# Philippine Aquatics

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National governing body of aquatic sports in the Philippines

Philippine Aquatics Inc. Sport Aquatics Jurisdiction National Founded 2023 (2023) Affiliation World Aquatics President Michael Vargas Secretary Eric Buhain Replaced Philippine Swimming Inc. Official website www.philippineaquatics.com

**Philippine Aquatics Incorporated** is the [national governing body](/source/Sport_governing_body) of aquatic sports in the [Philippines](/source/Philippines). It oversees [swimming](/source/Swimming_(sport)), [diving](/source/Diving_(sport)), and [water polo](/source/Water_polo). The organization is accredited by the [Philippine Olympic Committee](/source/Philippine_Olympic_Committee) (POC) since October 2023.

Previously Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) was the national governing body. PSI was formerly accredited by [World Aquatics](/source/World_Aquatics) until December 22, 2022, when the international swimming body revoked its recognition.

## History

### As Philippine Swimming Inc.

Philippine Swimming Incorporated (PSI) was formerly known as the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA).

Around the early 2000s, PASA was led by president Monchito Ilagan who was elected in 2002.[1] In 2004, a leadership crisis arose after [Mark Joseph](/source/Mark_Joseph_(sports_administrator)) claimed the presidency in an election.[2]

#### Joseph era

The [Philippine Olympic Committee](/source/Philippine_Olympic_Committee) affirmed the installation of Joseph as PASA president in 2005 as a result of an alleged agreement between him and Ilagan.[3] This includes the holding of an election within 90 days.[4] Election was claimed to have occurred in 2005[5] or 2006.[4]

PASA achieved feats under Joseph, qualifying five swimmers for the [2008 Summer Olympics](/source/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics). In the [2007 Southeast Asian Games](/source/Aquatics_at_the_2007_Southeast_Asian_Games) the country won eight gold medals.[6] However Joseph's administration also had further controversies. The federation often came into conflict with the [Philippine Swimming League](/source/Philippine_Swimming_League) (PSL) of [Nikki Coseteng](/source/Nikki_Coseteng) and [Susan Papa](/source/Susan_Papa) and Joseph faced [graft](/source/Graft_(politics)) allegations involving the disbursement of government funds.[7]

Joseph would head abroad over health concerns, with his secretary general Lani Velasco taking over as [Officer in Charge](/source/Officer_in_Charge_(Philippines)).[7] She would get elected as president after an election sanctioned by the [Philippine Olympic Committee](/source/Philippine_Olympic_Committee) in February 2018.[8]

#### Velasco era

Under Velasco, swimmers from rival group PSL, were able to take part in the PSI sanctioned 2019 PSI Grand Prix.[9] The Philippines would end its gold medal drought at the Southeast Asian Games since [2009](/source/Swimming_at_the_2009_Southeast_Asian_Games), with a medal by [James Deiparine](/source/James_Deiparine) in the [2019 edition](/source/Swimming_at_the_2019_Southeast_Asian_Games) hosted at home.[10][11] Velasco would win a new four-year term in April 2022.[12]

#### Revocation of PSI's recognition

On December 3, 2022, the [FINA](/source/FINA) revoked its recognition of the membership board of the PSI, and instituted a stabilization committee in its place after accruing several complaints over its governance.[13] On December 15, FINA, now known as World Aquatics, withdrew recognition of the PSI itself. The stabilization committee is set to recommend a new federation to replace the PSI.[14]

#### Transition team

On June 8, 2023, a new set of officials were elected for the PSI, with Michael Vargas as transitional president. The original officials would protest against the election which they view as a violation of the organization's amended by-laws.[15] [World Aquatics](/source/World_Aquatics) would recognize the results of the election.[16]

### Formation of Philippine Aquatics

Philippine Aquatics was formed PSI's place which was recognized as a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee in October 2023.[17]

## Presidents

**Presidents of PSI**

- Monchito Ilagan (2002–2005[a])

