January29,2023
DR.FIDELR.NEMENZO
Chancellor
UniversityofthePhilippines-Diliman
Re:RequestforNowhereToGoButUPFoundation,Inc.(NTGBUP)tobeOfficialTeam ManagementoftheUPWomen’sVolleyballTeam
ChancellorNemenzo:
Goodday!
AstheUAAPSeason85isfastapproaching,we,themembersoftheUPWomen'sVolleyballTeam (UPWVT)havebeenworkingextremelyhardtorepresentouruniversityandhopefullygetbacktothe FinalFour.
However,sinceUAAPSeason84,wehavebeenbotheredbynumerousissuessurroundingthe managementofourteam.Thisputsalotofuncertaintieswithourcampaignthisseasonduetolackof fundsandsenseofurgencyfromthecurrentmanagement
Inlinewiththis,wearerequestingyourgoodoffice toreinstateandallowtheNowhereToGoBut UPFoundation,Inc.(NTGBUP)totakechargeoftheoverallmanagementoftheUPWomen's VolleyballTeam.
WeareconfidentthatwewillbeingoodhandsaswehavealreadyexperiencedhowNTGBUPproperly managed,tookcareandprovidedforusinthepastseasons.Weneverhadtoworryaboutourbasicneeds includingfood,dorm,allowances,flighttickets,trainingschedule,court,andsportsequipment Wewere evenabletodoteam-buildingactivitiesandtrainingcampsinThailand(forSeason81)andJapan(for Season82).
Moreover,wewouldliketorequestadialoguewithNTGBUP,especiallynowthatweneedyourfull supportforourupcomingseason
SinceJanuary2022,wehavebeendissatisfiedwithhowwearebeingmanagedandtreated,most especiallyhowourTeamManager,AngelaVillamil,hasbeenignoringbasicneeds,neglectinginjuries, andfailingtocommunicatetotheteamthestatusofourbenefitsasstudent-athletes
Thefollowingisasummaryofourconcerns-allofthesewereraisedtoboththeVarsitySportsProgram (VSP)andTeamManagerAngelaVillamil,aswellastheOfficeofStudentAffairs,buthavenotbeen actionedandtheyhavebeenresortingtoband-aidsolutionsratherthansustainableactionsthatcan supporttheteamandhelpitupholdUniversityofthePhilippines’traditionofhonorandexcellence
Student-AthleteBenefits
● DelayedandreducedmonthlyallowancesinceJanuary20,2022 Asmostofourteamsarefrom theprovincesandcamefrompoorfamilies,thishasimpactedourmentalandphysicalhealth. Thishasbeencausingsomeplayerstothinkofleavingtheteamortransferringtootherschools Thosewhogetallowanceswerenotconsistent,dependingonTeamManager’smood/decision
● UnsettleddormitorybalancesinceJanuary2022worthanestimatedPhp600,000.
● Smallservingoffoodwithoutpackagingandutensilsafteraday’sworthofschoolandtraining
● Promisedtravelexpenses(two-wayfromtheprovinceandbacktoUP)havenotbeenreimbursed sinceJanuary2022
Student-AthleteWelfareandSupport
● Lackofacademicsupportresultinginseveralmembersoftheteamexperiencingunderload, ineligibilities,AWOL,andappeals,aswellas,alackofcommunicationwithprofessorsand academicunitswithsubjectstheplayersneedtotake
HealthandMedicalSupport
● PromisedCOVID-19expensesduringbubbleset-upinSeason84,whichhavenotbeen reimbursed.
● PoorandmishandledCOVID-19exposure,quarantine,andtreatmentresponse:i.e.notestkits available,notabidingbystandardisolationprocedures,lettingplayersplayandtrainevenif exhibitingsymptoms.
● Poorinjurycoordinationandtreatment:ie severalteammembersareinjuredbutwerenot providedstandardcarerightaway,notabidingbyphysician’sorderswhichdegradedtheinjuries further.
● Medicalsuppliesarenotbeingreplenishedsince2022
TrainingLogisticsandSportsEquipment
● TeammanagementdidnotcoordinatetransportationfortraininginMamaSita’sinPasigwhich causesplayerstoshelloutmoneyforGrab.
● Teammanagementnotcoordinatingbasicweeklyiceandwaterneedswhichresultedinplayers payingforthesethemselves.
● Teammanagementnotcoordinatingthescheduleofourtrainingandreturningtoourprovinces well Mostofthetime,othersportsteamscomplainthatwearetakingthecourtreservedfor them.Thisalsoresultsinplayersbookingflightslatewhichareexpensivebuttheyhaveno choicebuttobookeveniftheyhavenomoremoney Someofourteammatesborrowmoneyjust topayforairfare,whichhasnotbeenreimbursedsinceJanuary2022.
