33. Teen Boxer ANTHONY N. VILLANUEVA, The Country’s 1st Olympic Silver Medalist, 1964

The 19 year old boxer who became a household name in 1964 with his unprecedented and historic triumph at the Tokyo Olympics was born Anthony N. Villanueva (b. 18 March 1945)  to parents Flora Narvaez and Jose “Cely” Villanueva, an Olympian bronze medalist in bantamweight boxing at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

 His pugilist father influenced his interest in boxing. As a 5 year old, his father gifted him with small barbells and boxing gloves which became Anthony’s favorite “toys”. At age 17, the clean-cut Villanueva enrolled at the Far Eastern University which had an outstanding college boxing program. Boxing aficionado and businessman Eugenio Puyat saw his potential and supported him, such that by 1962, at age 17, the teen became a national sensation when he won the Bantamweight title at the National Open Championships. 

This led to his being drafted to the national boxing pool, and 2 years later, he qualified as part of the Philippine boxing squad to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics along with welterweight Manfredo Alipala, flyweight Dominador Calumarde, bantamweight Arnulfo Torrevillas, lightweight Rodolfo Arpon and light middleweight Felix Ocampo, under coach Aling Enriquez.

It was an exciting time for the young Villanueva as he embarked on his quest for Olympic boxing gold. He was just 19, the same age as his father when he had won his bantamweight bronze in Los Angeles, 32 years earlier. Before he left, Anthony vowed to break his father’s 3^rd place finish which had remained unbroken for more than 2 decades.

Almost golden.

The 40-man Philippine delegation prepared for action as shortly after the games opened on 10 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan—the first Olympics to be held in Asia. The Boxing events went underway on October 13 at the Kora Kuen Ice Palace with 32 boxers in the featherweight division, from 32 countries. Villanueva won his opening bout against Italy’s Giovanni Girgenti on points, and moved on to dispose of Tunisia’s Tasser Ben Hasssen 4-1, but wounding his right eyebrow in the process.

The Quarterfinals round saw him flooring Poland’s Pyotr Gutman thrice, winning the bout by RSC ( Referee Stops Contest). In what everybody thought was to be a tough Semifinal round against the much-heralded George Brown of the U.S., Villanueva—despite fighting with cut brows—defeated the favorite with a 4-1 upset decision. Villanueva thus guaranteed himself a silver medal, thus fulfilling his fearless prediction of surpassing his father’s feat.

Of that very controversial Finals against Russia’s Stanislav Stepashkin held on Oct. 23, reporter Hal Drake of the U.S. paper ‘Stars and Stripes’ recounts: “He (Villanueva) was rated little chance in his bout with Stepashkin, who has shoulders like a medieval axman and a punch like a thrown brick. The Russian had easily disposed of every opponent.

At the bell, Villanueva rushed Stepashkin and reddened his nose with a beautiful series of stabbing rights. He hooked the right twice and made Stepashkin hold. He brought fans to their feet by staggering the Soviet boxer with a left to the head.

In the second round the two mixed it up in close, with hooks. In one flurry, the bandage came off Villanueva's eye in a smear of blood and the claret gushed from his nose. But that right was arcing over and still landing; Stepashkin was getting one, and sometimes more, for everyone he landed.

Villanueva's opponent must have been a hazy figure in a red blur during the final round, but he still met the Russian punch for punch. The blood covered all of Villanueva's face and streaked his opponent's arms after clinches. But the Russian finished that last round with his left eye cut, his right eye: half closed, his nose and one ear streaming blood. “

But when the judges’ scores were announced, the audience were in disbelief. The Italian judge Aniello, Khalife of Lebanon and Vuellaty of Tunisia scored it for the Russian while Maghraby of Egypt had it 59-58 for Villanueva and Nussgen of Germany saw it even at 59-all. A roar of protest went up when British referee R.H. Gittins raised Stepashkin's hand, with the 3-1-1 verdict.

Nat Fleischer, founder/editor of Ring Magazine said, “I have seen highway robbery before but not anything as bare-faced as this.”.  Peter Wilson of the London Daily News could only agree, called it “one of the worst decisions I have seen in the Olympics.” Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who was at the ringside in Tokyo, recalled, “He won convincingly. The editor of Ring Magazine who was in front of us, was already congratulating us. But when the decision was announced, there was a howl.”

The crowd of 7,000 chanted Villanueva’s name to show their support for the big-hearted Filipino boxer who fought to the finish. It was said that fans jeered as the Soviet national anthem was played, while Villanueva shed tears.

Homecoming and silver linings

Nevertheless, Villanueva came home to a hero’s welcome—for achieving the highest-placed finish for a Filipino athlete in Philippine Olympic history. He was mobbed by people at his motorcade that crowded the Pasay-Manila-Quezon route. His school honored him with a Tamaraw Gold Medallion given by then Far Eastern University Vice-President Alfredo M. Reyes.