- [Mark Joseph](/source/Mark_Joseph_(sports_administrator)) (2005–2018)

- Lani Velasco (2018–2023)

- Michael Vargas (2023)

**Presidents of Philippine Aquatics**

- Michael Vargas (2023–)

## See also

- [List of Philippine records in swimming](/source/List_of_Philippine_records_in_swimming)

- [List of Olympic medalists for the Philippines](/source/List_of_Olympic_medalists_for_the_Philippines)

- [Philippines men's national water polo team](/source/Philippines_men's_national_water_polo_team)

- [Philippines women's national water polo team](/source/Philippines_women's_national_water_polo_team)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Disputed from 2004; Mark Joseph recognized as Ilagan's successor in 2005

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Unfunded RP tankers make waves"](https://www.philstar.com/sports/2003/09/15/220456/unfunded-rp-tankers-make-waves). *The Philippine Star*. September 15, 2003. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Ilagan denies POC body findings"](https://www.philstar.com/sports/2005/03/09/269655/ilagan-denies-poc-body-findings). *The Philippine Star*. March 9, 2005. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["POC okays chess status, installs Mark swim head"](https://www.philstar.com/sports/2005/03/31/272140/poc-okays-chess-status-installs-mark-swim-head). *The Philippine Star*. March 31, 2005. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-defers_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-defers_4-1) Cordero, Abac (June 18, 2008). ["POC defers decision on swim dispute"](https://www.philstar.com/sports/2008/06/18/68332/poc-defers-decision-swim-dispute). *The Philippine Star*. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Cadayona, Russell (June 19, 2008). ["POC kailangan nang magdesisyon sa gulo ng swimming"](https://www.philstar.com/palaro/2008/06/19/68516/poc-kailangan-nang-magdesisyon-sa-gulo-ng-swimming) [POC needs to decide on swimming mess]. *The Philippine Star* (in Filipino). Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Zarate, Noel (December 30, 2019). ["In memoriam: Sports personalities who left us in 2019"](https://www.espn.com/story/_/id/28387317/sports-personalities-left-us-2019). *ESPN.com*. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-spin-former-joseph_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-spin-former-joseph_7-1) Ramos, Gerru (March 7, 2019). ["Former swimming chief Mark Joseph dies 'peacefully in his sleep' age 56"](https://www.spin.ph/swimming/former-swimming-chief-mark-joseph-dies-peacefully-in-his-sleep-age-56-a793-20190307). *Sports Interactive Network Philippines*. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["No pool, no problem for PH swimmers; labor of love for PSI head"](https://tempo.com.ph/2020/04/02/no-pool-no-problem-for-ph-swimmers-labor-of-love-for-psi-head/). *Tempo*. April 2, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Tong, Aldo (April 17, 2019). ["Small steps by Lani Velasco lead to giant leap for Philippine Swimming"](https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/small-steps-lani-velasco-lead-giant-leap-philippine-swimming/147065). *Tiebreaker Times*. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Flores-Colina, Celest (December 4, 2019). ["SEA Games: Deiparine clinches 1st swimming gold for PH in 10 years"](https://sports.inquirer.net/376697/sea-games-deiparine-clinches-1st-swimming-gold-for-ph-in-10-years). *Philippine Daily Inquirer*. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Garcia, Maria Angelica (December 4, 2019). ["SEA GAMES 2019: James Deiparine ends PHL's 10-year gold medal drought in swimming"](https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/717903/james-deiparine-ends-phl-s-10-year-gold-medal-drought-in-swimming/story/). *GMA News Online*. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Lani Velasco gets fresh mandate as PSI prexy"](https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/lani-velasco-gets-fresh-mandate-as-psi-prexy/237535). *Tiebreaker Times*. April 18, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["FINA withdraws PSI recognition"](https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/12/05/sports/fina-withdraws-psi-recognition/1868981). *The Manila Times*. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["World Aquatics withdraws recognition from Philippine swimming body"](https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/12/19/2231849/world-aquatics-withdraws-recognition-philippine-swimming-body). *The Philippine Star*. December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Miko Vargas elected PSI president in 'transition year'"](https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/miko-vargas-elected-psi-transition-president/274049). *Tiebreaker Times*. June 8, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["World Aquatics recognizes Vargas, PSI officers"](https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/20/23/world-aquatics-recognizes-vargas-psi-officers). *ABS-CBN News*. June 20, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Atencio, Peter (October 27, 2023). ["Philippine Aquatics Inc. gets PH Olympic Committee approval"](https://www.manilastandard.net/sports/314384493/philippine-aquatics-inc-gets-ph-olympic-committee-approval.html). *Manila Standard*. Retrieved October 28, 2023.

