UAAP: Sen. Pia Cayetano decries high school residency rule

(Updated 5:11pm) Senator Pia Cayetano exposed the new UAAP residency rule for its weaknesses, calling it a "terrible choice" to impose on student-athletes, at a special hearing on Monday. "You present the athletes with a terrible choice: stay with a school that isn't your first choice, or move to a school that you want but not play the sport which is your first love," she charged. "I will call it a spade: the rule protects the institution more than it protects the child." [Related: Modified UAAP rule encumbers freedom of choice - Sen. Pia Cayetano] Sen. Pia Cayetano recommended that any residency rules for high school students entering college be removed, and said that a one-year residency for college-to-college transfer was enough. She also added that she would explore legal options for students should the rule change push through. Last month, the UAAP Board passed a rule requiring high school students from UAAP schools  to serve two years of residency if they decide to enroll in and play for a different collegiate team. At a hearing-in-aid-of-legislation, Sen. Pia Cayetano said that the matter fell under her interest as the chairperson on the committee of youth, women and family relations. "I'm a UAAP alumna. In a sense it was my playground and my life. It's my wish that the athletes of today and the future get as much out of it as I did, and even more," she added, explaining that she used to play for the UP women's volleyball team. A father's wish Jerry Pingoy spoke on behalf of his son, UAAP juniors MVP Jerie, whose transfer from FEU high school to Ateneo was ground-zero of the residency rule furor. "Kung may anak kayo't gaganunin, magiging masaya ba kayo?" he said. "Sana maawa kayo sa bata, para makita natin agad yung galing ng mga bata." "Sinabi [ng Ateneo] sakin, kukunin namin ang anak mo dahil mabait siya, maganda ang ugali niya," said Pingoy. He added that Jerie wanted to play for Ateneo to emulate his idol, Blue Eagle alum and current PBA player Chris Tiu. "Dormitory at allowance lang ang in-offer ng Ateneo," he added, denying rumors of additional incentives and rewards for transferring. Given the topic of allowances, Sen. Pia Cayetano suggested that the UAAP ought to explore regulating allowances instead of "harming the child's future" with increased residency rules. Expert opinion Cayetano invited several experts to provide alternative perspectives on the rule. Dr. Luisa Guinto-Adviento from the ADMU School of Medicine and Public Health said that time away from high levels of competition can deprive athletes from maximizing their peak years at the highest levels of competition. "When you return, there's nothing to hold on to," said Guinto-Adviento. "Your last major competition two to three years ago will not speak of you now, and nobody, not even your coaches or teammates, can vouch for you [when you return]." Vic Bartolome, father of UAAP swimming MVP Mikey, rejected the idea that universities had investments to protect in the first place. "Noong five years old pa ang anak ko, ako ang nagbabayad ng training at ng pool. Noong kinuha siya ng UST, ako ang nagbayad para sa private coach, hindi ang UST," he said. "Nag-set ng record ang anak ko at nagbigay ng karangalan sa UST, pero hindi ito dahil sa UST, at hindi dahil ginastusan siya ng UST." Bartolome added his daughter, who studied at UST high school, wishes to enroll in UP in the coming year, but will incur additional costs due to the residency rule. "Ngayon, wala nang chance maging rookie of the year ang anak ko. Pag-pasok niya sa UP, hindi siya bibigyan ng priority dahil magiging Team B lang siya dahil sa residency niya." Bartolome, a government employee, also added that UP will now require his daughter to pay tuition since she will not be a UAAP athlete during the residency period. Cayetano strongly encouraged the board to reconsider their position, saying she'd support any legal action that student-athletes would take. The lady senator said families' places of residence also factor into where children study, and said it would be unfair for a child to be "locked in" to Ateneo for attending high school there, just because his family lived in the Diliman/Marikina area. "Should we hold them back because we feel that we've given them so much?" she asked. "Though there may be valid reasons for implementing this rule, there may be repercussions that we have not thought of." The board's defense "The UAAP has become more competitive. Schools have been recruiting from other UAAP schools and their high schools," said board chairman Nilo Ocampo, explaining the board's desire to protect their investment in molding the athlete within their respective programs. Ocampo also noted, "Maybe it all started with Pingoy's case, but the rule didn't start overnight. Our amendments committee studied it and gave it to us." Board member Fr. Max Rendon, CM, explained typical incentives like dormitories, meals and allowances might not be enough for some schools to retain their athletes. "We train them during college so they can easily integrate with the college team. Unfortunately, some of them have been recruited by other schools because they're offered bigger allowances than Adamson can offer," he said. "I didn't hesitate to support it because hopefully this new rule will prevent our players from transferring." At the end of the discussion, the Board seemed to concede the merits of the appeals during the hearing. "The rule is final and will be effective in the upcoming UAAP Season 76," said Ateneo representative Ricky Palou. "We will have another board meeting next week and we will discuss again whether to repeal or amend the rule." Ocampo added after the hearing, "The league always thinks of the plight of our athletes. Maybe we'll reconsider." - AMD/HS, GMA News