● Teammanagementneglectingtheneedfornewsportsequipmentsuchasanet,volleyball, antenna,andballcart
MismanagementandTeamManager’sBadAttitude
● Team Manager Angela Villamil is also a student, and we believe she does not have the qualifications to manage us. Her skill set is far from the team managers we had when we were being managed by NTGBUP Shedoesnothaveanycorporateorprofessionalworkexperienceto
merit such an appointment. It is also aconcernforushowsheusesherpowerasTMtoinfluence coachingdecisionsandwhogetsremovedfromtheteam.
● Team manager’s favoritism and serving as personal team manager of some playerswhowantto gotootherschools,whichwefeelisabetrayalofherresponsibilityasateammanager.
● Teammanagersupportingourpreviouscoach(whichcausedmostoftheteammembers’mental healthissues),insteadofsupportingthestudent-atheletes’needsandwelfare.
● Team manager acts as if she is part of the coaching staff:ie decidingtheline-upwhileassistant coachesarenotawareoftheroster
● Team manager's bad attitude, to the extent of blaming us for losses, “players not being patient with our needs” Sheisoftensarcasticandinsteadofhearingourconcerns,dismissesthemallthe time Shealsodoesnotcareifwehaveteammateswhocomefrompoorfamilies
Funds,Sponsorship,andCoach’sSalaries
● Team management signed a contract with Mama Sita’s but all we hear fromthemisthat“Mama Sita’s has not given us money yet” since UAAP Season 84 ended This prompts us to ask why there was no agreedscheduleofourallowancesandtrainingneedsstipulatedinthecontract This showslackofprofessionalismonthepartofourcurrentteammanagers
● Teammanagerthreatenedthatifwedonotpostonsocialmediathatwewillhavetopayforthe ex-dealsfromlastUAAPSeason84whenshewastheonewhomadeadealwedidn’tevenneed.
● Team management often asksformonetaryamountsfromthefamiliesofourstudent-athletes We are afraid this may draw bias and affect roster decisions. More importantly, some of the parents are asking why are they soliciting money from them, when they agreed for theirdaughterstogo toUPprimarilyforavarsityscholarship.
● Team management has funds for parties, but not for basic needs. We stilldonotknowwherethe Shakey’s donation and where all of the fundsallocatedfortheteamarebeingusedfor.Therehas beennoproperaccountingoftheseexpenses.
● Some of our coaches have been telling us that they have not beenpaidyetandweareafraidthat theywillleaveusespeciallynowthattheseasonisnear,wereallyneedthem.
All of these concerns have already beenbroughttotheattentionoftheTeamManagerandtheUPVarsity Sports Program (who is currently managing us) time and time again but to no avail Thereislittletono action, as well as a lack of urgency inattendingtotheneedsofourteam,somethingweneverfeltwhen wewerebeingmanagedbyNTGBUPandallourbasicneedsaretakencareof.
Instead, the UPVSPChairdismissedourconcernsandmentionedthattheTeamManagerwillstillhandle us this season and indefinitely We feel that they are invalidating our strugglesanddisregardingourlove for the team and the University Most of us are in our senior years-justtwotothreeyearsmore,andwe would not want to waste our chances in the UAAP over mismanagement This is also the time for us to fightforajustandsustainablemanagementthatournewteammemberswillinherit.
Like the UP Men’s Basketball Team building its winning culture with the help of NTGBUP, we wantto make theuniversityproud,too.Thus,wehopeyouhearourconcernsandletourvoicesbeheard.Welove UP and we know we can take things further with NTGBUP as our official team managers. With them, we are confident that we will be able to have a sustainable program where the donations and funds are properlyaccountedforandindeedareforthebettermentoftheUPWomen’sVolleyballTeam.
ParasaUP.ParasamgaIskolarngBayan.Parasadangalathusay.
Thankyouverymuchforyourunderstandingandwe’rehopingtohearfromyousoon.
Respectfullyyours,
Abilaine Goc NicoleAnne Magsarile EthanArce
Stephanie Bustrillo
Dannica Celis
RemelynAltomea
Jum Gayo TethysTaneo Nikkie Baldizanso
PatriciaAmidao NiñaYtang
Mary Mirgie Bautista Jeanny Padilla
Annikha Cabasac
Euricka Eslapor Irah Jaboneta
Giesha Capistrano
Heart Magsombol Noreen Estrellanes