The Central Luzon running champion of the 1910s-1920s decade was born JULIAN R. SAPNU of humble origin on 3 January 1892 in Bacolor, Pampanga. In that rustic, old town, the country boy Julian—like all youngsters attending U.S. administered public schools, took to running as part of the school’s required physical education subject.
An all-around athlete, Sapnu competed regularly at the Central Luzon Athletic Association Meets as a hurdler and sprinter. He made news when, as a member of the Pampanga contingent to the 1917 competition, he and his team mates Domingo Garcia, Wencesla Dizon, and Prudencio Lumanlan, equalled the existing 1915 meet record in the 880 yard relay with a time of 1:38.6 mins. He was thus recommended by the provincial athletic association to the national try-outs to determine the members of the Philippine team that will be sent to the 1917 Far Eastern Championship Games--the Oriental Olympics--slated for 8-12 May in Tokyo, Japan.
To his utter surprise, Sapnu passed the qualifying test, along with his kabalen, Magin Ferrer of San Fernando and Silvestre Manaloto of Mexico. He was already 25 years old at that time, rather senior for a meet where athletes were mostly 18 to 20 years old. Sapnu sailed for Japan in April aboard the passenger ship Panay. His passport indicated that he stood 5 feet tall, with an “oval face, small nose with a broad base, medium forehead and mouth, round chin and black eyes”.
Sapnu officially competed in the 220 yds Hurdles (straight) and set a record of sort for the Philippines as the fighting Filipinos completed a 1-2-3 sweep of all the medals up for grabs. The Gold Medal went to 19 year old Manila student Isabelo Astroquillo (28.6 secs.), Silver to 18 year old Calbayog student Calixto Bello (28.8 secs.), and the Bronze to Kapampangan Julian Sapnu (29 secs. flat).\
The Philippines also won the 4 x 220 yd. (or 880 yd.) Relay, which was one of Sapnu’s favorite races. The composition of the 4-member team, however, was not recorded, but it is almost certain that Sapnu was part of the victorious men’s relay team that trounced Japan and China. These track events (220 yd. hurdles, 4 x 220 yd. relay) are no longer standard events at most athletic meets, including the Olympics.
Still, a single Bronze Medal in an international meet is surely not bad for someone who, just months ago, was just another provincial athlete with a potential waiting to be unlocked. And he showed how great that potential was when, returning to the 1918 CLAA Meet, he once again equalled the 4 x 220 yds relay meet record along with team-mates Wenceslao Dizon, Florentino Ravalo, and Catalino Dizon. As per records, it was still standing in 1935.
It would seem that after 1917, there is little we know of Sapnu’s athletic career. We do know he remained in Potrero, Bacolor where he married Melencia (or Nemencia) P. Cano around 1919, as by 1920 they had their first daughters Amelia and Carmelita (both born within 1920), followed by Perlita (1922), Lorita (b.1926), Leonardo (b.1930), and Eloy (b.1931). After his running years were over, Julian R. Sapnu became a police officer of the San Fernando Police Department, the neighboring capital town of Pampanga.
A 1932 news item indicated that on 15 July 1931, the provincial commander filed a complaint against Sapnu and was investigated by the San Fernando municipal council regarding an unspecified charge. The matter was referred to the provincial board. However, Sapnu was given a copy of the charges only on 6 Jan. 1932, some 5 months later, instead of the 5-day period set by the administrative code. The Executive Office declared thus that the board has no jurisdiction to investigate, and the case was dropped.
Sapnu lived to see his children get married and have families. Since then, nothing more was heard of this great Central Luzon champion runner who gave the country a cause for celebration, with his modest, but historic contribution to Philippine sports, at a time when we were one of the top 3 best-performing countries in regional Athletics. Julian Sapnu passed away on 19 Mach 1966 at the age of 74.
SOURCES;
Central Luzon Athletic
Association 1934-1935 Program
Passport Applications -
Philippine Islands, Volume 25 (5600-5849)
Investigacion Contra un Policia, Anulada, El Fiscal Declara Que la junta provincial no tiene facultades para ella”, La Vanguardia, 16 Dec. 1932, p. 1
No comments:
Post a Comment