Tatakbo si Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Ella Juico sa vice presidency ng powerful Asian Athletics Association sa Hunyo 1 sa Wuhan, China, ang host ng 21st Asian Athletics Championships.

Tinanggap ni AAA’s Secretary General Maurice Nicholas, nasa asosasyon na simula pa noong 1973, ang kandidatura ni Juico, na kinilala ang rekognisyon ng body sa dating Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman sa presidency ng local athletics’ association.

“I will push for the AAA’s support for the creation of the ASEAN Athletics Integration, which mimics the ASEAN Economic Integration using the ASEAN as one athletic development platform with each country assigned a specific role to play like championing and/or being the center of excellence for a particular athletics event/discipline,” saad ni Juico, na inilatag ang nasabing mungkahi noong Nobyembre 2014 sa Singapore ng ang mga pangulo ng athletics associations sa ASEAN ay magtagpo at pag-usapan kahalagahan ng ASEAN sa athletics sa 2014 Asian Games sa Incheon.

“I will also bat for the further strengthening of the ‘Kids in Athletics’ program by working closely, in the Philippines, with the Department of Education. I will also totally support the emerging concept of ‘Street Athletics’ which promotes the sport of athletics among ordinary lay persons by converting ordinary roads and thoroughfares for brief specific times in the city into mini-tracks and ovals. This can be done in close coordination with local authorities so as not to exacerbate traffic conditions in various localities. In short, bring athletics literally to the grassroots,” dagdag ni Juico, ang dating cabinet member (Agrarian Reform) ng Cory Aquino administration.

Sinabi ni Juico, abala sa kasalukuyan upang paghandaan ang 2015 Philippine National Open-Invitational Athletics Championships sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna sa Marso 19 hanggang 22, tatayo ang Pilipinas sa isang napakahalagang role sa Asian athletics.

“It was through the efforts of the late Governor Jose Sering, father of PATAFA Vice President, Nicanor (Boy) Sering that the then AAAA or Four A’s (Asian Amateur Athletic Association) was born on November 21, 1973 during the first Asian Athletics Championships held in Marikina. The PATAFA therefore has a special responsibility and obligation to play an active role in the AAA because of Gov. Sering’s legacy. In addition, my predecessor, Go Teng Kok is one of only five Honorary Vice Presidents of the AAA. By being active in the AAA, we will be in a better position to lobby for more outside, non-government assistance for athletics development. If we produce results as a Vice President, our country will stand to benefit,” paliwanag ni Juico.

“We have, according to our advisers, a fair chance of winning although it will entail a lot of hard work. The Philippines is not a member of any of the Committees of the AAA and neither is it a member of the Council. We can say that it is our time now and that we should also be given a chance to serve much in the same way that other countries have been around serving Asian athletics with distinction for several decades. In short, it’s time for new blood, new ideas coming from experienced professional managers with substantial experience in government, sports, corporate life and development work,” ayon pa kay Juico.