DAVAO CITY — The newly elected officers of the Davao–South Regional Football Association (DRFA) took their oath of office at Coco’s South Bistro here on Saturday, July 20.
City Sports Development Division officer-in-charge Michael Denton Aportadera officially administered the oath-taking.
Businessman and newly-elected DRFA president Ernesto “Ernie” Ortonio Jr., will lead the 10-man team of DRFA officers. They will serve from 2024 to 2028.
Ortonio is currently the President of the PNX UDENNA Insurance Brokers Inc. In his younger years, he played for the Paglaum Team of Bacolod and the Western Visayas team as a goalkeeper.
In his speech, Aportadera said he will always be humbled by his roots as a kid who once played football at the PTA field.
“Those experiences back in PTA days, it inculcated a lot of lessons to me. I’m proud of those times, you are definitely humbled, regardless kaninong anak ka, san ka nag-aaral. You sit down and wait for Sensei (Jose Te) to tell you, you can play,” Aportadera said.
He said DRFA officers should look back to the time when Sensei united the Davao football community. “We could also apply that now. We can be an inspiration for them. Get proper guidance from us,” he said.
“I’m very honored actually to be in front of you. I’ve been longing for this moment. Let’s work together. There will always be divisiveness, but I would always support and work with a solid and unified group,” Aportadera said.
“I will support the 2024 to 2028 set of officers. Let the community of football grow. I had the option of rebuilding and rekindling the relationship of each and every one in the football community. There is always a chance for us to rebuild that, there is always a chance for us to work together, be united, ” he added.
The oath-taking ceremony was also attended by Dominic Dexter So, president of the Davao City Sports Council.
So, in his speech, said the council will support the new DRFA set of officers.
“Football is one of the important upcoming sports we have to develop, you have a daunting job ahead of you. Don’t worry, the Davao City Sports Council is here to support you. We will support you in this endeavor. We should be united in our advocacies, together we can make a future brighter for kids and sports,” So said.
Ortonio accepted the challenges.
“It’s still a very long way. We help to understand. Respect in every one of us. We have to understand each other’s differences and appreciate each other’s similarities. We may differ in what we understand about things but I have no doubt that we would really contribute to the football community,” Ortonio said.
On July 6, the DRFA election was held at the Happy Home Cafe and Diner and attended by observers from the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) headed by Aquilino Pastoral III, PFF Senior Administrative Manager, and Atty. Homer Alinsug, head of the PFF legal department, who both flew in from Manila to attend the election.
Members of the DRFA elected Ortonio of the Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School (KTMSCES) Football Club as their new President.
The DRFA has 24 legitimate Congress members. A total of 23 members attended the election, but only 22 were allowed to cast their votes as one representative had a problem with his letter authorizing his participation.
Also elected are Rex Rodriguez, Vice President; Board of Trustees Alex Adolfo, Prof. Ramon Beleno III, Danny Boy Fernandez, Carlos Labadora, Joyce Rendon, Rachelle delos Reyes, Murphy Jake Somosot, and Engr. Gerry Zanoria.