With his schoolboy looks, Villanueva was squired by movie producers, which he accepted on the prodding of his father. He starred in at least 5 action movies, including the boxing-inspired “Pamatay: Kaliwa't Kanan” (1964)  with Nida Blanca, for which he was paid a whopping Php 100,000. He also starred in “The Salonga Brothers” (1965) with Joseph Estrada, "Fighting Fists" (1971) with Roberto Gonzales, and "Ang Berdugo at ang Kamao." Later, his professional fees dwindled from between P2,000 to P7,000 per film.

Advertisers also sought out the acclaimed star major boxer, who signed up with two clients. 1966,Villanueva did an ad for La Tondeña Natural Rum. He also appeared in a Terylene fabric ad that was part of a campaign series featuring active men in heroic James Bond-like roles, attired in dashing, but durable Terylene suits.

As he lost his amateur status due to his lucrative acting career, Villanueva turned professional in 1965, debuting in a fund-raising event called “Fiesta Fistiana” at the Araneta Coliseum, matched against the Japanese, Shigeo Nirasawa. He would hang his boxing gloves after only 5 luster-less bouts, which ended in 1 win, 3 losses and 1 no-contest. His last fight was in 1975, against Australian Ross Eadie, which he lost via TKO.

Forsaken dreams, forgotten champion.

When his boxing and acting days were over, Villanueva became a boxing coach much like his father, until 1976, when he decided to go find his future in the U.S. By then, he was married with 2 kids, Avery (named after International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage) and Agatha. There, he took on a variety of jobs—as a Mexican restaurant cook, and as a security guard at a Staten Island hospital and at the Philippine Consulate in New York. 

A 1988 coaching stint in the Philippines proved unproductive, so he returned to the U.S. after failing to find a stable job. He would father another son, Jose Giovanni with his  second wife in 1996. A short while later, Villanueva permanently come home to the Philippines to stay with his third partner Liezel Beldia  with whom he shares son Joey Rembrandt. They took up residence in Kamuning, Quezon City,

Beginning in 1999, he suffered a series of strokes that left him incapacitated. He had hoped to return to the U.S. to fix his citizenship papers and then set up a gym business. To help defray the cost of his hospitalization, he offered his Olympic Medal for sale for 1 million pesos. Bedridden, he died in his sleep, penniless and almost forgotten  on 13 May 2014, in Cabuyao, Laguna, at age 69. Manny Pacquiao hailed him as  "original Filipino boxing icon who should never be forgotten by the nation."

Anthony N. Villanueva lived to see himself inducted in the Philippines Sports Hall of Fame for bringing the first historic Olympic silver for the country. It would take Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco another 32 years to duplicate his silver medal feat at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he placed 2^nd behind Bulgarias' Daniel Petrov, in the light-flyweight division.

SOURCES:

“He vowed to break his father’s record, “ Sunday Times Magazine, 8 November, 1964,

“Golden reception for a silver medalist,” Sunday Times Magazine”, 15 November 1964, p. 28

Anthony N. Villanueva, wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Villanueva

Games of the XVIII Olympiad, Tokyo 1964 : the official report of the Organizing Committee, LA Digital Library, https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/27912/

Hal Drake, Frazier chases German for boxing gold, Stars and Stripes, Oct. 25, 1964 medal, https://www.stripes.com/news/1964-10-25/frazier-chases-german-for-boxing-gold-medal-1894367.html1

Joaquin Henson, “Villanueva selling Olympic Medal for 1 Million”, Philippine Star, 6 January 2000,  https://www.philstar.com/sports/2000/01/06/97733/villanueva-selling-olympic-medal-p1-million

Joaquin Henson, “Forgotten hero at death’s door”. The Philippine Star , 11 May 2014,https://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/05/11/1321865/forgotten-hero-deaths-door

Joaquin Henson, “Olympic hero interred today”, Philboxing.com, 18 May 2014, http://m.philboxing.com/news/story-95534.html

ABS-CBN, ‘Villanueva’s death puts spotlight on poor, retired athletes”, https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/15/14/villanuevas-death-puts-spotlight-poor-retired-athletes

Movie Poster, “Sports Heroes Turned Movie Stars, Video 48, https://video48.blogspot.com/2007/02/sports-heroes-turned-movie-stars-1.html

Far Eastern University FB page, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=987760150052219&id=100064547295619&set=a.631930875635150&locale=ko_KR

 Isa Munang Patalastas, blogspot. "Is That Who I think He Is?: Anthony Villanueva for La Tondena Rum and Terylene. isamunangpatalastas.blogspot.com

32. Small Wonder: ROSALINDA YUMOL, All-Distance Running Champion

The tremendous success of the athletes of Southern Tagalog Athletic Association (STAA) in the Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association (BPISAA), owes much to the sports training program initiated by Rizal Gov. Isidro Rodriguez.