## External links

- [Philippine Swimming Inc.](http://www.philippineswimming.org/)

v t e Sports governing bodies in the Philippines (PHI) Summer Olympic sports Aquatics Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Boxing Canoeing Cycling Equestrian Fencing Field hockey Football Golf Gymnastics Handball Judo Rugby sevens Rowing Sailing Shooting Surfing Table tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball Weightlifting Wrestling Winter Olympic sports Bobsleigh Curling Ice hockey Skating Skiing and snowboarding Other IOC recognized sports American football Baseball/Softball Baseball Softball Billiard sports Bowling Chess Competition climbing Indoor hockey Cricket Floorball Karate Korfball Lacrosse Netball Rugby union Skateboarding and roller sports Squash Underwater hockey Wushu Other sports Arnis Dragon boat Esports Frisbee Ju-jitsu Lawn bowling Obstacle sports Pencak silat Padel Pickelball Polo Rugby league Sepaktakraw Tchoukball IOC-affiliated bodies Philippine Olympic Committee Paralympic Committee of the Philippines Government Philippine Sports Commission Others Phil Sports Federation of the Deaf Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines

v t e National members of World Aquatics Current Olympic disciplines Swimming Diving Open water Synchronised swimming Water polo Other disciplines High diving Africa (Africa Aquatics) ALG ANG BEN BOT BUR CAF CGO CHA CIV CMR COD COM CPV DJI EGY ERI ETH GAB GAM GBS GEQ GHA GUI KEN LBA LBR LES MAD MAR MAW MLI MOZ MRI MTN NAM NGR NIG RSA RWA SEN SEY SLE SOM STP SUD SWZ TAN TOG TUN UGA ZAM ZIM Americas (PanAm Aquatics) North America CAN USA Central America and Caribbean (CCCAN) AGU ANT ARU BAH BAR BER BIZ CAY CRC CUB CUR DMA DOM ESA GRN GUA HAI HON ISV IVB JAM LCA MEX NCA PAN PUR SKN TCN TTO VIN South America (CONSANAT) ARG BOL BRA COL CHI ECU GUY PAR PER SUR URU VEN Asia (Asia Aquatics) AFG BAN BRN BHU BRU CAM CHN HKG INA IND IRI IRQ JOR JPN KAZ KGZ KOR KSA KUW LAO LBN MAC MAS MDV MGL MYA NEP OMA PAK PHI PLE PRK QAT SGP SRI SYR THA TJK TKM TLS TPE UAE UZB VIE YEM Europe (European Aquatics) ALB AND ARM AUT AZE BEL BIH BLR BUL CRO CYP CZE DEN ESP EST FAR FIN FRA GBR GEO GER GIB GRE HUN IRL ISL ISR ITA KOS LAT LIE LTU LUX MDA MKD MLT MNE MON NED NOR POL POR ROU RUS SLO SMR SRB SUI SVK SWE TUR UKR Oceania (Oceania Aquatics) ASA AUS COK FIJ FSM GUM MHL NMA NZL PLW PNG SAM SOL TGA VAN Pinnacle Events Olympics World Aquatics Championships

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Philippine Aquatics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Aquatics) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Aquatics?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.