The decision was announced by Professor Robert Milton Calo, FESSAP executive vice-president, who presided over the Board in the absence of erstwhile President Angel Ngu, who was on an international trip, as reported by The Manila Standard.

"I am ready to serve the FESSAP to my best of my ability," said Tiu, who heads Agri Nurture Inc (ANI), one of the leading agricultural businesses in the country.

"Notwithstanding the pandemic, we hope to come up with sports programmes, including online training and seminars, that will keep the student athletes mentally active and vibrant during the pandemic times."

FESSAP is the sole national university sports organisation officially recognised by the International University Sports Federation. 

It is also affiliated with the Asian University Sports Federation, Asia Pacific University Sports Union and ASEAN University Sports Council as the country’s representative.

Tiu was the Philippines’ head of delegation at the 27th Summer Universiade held in Kazan, Russia in 2013, when the country earned its first ever gold medal in Universiade history through Grandmaster Wesley So in men’s chess.

At the time, Tiu headed the FESSAP Board of Trustees and was subsequently named as the honorary chairman from 2013 to 2015.

The Philippines has since earned a second World University Games gold medal through pole vaulter Ernest Obiena at the Naples 2019 Universiade.

Tiu will serve for a two-year term until 2023, with Ngu named as FESSAP honorary life President, the same honour conferred on former FESSAP President David Ong after his term ended in 2017.

Meanwhile a partnership between FESSAP, headed by Tiu, and the Philippine Inter-School Sport Association is supporting high school student athletes due to compete in the 18th Gymnasiade, also known as the 18th World School Games, in Jinjiang City, China in October of this year.