Every year, Rizal sports officials  go out on scouting campaigns in provincial and regional meets looking for potential additions to their deep athletic talent pool. One of the most outstanding athletes ever to emerge from this initiative was the discovery of a 12-year old running prodigy,  ROSALINDA F. YUMOL in 1961.

The diminutive Yumol was born of humble beginnings on 25 April 1949 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, one of 10 children of Andres Yumol and Wenifreda Fuertes. The large brood included brothers Andres (+), Albert (+), Fortuno, Arnel,  and sisters Ethelrida, Luzviminda, Erlinda, Esther, Sherlin and Mary May.

She spent her early schooling at the Puerto Princesa Elementary School, where her running talent became apparent when she began representing her school in meets. At age 12, she could beat older and taller girls in sprints and middle distance running. Her track victories caught the attention of Rizal governor Rodriguez, who promised to sponsor her college schooling after her graduation from Palawan National High School in 1967.

Thereafter, she was recruited and became a ward of the province, given a scholarship at the Rizal Memorial Sports Academy, with a focus on Physical Education, while living and training in the same sports complex. She graduated from Rizal College in 1969.

Yumol amazed her coaches for her exceptional speed and endurance; her size did not seem to matter, outrunning girls in races across all distances—sprints (100m./200 m./400 m.) and distance events (800m. and up). She also added the relays to her specialties, teaming up with brilliant runners like Amelita Alanes, Lucila Salao, and Aida Mantawel who towered above her.

At the Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games (BPISAA) held from 11-17 April 1972 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Yumol became a national sensation when she won the 400 meter and 800 meter distance run. Thought considered for the Olympic women’s track 4 x 100 relay team with Salao, Mantawel and Alanes, it was runner Carmen Torres who was picked instead to complete the quartet. The Philippine team was disqualified in the first heat in Munich.

Eventually, in 1973, Yumol was included in the 4 x 400 m. relay line-up to run in the inaugural Asian Athletics Championships held from 18-23 Nov. at the Rodriguez Sports Center in Marikina, Rizal, Philippines. Before the hometown crowd, the tiny Yumol ran the race of her life, and together with her team mates Mantawel, Alanes and Torres,  bagged the Gold with an exceptional time of 3:48.9 mins, way ahead of the Singapore (3:50. 1) and Taipei (3:57.8) teams.  The same group added a Bronze for the Philippines in the 4x100m relay event with a clocking of 47.7 secs. 

From 1970 to 1980, Yumol enlisted in the Philippine Army and achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant, while running for national track team. She also forayed to Marathon running, becoming the first Filipina to compete in international marathons including Boston, Hawaii, Vancouver, Jakarta, Singapore, Hongkong, Korea, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

In the mid 1980s, she came to the U.S.  to observe the 1984 Olympic trials and decided to remain here. By the 1990s, she moved to the West Coast where she worked in the medical field for 20 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the OB/Gyne Department of St. Mary’s Medical Center-Long Beach. It was about that time, in 1997, that she met David Brandow, who also worked in the medical field, who dabbled in diving on the side. They were married in 1999, and Yumol gained 2 stepchildren, Bryan Brando and Jamie Russell. Her sons from a previous relationship were Joy Ross Santiago, and Seagfred Yumol. Yumol finally became a U.S. citizen in 2006 and held a Filipino-American dual citizenship.

Upon her retirement in 2015, Yumol enjoyed her domestic life and indulged in her passion for gardening, often creating flower arrangements to the cemetery to honor loved ones who have passed away. She was a prayer group member with El Shaddai.

Yumol finally had the time to holiday in Canada, but what she looked forward most was her regular  Philippine visits. In 2018, she and her husband spent New Year’s Day in the Philippines. Sadly, it would be her last. On 25 May 2018, Rosalinda Yumol-Brandow--the tiny runner who was a titan on the tartan track--passed away in Lakewood, California, at age 69.

SOURCES:

Athletics Podium: https://athleticspodium.com/athlete/46591/rosalinda-yumol

Luyben Dilday Mortuary: Rosalinda Yumol-Brando Obituary, https://www.luybendilday.com/obituary/6541720

“The Speed that Thrills”, The Sunday Times Magazine, 7 May 1972

FB Page, Rosalinda Yumol-Brandow

31. Ageless Shooting Star: MARTIN M. GISON, The Only 5-Time Filipino Olympian

One of our greatest shooting sports legends was the marksman MARTIN MAURICIO GISON. (b.14 March 1914) who had a long, sterling shooting career that began in his college days at the University of the Philippines, to 5 Olympic stagings and 3 Asian Games editions.

