The mere idea of a warm weather nation like the Philippines
sending a representative to the Winter Olympics seems unthinkable—no,
make that impossible. But in 1972, the tropical country sent not one, but two
Filipino skiers to compete in the Sapporo Games in Japan, a first for a
snow-less, Southeast Asian country.
The distinction of being the first Filipino athletes to compete in Olympic winter sports belong to two teens and cousins JUAN “Johnny” CIPRIANO (b. 18 May 1952) and JOSELITO BIEVENIDO “Ben” NAÑASCA (b. 29 Aug. 1954) originally from a large family in Paco, Manila.
To alleviate their condition, their mothers agreed to an offer by a New Zealand family to adopt them in 1963. The boys tagged along with the couple who ended up living for a time in Europe, beginning in Andorra, where they learned to ski in the Pyrenees.
They continued to ski even as they led peripatetic lives in Spain, France and Switzerland. By then, their skiing skills caught the attention of the Swiss government, which had started a program to promote their alpine skiing sports. Swiss officials saw their potential and offered to pay for their further training. It was suggested that the boys could qualify for the Olympics, representing the Philippines.
After 5 short years, that’s what the 2 boys actually
accomplished—they got good enough to earn slots for the Philippines in
the 1972 Winter Olympics. The country was thrilled at their
representation that huge billboards of them were put up during their short
visit en route to Japan, surprising even the two. They created
quite a sensation in the international media when the pair arrived in Sapporo.The
New Zealand Herald noted that, “to be a Filipino skier is something rare
in a country which keenly follows basketball and boxing.”
The Sapporo Games opened on 3 Feb. 1972. 17 year old Nañasca and 19-going-20 Cipriano strode into the snow-covered auditorium behind an unlikely flag bearer, actor Luis Gonzales, who, at that time, was shooting a Nora Aunor-Tirso Cruz II film set in Japan. Since there was no other delegate and no Philippine winter sports association, Gonzales was asked to carry the flag’s colors.
The young Filipinos were entered in the alpine events (downhill, slalom and giant slalom). Nañasca placed 42nd among 48 finishers in the giant slalom, timing in after 2 runs in 4:06.20. The top 3 medals were won by European standouts, the gold going to world champion Gustavo Thoeni. However, he did not finish in the slalom event.
Cipriano, still nursing a broken kneecap sustained in an accident in St. Moritz shortly before the Olympiad, saw action in the alpine events (slalom, giant slalom) but did not finish. Though their Olympic campaign was not productive, they made news worldwide, and continued to pursue their skiing passion.
After the Olympics, Nañasca had a brief homecoming to the Philippines before returning to New Zealand. The two were the toast of the country, and the movie “Winter Holiday”--where they appeared in cameo roles was released, boosting their sudden national fame.
They made news again just a few months after the Olympics, when they joined the Ruapehu Regional Championships where Nañasca ruled the giant slalom, besting a formidable field of European and Japanese skiers. Johnny Cipriano, on the other hand, finished second in the event.
They would go on to rock the skiing circle “down under”, by competing in eight races in Australia, consistently placing in the first 25 places. After funding problems put an end to their Philippine representation, Nañasca joined the New Zealand ski team when he became a citizen.
He hanged up his ski boots to begin training as a
teacher. After a year of teaching, he found a job opening at Youthtown,
a non-profit Kiwi organization founded in 1932, that helps support and
develop young people through outdoor sports and activities. He joined Youthtown
in 1985 where he organized outdoor camps and designed events and sports
programs. He has been connected with Youthtown as an Outdoor
Instructor for over 40 years, inspiring young people to be the best they
can be.
Nañasca is a father of two talented athletes of the artistic kind. His 2 daughters with his Dumaguete-born wife Florence-- Karen and Alana—are accomplished ballet dancers. Karen is a member of the Melbourne-based Australian Ballet Company. On the other hand, his cousin Johnny Cipriano has shunned the limelight, and has pretty much disappeared from the sport scene.
The two Olympians who pre-dated the “Cool Runnings” bobsled team of Jamaica by 16 years, are largely unknown today in the Philippines. But their historic participation in the Winter Olympics blazed the trail for others to follow—like luger Raymond Ocampo, figure skater Michael Martinez, alpine skier Asa Miller-- who dared to engage in a sport most unexpected for Filipinos, performing it to the level of Olympic excellence for all the world to see. #philippineathletes #philippinealpine sports #philippineolympians #1972sapporowinterolympics #philippinesportsallstars
SOURCES:
The Filipino Athlete., Summing Up the 1972 Munich Olympics,
Healy, Catherine (16 August 2012). "Olympian part of Youthtown history". Fairfax New Zealand Limited. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
Former Olympic skier on 40 years helping Kiwi youth thrive, 26 May 2023, https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/05/26/former-olympic-skier-on-40-years-helping-kiwi-youth-thrive/
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