So they have many rights, procedures, tradition, and all that we’re trying to work with,” added Vargas, whose first year in office was met by unsettled leadership disputes in various National Sports Associations, POC membership issues, and changes within the POC By-Laws and Constitution, among others. He’s also among the lead persons currently working on the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year. Vargas, grandson of former Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (forerunner of POC) chairman Jorge Vargas, said he’s trying to work with the current norms within the Olympic body. “I am trying to change as well if I can, if I can change, if I can live in that kind of environment,” added Vargas as he addressed rumors that the other officers of the POC have plotted several times to oust him. The good thing, Vargas said, is that has Tolentino by his side, whom he referred to as his “angel.” “He is a politician and he knows how to handle the board. That’s why I don’t want to have a board meeting without ‘Tol.’” Vargas said in his short stint as POC chief, he is proud with what he has done for the athletes and the proper governance of the organization.(Malaya) 08/02/2019 OVS 2019_Filipino.jpg https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwBVWRXqsHFgkRDNVgrPTcjfgjr?projector=1&messagePartId=0.3 WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM 1/1