Growing up in his home province in Iloilo, the young Martin loved playing with his “tirador”, aiming and slinging his shot at any target he could find-- a fruit hanging from a tree, an empty can, or even pesky, stray animals. He earned a reputation as a sure shot, foreshadowing his future as a world-class shooter.

As a University of the Philippines R.O.T.C. cadet in the mid 1930s, Gison  joined the U.P. Shooting Team, and quickly built a reputation as an elite marksman in rifle and pistol events. The team was often fielded in inter-ROTC Rifle competitions and in events organized by the National Rifle and Pistol Association  of the Philippines under Judge Delfin Jaranilla.

In June 1935 alone, he won 2 titles, claiming the All-Around Rifle Championship in the first week of the month, by scoring 466 out of 500. Three weeks later, on June 23, Gison added another outdoor championship title in the .22 Pistol category (20 rounds at 25 yards slow-fire and 25 rounds 50 yards slow-fire), with a score of 458 out of 500, edging favorites Felix Cortes and Capt. G. Lugtu.

These victories paved the way for Gison’s inclusion in the 1936 Philippine Olympic Team that went to Berlin in August. Against the world’s sharpest marksmen, he started strong in 5-way tie for 2^nd place  in the Small-bore .22 Rimfire Rifle, Prone event. After the countback that decided the winner, he dropped to 4^th , edged for the Bronze by the Polish Wladislaw Karas, who had an identical score of 297. Still, it was the closest podium finish ever by a Filipino shooter. However, Gison was not able to hold his form in the target pistol and revolver events, where he was also entered. 

His U.P. team mate, Otoniel Gonzaga, failed to advance in his events. Nevertheless, the Olympics proved to be an enriching experience to the young sport shooter and his modest accomplishment, so close to winning a medal in Berlin,  was reported in major newspapers back home.

At the 1937 U.P. Athletic Commencement and Physical Education Day, the U.P. varsity athlete and Olympian received his major letters for his rifle and pistol achievements, along with his certificate and sweater, at the Rizal Tennis Stadium.

In 1938, Gison became the coach of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Shooting Team. He was also selected by the P.A.A.F affiliated National Rifle and Pistol Association to be one of the country’s representatives to an international shooting tilt in July 3, against Saigon sharpshooters from the Federation Cochinchinois de Tir et Preparation Militaire.

Gison joined the USAFFE (Unites States Armed Forces in the Far East) and was stationed in Camp Murphy (later Camp Aguinaldo). One of his last tournaments before the war was the 1940 Philippine Army-Philippine Constabulary Meet at the Pureza ranges of N.R.P.A. using .45 caliber service pistols or revolvers, which his team won.

At the height of the war, Lt.  Gison was among those captured in 1942 by the Japanese imperial forces. He survived the infamous Bataan Death March, and on 25 Dec. 1942, he, along with 238 former USAFFE servicemen, took their oath of loyalty before the Director General to support the New Philippines under the Japanese empire. When the country was liberated, Gison started anew by going back to sport shooting.

In 1948, he qualified for the much-delayed Olympics in London that were supposed to have been hosted by Japan in 1940.  He came in 25th in the Free Pistol, 50 m.; 40^th in the Rapid-Fire Pistol, 25 m. , and 43^rd in his pet event, the Small-Bore Rifle, Prone, 50 m. 

 Gison had mixed results at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, improving his standing to 32^nd place in the Free Pistol, 50m., but skidded down to 36^th place in the Rapid-Fire Pistol, 25 m.. He placed a creditable 13^th in the Small-Bore Rifle, Prone, 50 m.

The 1950s saw Gison at his peak, as in-between Olympics, he participated in the Asian Games that were first instituted in India in 1951. At the 2nd Asian Games in Manila held in 1954, he bagged a complete set of medals of every color:  Gold for the Rapid Fire Pistol, 25m.; a pair of Silvers for the Free Rifle, 3 positions, 300 m., and the Free Rifle, 3 positions, 50 m.. and Bronze for the Rapid-Fire Pistol, 25 m.

The Melbourne Olympics followed in 1956, where Gison qualified in 2 events. He placed 13^th in a new event, Free Rifle, 3 Positions, 300 m., and 22^nd in the Rapid-Fire Pistol, 25 m. Two years after, the 3^rd Asian Games in Tokyo saw him winning a Bronze in the Rifle, Prone, 50 m.

Defying age, Gison, at 50 years old, qualified for his 5^th Olympics at the 1964 Tokyo Games, along with 8 other Filipino marksmen. In his swan song, he finished in 48^th place in the Small-Bore, 3 Positions, 50 m.

 Martin Mauricio Guison may not have medalled in his shooting events but he holds an extraordinary record that has never been matched—for making the most number of appearances at the Olympics—5 times—from 1936 to 1964, spanning 28 years. No other Filipino athlete has ever come close to this feat, a lesson on achieving greatness, through perseverance, endurance, and the will to win.

SOURCES:

The Tribune, various issues: 5 June, 25 June, 5 Sep. (1935), 27 April, 11 Aug. (1936); 27 Feb.(1937); 19 July (1938); 20 Jul. (1940); 25 Dec. (1942).

Photo of M. Gison with Letran Shooting Team, Colegio de Letran College Yearbook, 1938

Main Photo: Olympedia

Records, Martin Gison, Wikipedia.com

30. STAN CARBUNGCO: Our Mr. Philippines Who Rocked the Universe!

It’s not just our Philippine queens who are ruling pageants, this Pinoy muscleman made waves in a world bodybuilding tilt!

The icon of Philippine bodybuilding, Estanislao “Stan” Carbungco was born on 13 Nov. 1931, the youngest of 7 children to Don Ambrosio Ocampo Carbungco with roots in Porac, and Doña Angelina Cuenco. His father, a former chef of Casino Español for 8 years, was a successful restaurateur, founder of the popular Carbungco Restaurant, a renown catering and dining place in pre-war Manila, with a branch in Antipolo.

Though the young Stan Carbungco was raised in a comfortable household, he learned from his father the value of hard work, who had no qualms washing dishes and doing menial jobs in his own restaurant.

He spent his school years at the Far Eastern University, where he finished high school. He would later finish his Commerce degree at the same university.

Sickly growing up, Stan Carbungco was plagued with all sorts of illnesses like typhoid and pneumonia. At age 20, the weakling weighed only 89 pounds. He began doing weight training in a gym that his neighbor owned. Carbungco became so good at it that he was soon immersing himself deeply in physical culture. His parents did not exactly approve of his interest in bodybuilding, which was not a common sport at that time.

The only visible musclemen in the 50s was Jesus Ramos, Mr. Philippines of 1951, who became a certified star after appearing in a series of jungle movies, and dubbed as the Philippine Tarzan. His contemporary, Arlen Quindoy Aguilar. did good as well, using bodybuilding as a stepping stone to showbiz. The former Mr. Luzon assumed the screen name Cesar Ramirez and starred in the big budget 1951 film, “Bernardo Carpio” opposite Alicia Vergel, who would become his wife. Then there was Olympian Rodrigo del Rosario, who, en route to  placing fourth in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics,  set a world and Olympic record in the military press portion of his event.

Hoping to join competitions, Carbungco continued to train in secret. In 1954, he qualified for the Mr. Philippines bodybuilding contest, and to his surprise, won his first of second Mr. Philippine titles. He would duplicate that achievement by winning the Mr. Philippines title yet again in 1959, pipping Manuel Hernandez in the finals with the slimmest of margins—225 to 224 points. 1959 would prove to be his most successful year.

It was an exciting time for a 28 year old to fly to Montreal, Canada as the first ever country representative to the 1959 Mr. Universe bodybuilding contest. This premiere event was organized by the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness. He travelled alone to Canada braving the winter cold, without a retinue to assist him, but that did not seem to faze him. He not only made bodybuilding friends from around the world—but also history for Asian sports.

At the exciting finals held on 25 January 1959, Carbungco placed 1^st as the Most Muscular in the Medium class division, and earned runner-up honors to Mr. Universe Medium class. In the overall class, the unheralded athlete was named second Most Muscular after Eddie Silvestre of the U.S., who went on to become Mr. Universe. With his placement, Carbungco became the first Filipino and only Asian to break into the winning circle, a feat unprecedented at that time.

From Montreal, the Filipino muscleman went to New York where event sponsor Getz Bros., distributor of Borden Milk, feted all the winners at the Waldorf Astoria. Upon his return, Carbungco made a major shift by concentrating on weightlifting rather than bodybuilding.

It was an opportune time as the 1960 Rome Olympics were coming up, and he was hoping to follow the footsteps of the prodigious Rodrigo del Rosario who, 8 years before, pressed 231 ¼ lbs. , a new Olympic Mark in his featherweight division. He began powerlifting, and at one point, he was lifting weights that would have been good for Olympic bronze or silver.

Indeed, Carbungco was being touted as a sure Olympic bet and medalist in weightlifting, but his Olympic dreams were dashed when, after appearing in a print ad for boat motors, he lost his amateur status for being paid as an endorser.

Carbungco was sadly frustrated over this disqualification, but never looked back. Instead, he stepped up his efforts to promote the sports of bodybuilding like never before.  After his competitive days were over,  he put up a weight and fitness center, ‘Stan Carbungco’s  Gym”, in Quezon City where he personally trained and mentored many young physical culturists.  

To meet the growing needs for gym equipment, Carbungco pioneered the local manufacture of weight-training equipment and gear in the Philippines.  The well-patronized gym had a loyal following, and the hallowed institution for bodybuilding has been in operation for over 50 years now.

All his life, Carbungco devoted his time and effort to the fitness sport he loved. For many years he headed the Philippine Federation of Body Builders, an official affiliate of IFBB which fields Filipino bodybuilders to various competitions abroad. He co-founded the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines (PAP) in 1982. He never forgot the sports that made him famous too. At the remarkable age of 60, he could still snatch a 110 pound barbell with relative ease.

Fifty years after his victory in Canada, he would return to his place of victory where some of his children were settled. There, he would try to locate his fellow bodybuilders whom he competed against, way back in 1959. He was saddened to find that all have gone before him, leaving him as the lone survivor from that golden age of competitive bodybuilding.

The legendary bodybuilder, “Mang  Stan” as he was fondly called in his later years, passed away at age 81 on 10 March 2012. He left behind his wife, Edna Oquendo-Carbungco and their children, and a legacy of health and fitness that he passionately pursued, and which continue to inspire Philippine sports to this day.

SOURCES: 

Sibug, Edgardo. “PORAC: A Rancheria at Batiauwan 1594-2004”, © 2003. p. 280

FB Interview with Mr. Tiny Carbungco, son of Stan Carbungco

Tiny Carbungco FB Page

Jeffrey dePadua Panela

Lolo Stan Carbungco Tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9a9q9g3f4

Uploaded by Grace Carbungco, published April 3, 2012.

Stan Carbungco tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7hqbaut5UI

Uploaded by Beng Gonzales, published 22 March 20102, accessed 2 Nov, 2018.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodybuilding_in_the_Philippines

http://www.philippinewatchclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13717

Iron Pinoy : https://issuu.com/ironpinoy/docs/ipmag2011may-june/29

https://issuu.com/ironpinoy/docs/ipmag2011may-june/29

https://www.ironpinoy.com/a-short-history-of-philippine-powerlifting/

29. Twice A Hero: JACINTO CIRIA CRUZ, 1936 Basketball Olympian

The Filipino basketball Olympian, JACINTO CIRIA CRUZ may have lived a short life, but his selfless contributions to the country were enough to leave a lasting mark in our history. In the fight for Olympic honors, he was part of the fabled 1936 Olympic basketball team that gave the country a Top 5 finish in the premiere world sporting competitions—the highest placement Asia has reached in an Olympic basketball finals, a feat never repeated nor equalled since, 88 years ago. And, in the fight for freedom, Ciria Cruz made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life in the service of his people and his country at the height of a global war.

JACK OF ALL SPORTS

 Born in Pandacan, Manila, on 16 Aug. 1910, the young Jacinto always had an affinity with body and mind-building. He was a member of a local club, Panulat at Lakas, that promoted both physical and mental well-being through sports and literary pursuits. Cirio Cruz excelled in baseball, volleyball, and basketball—but it was on the hardcourt that earned him national recognition.

In high school, Ciria Cruz was often found practicing basketball in the cemented court on the grounds of Pandacan Church.  He bannered the champion Mapa High School basketball team in the Manila Athletic Association of Secondary Schools basketball tournaments, where he had early encounters with another cage sensation, Ambrosio Padilla, of Ateneo High.

Padilla recalls him for his ability to think quickly with his mind and his feet, his clever, unpredictable moves and his high-altitude leaps, which earned Ciria Cruz the nickname, “Jumping Jack”.

COURTING VICTORY AT THE 1930 TOKYO FAR EAST GAMES

These qualities paved the way for his entrance to the University of Santo Tomas and a place in the Glowing Goldies varsity basketball team. The 5’9” guard showed his basketball mastery by leading the UST team to an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) to a championship title in 1930.  Ciria Cruz was recruited to try out for the national basketball team that was being assembled for the 9th Far East Championship Games in Tokyo.

Of course, Ciria Cruz passed with flying colors along with former nemesis Ambrosio Padilla, UST team mates Mariano Filomeno, Alfredo del Rosario, Rizalino Gamban, Antonio Villanueva; Johnny Schlobohm (Ateneo),  Jesus Lacson Suarez (Ateneo); and Briccio Reynoso (U.P.). The team sailed to Japan in May 1930 for the Far East Games.  Since the inception of the games, the Philippine basketball teams had always brought home the crown, except in 1921, when China prevailed.

As expected, the Philippines and Japan played exceptionally well, and after playing all their matches, the 2 countries were tied for first place. A play-off settled the final placements with the Filipinos drubbing the Japanese, thus extending their winning streak. The triumphant Philippine basketball team were hailed as conquering heroes upon their return home, their photos and feats were plastered on sports headlines of the leading papers of the day. But for Ciria Cruz, it was back to the usual swing of things, as he resumed his basketball duties for U.S.T. 

In October 1932, Ciria Cruz made news again during the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (P.A.A.F.) Open National basketball tourney when he scored the winning goal against the formidable Sampaloc Vandals in the last 8 seconds  of the play.

Ciria Cruz received the supreme accolade from his school when he was voted as their Most Valuable Athlete in March 1933 during the first annual athletic commencement, winning over baseballers Celestino Martinez and Regino Portacion. Jacinto’s name has the distinction of being inscribed first on the “Most Valuable Athlete Cup” (Seville Cup), donated by the institution’s sports head, Dr. Hermenigildo Sevilla. He also received a Gold Medal for his achievement.

REBOUND: AT THE 1934 FAR EAST GAMES IN MANILA

Once again, in 1934, Ciria Cruz made it to the Philippine team for the Far Eastern Games in Manila, and so did his 1930 team mates Padilla, Filomeno, Reynoso, Schlobohm, with new members Franco Marquicias, Herminio Gonzaga, Primitivo Martinez, Bibiano Ouano, Amador Obordo, Hermino Silva, and Daniel Warren. 1930 team mate Alfredo del Rosario, served as Coach. The Philippines reached the finals, and playing against them were their 1921 tormentors, China. But the Philippines dominated the play and went on to win the basketball gold, capping a glorious run in the 10^th and last of the Far East Games.

For the second straight year, Ciria Cruz was chosen as  “Most Valuable Athlete of 1934” by U.S.T. and was presented the Seville Cup for his all-around achievements in sports. To prove that point, he coached the U.S.T Baseball Team which went on to become one of the strongest teams in the Manila Bay Baseball League tournament in October 1935. In March, the following year, Ciria Cruz joined the same baseball team as a centerfielder to play against the Hawaiian All-Stars  in an exhibition match in Cebu. The Philippines were soundly, beaten 7 to 3, before a record crowd. His team later joined Hawaii’s baseball 9 in the southern leg of their tour.

HISTORY IN BERLIN, 1936

But the best was yet to come for this crack athlete. In 1936, the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation sounded a call for a national try-out to determine the members of the Philippine Basketball Team for the upcoming Berlin Olympics.  The cream of the crop of basketball from schools, universities and leagues nationwide came in droves for the gruelling qualifiers, which pruned the number down to 37 players making the cut.

After deliberation, 17 more Olympic hopefuls were dropped, leaving 20 finalists. Under the watchful eye of coach Dionisio Calvo, elimination games were held at the Rizal Memorial Field to choose the final 12. When the names of the official team members were announced, none were surprised at the inclusion of Jacinto “Jumping Jack” Ciria Cruz, the toast of the basketball circuit, along with Ambrosio Padilla (captain), Charles Borck, Franco Marquicias, Primitivo Martinez, Jesus Marzan, Amador Obordo, Bibiano Ouano, ,Fortunato Yambao, with reserves Antonio Carillo, Miguel Pardo, and John Worrell.

Ciria Cruz and the rest of the team sailed to Berlin in July, arriving there in a month’s time for the August opening. “Hitler’s Olympics”, as the games were later dubbed, was plagued with rains, making the outdoor court soggy. To cut short the ballgames, the rules were changed in the finals to a system of knock-out rounds.

This proved to be disadvantageous to the Filipinos, because they were knocked out of contention by the taller Americans in the quarterfinal rounds (56 to 23), even if they had won earlier against Estonia, Italy, Uruguay and eventual Bronze winner, Mexico, in the earlier rounds. The Philippines placed 5^th, an unprecedented victory not only for the country, but for Asia, as it remains the best continental finish in the Olympics to this day.

POST-OLYMPICS AND PRE-WAR PLAYS

After the Olympics, Ciria Cruz put his B.S. Physical Education to good use by coaching and mentoring young athletes in local games. In 1936, he coached the “Flying A” Volleyball team that won a volleyball competition sponsored by the TVT publications held in the grounds of Florentino Torres high school in Tondo.

The Philippine Olympic Team were so popular that they were in great demand to play exhibition games around the country. They were included as part of the 10 teams in the 1936-37 Manila Bay Amateur Basketball League that got underway on 15 November 1936.

Then, on 29 January 1937 Ciria Cruz and his Olympic mates suited up once more to play a controversial match against Southern California’s inter-collegiate basketball quintet, the Trojans. In a messy game marred by a near-walk out due to the boisterous crowd, the American collegians drubbed the local boys 61 to 36 drubbing before an overflow of 10,000 ball fans at the Rizal tennis stadium.

His competitive days ended when he joined Colegio de San Juan de Letran as coach of the men’s basketball team. Under his helm, the college won the NCAA cage crown in 1938. In May 1940, Ciria Cruz was one of the coaches of the Philippine team that were sent to compete in the 1940 Japan Memorial Games-- the “missing Olympics” that were scrapped and moved to Helsinki because of Japan’s role in precipitating a World War.

Coach Ciria Cruz had just introduced the Letran Junior and Senior Team for the 1941 NCAA season slated to begin in August 1941 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, when World War II broke out shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, on 8 Dec. 1941.

A HERO’S END GAME

A military career under American rule held much attraction for many athletes like Olympian swimmers Teofilo Yldefonso, Abduhraman Ali and hurdler Miguel White were with the Philippine Scouts.

The calling must have been felt as well by Jacinto Ciria Cruz as he had enlisted with the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East)  just months before the war reached the Pacific.  Since the invasion of Manchuria by Japan, talks had been rife about a global war, and by 1937, the threat had become real, finally coming to a head with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Mobilized to defend the country were the Commonwealth Army and the USAFFE that  include the combined forces of 100,000 Filipinos and underground guerillas. 2^nd Lt. Ciria Cruz joined the defense of Bataan Peninsula, until its fall to the Japanese on 9 April 1942. He survived the Death March, and reached Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac only to fall sick due to the conditions there. Japanese soldiers came to learn of his athletic exploits in the Tokyo Far East Games, and so was accorded special courtesies. He was released in July to continue his treatment at the San Lazaro Hospital.

With the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, Ciria Cruz tried to live his days with a semblance of normalcy. He returned to the sports scene in late September 1942, at the “Unang Sigaw” Basketball League in Balintawak, Caloocan, as the event’s Guest of Honor. The next month of October,  Ciria Cruz, along with former Olympians Herminio Silva and Alfredo del Rosario, reunited to referee the games for the day.

On 8 November 1942, on the occasion of Letran Alumni Day, cage tilts were lined up as part of the homecoming activities at the Letran court, pitting alumni teams “Blue” and “Red”.  Coach Ciria Cruz had the honor of refereeing the matches. One of the last yearend activities he attended was the formal organization of the Alumni Association’s Athletic Union on the evening of 1 Dec. 1942 at the Jose Rizal Stadium, in which Jose D. Warren, of the Jose Rizal College, was elected president.

Little did everyone know that Jacinto Ciria Cruz, had been seething with rage at the daily cruelties committed by the Japanese on his helpless countrymen. In 1943, he returned to join the Hunter’s ROTC underground guerilla movement, serving as captain in operations around Luzon.

In one such mission in Bayambang, Nueva Vizcaya, Capt. Ciria Cruz and his men were captured by the Japanese. This time, not even the kind assurance of former Japanese athletes-turned-soldiers who knew him from his Tokyo exploits could save him. On Christmas Eve, he was tortured for 24 hours into admitting his involvement in the guerrilla movement, but he remained steadfast in silence. A POW witness, Victorio Ludan, said that he saw the emaciate and bloodied captain dragged Ciria-Cruz and his men out of their cells by 5 bayonet-armed Japanese. The soldiers returned later with their blood-stained bayonets, but the Filipinos were never seen again, and were presumed killed, their bodies never recovered.

Thus, Jacinto  Ciria-Cruz left this world in a blaze of heroic glory twice—first, as an athlete, for reaping the highest basketball honors for the Philippines in the greatest sporting spectacle that is the  Olympics, and second, as a soldier of courage, for giving his life for his country’s freedom. In his honor, the sprawling recreation and multi-facilities sports center in his home district of Pandacan, Manila was named after him; the Jacinto Ciria Cruz Sports Complex.

SOURCES:

 JACINTO VOTED MOST VALUABLE Santo Tomas All Round Athlete Given Cup and Gold Medal As Prize Reward, The Tribune (Philippines : 1932 - 1945)Saturday 11 March 1933 - Page 7

 Jacinto Is Voted Valuable Athlete, The Tribune (Philippines : 1932 - 1945)Tuesday 13 March 1934 - Page 9

Olympic Medal, The Tribune, 9 May 1934, p. 1

 The Tribune, 6 March 1936, p. 6. Graham Homers as Hawaiians Beat Tommies VISITORS WIN CEBU CONTEST

SPORTS OF ALL SORTS Santo Tomas Athletic Commencement on Today Jacinto Is Most Valuable Athlete; Will Receive Seville Cup, The Tribune (Philippines : 1932 - 1945)Saturday 10 March 1934 - Page 11

The Tribune, July 8, 1942, p. 3: Sick Prisoners Praise Japanese Captives Given Fair Treatment in Tarlac

2 Dec. 1942, p. 2. ATHLETIC UNION ORGANIZED

Walking Tour of Pandacan (Lakbay Kamalaysayan) FB page

1936 Official Olympic Report, 1936 Berlin Olympics, LA 84 Digital Collection