In the 1930s, some of the finest 400 meter runners in Asia were Filipinos like Constantino Alambra, Serafin Estrada, Nemesio de Guzman (who went on to run in the 1936 Olympics) and the Antique-born athlete, GERMAN Tajanlangit CANDARI. His running career was a brief one, but undoubtedly rich with accomplishments and rewards, capped with a most amazing performance at his one and only Far East Games appearance in 1934.
German was born in Pandan, Antique in 1909, the eldest son of Bonifacio Candari and Socorro Tajanlangit, also from Antique, in Dao. He was named after his paternal great grandfather German Torres Candari. His younger siblings include Concepcion and Victorio, who died young. He grew up in relative comfort as his father Bonifacio, then only in his mid-20s, was the Presidente Municipal of Pandan ( a granduncle, Marcelo Dioso Candari , had also been Pandan’s gobernadorcillo during the Spanish time, 1867-68)
German went
to local schools, and it was in Antique High School that his athletic
skills came to fore, as a representative of his school in various in
interscholastic meets. To pursue his athletic dream, Candari moved to Manila,
after being accepted as a student athlete of the National University. As
part of the school’s track team, he regularly competed at the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (N.C.A.A.) meets.
In the 2nd week of February 1931, he was sent to the Philippine National Athletics Championship as an NCAA athlete. There, Candari caused a major sensation when he upset the heavily-favored 1928 Olympian, Anselmo Gonzaga by beating him in the 200 m. dash. From thereon, Candari became a valuable asset to the U.P. track and field team as he began asserting his supremacy in sprints even with veterans around.
With the Philippines scheduled to host the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in May, the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (P.A.A.F.) Track and Field Committee drew up a list of 107 athletes in February to train and try out for a slot in the Philippine National Team. German Candari, who was representing National University, was one of those shortlisted to join the training program.
The first cut was made in March when the number was pruned down to 77 athletes. Again, Candari survived the elimination and was quartered along with the other aspirants at the La Salle College where they were subjected to a regimen of intense training and body conditioning. On March 25, 1934 he had to excuse himself for a day so he could attend his commencement exercise at the Manila Opera House and receive his secondary school diploma from N.U.
The arduous qualification process culminated at the Jose Rizal Memorial Field where the athletes were pitted against each other in final try-out races on the first day of May.
Bidding to run in the longer 400 m. sprint, Candari’s
performance in the finals made headline news when he broke the existing Philippine
record. The star spikeman clocked in at 50 secs. flat, obliterating
the 51 secs held by Constantino Alambra. Newspapers made their
fearless forecast by proclaiming Candari as “the best bet in the coming Olympic
Games”. His victory earned him a loving cup and earned him a ticket to the 1934
Far East Games which unfolded in Manila just 2 scant weeks later.
Candari was at his peak when the intercontinental athletic events got underway at the Rizal Track and Field Stadium on May 13. The 400 m. race was crowded with ace Chinese and Japanese ace runners, made more competitive with the first appearance of Dutch East Indies and Indo-Chinese athletes. The famed Filipino Olympic veteran, Fortunato Catalon, was the official starter of the track events.
But when the time of Candari was announced, the reaction was thunderous—with his time of 49.8 secs., he became the first Filipino athlete to breach the 50 sec. barrier, and establish a new Far East Asian championship record. It was Candari’s best race and his life’s finest hour. The young athlete was suddenly thrust in the limelight and was sought after to run in special events and sporting competitions both here and abroad.
In September 1934, for example, when renown American runner Al Fitch of the University of Southern California visited the Philippines, Candari was one of the star athletes invited to run against him in special races at the Rizal Stadium, placing 2nd.
A month later, the U.S. track team ( Glenn Cunningham, Frank Crowley, Ralph Metcalfe, Howard Greene, Wirt Thompson, John Anderson, Gordon Dunn, Charles Hornbostel) arrived in Manila to participate in a 2-day U.S.-Philippine Dual Meet while touring the islands. Once again, Candari was invited to lead the Philippine contingent as the Flag Bearer and participant.
1935 was another busy year for Candari, now a college student of the University of the Philippines, taking up Education with Physical Education as his Major. A track and field meet featuring elite athletes from the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and National University—known as the “Big 3” in Athletics—was organized and schedule for January 12 and 13 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. U.P.’s delegation included the old reliables Silvino Cristobal, Rafael Navallasca, Mario Branzuela and of course, German Candari.
As expected, Candari won the 400 meters Gold, followed by his U.P. teammate Teodoro Malasig, a future Olympian. He also placed 4th in the 200 meter dash, helping U.P. keep the “Big 3” Track and Field Title.
Midway through the year, in the 3rd week of June 1935, a crack Philippine team consisting of runners German Candari, Rafael Navallasca, Silvino Cristobal, Nemesio de Guzman, Antonio Salcedo, hurdler Miguel White, discus thrower Aurelio Amante, pole vaulter Miguel Sujeco and other Filipino standouts flew to Japan to compete against the All-Japan Students track team. Though they lost overall, the Filipinos won the team relays, while White and Candari secured individual Golds for the 400 m. hurdles and the 400 m. run, respectively.
Pushing 30, Candari went to Samar before the
outbreak of the war, together with fellow sprinter Rafael Navallasca,
who had found a job there as a Forest Ranger of the Bureau of Forestry. He
met his wife in the province, and started a transportation business offering
trucking, moving and delivery services. Business flourished and he settled in Catbalogan
to start his family, grow his enterprise to include the sale of heavy
equipment, including International Harvester agricultural and construction
equipment. By the 1950s, Candari was a prominent figure in Samar,
a respected freemason in the community, and one of the most successful
businessmen in the province.
On 14 November 1967 however, a major setback befell the Candari family. A pre-dawn fire blazed through the commercial district of Catbalogan, destroying buildings and residences, some of which belonged to the Candaris. All the members of the household escaped the fire but were unable to save anything. Big machineries and stocks of spare parts displayed on the ground floor of their beautiful building also went up in smoke.
Like a true sportsman with the “win-some-lose-some” attitude, German Candari picked himself up, rebuilt his home, re-started his business and never looked back. At age 72, he passed away on 4 October 1981, in Marikina.
SOURCES:
German Tajanlangit
Candari (1909–1981). FamilySearch,
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GC87-CXB/german-candari-1909-1981
Personals, German
Candari, The Filipino Athlete,
Offcial Publication of the P.A.A.F, Mar. 1949 issue. P.15
P.A.A.F. Track and
Field Committee To Meet Soon to Discuss Training Program.The Tribune, 17 Feb. 1934, p 9
77 Candidates are
Quartered, The Tribune ,24 March 1934,
p.10
Osias and President
Hamilton Guests At Twenty-Second Commencement, The Tribune , 24 March 1934 , p.9
Olympic Notes, The Tribune, 24 March 1934 p.10
Trabad Conocimiento con
Atletas de la Olimpiada: German Candari,
La Vanguardia, Manila. 11 May 1934, p.17
White, Candari, Se
Lucen Otra Vez en Japon..La
Vanguardia, Manila, 21 Jun. 1935, p. 6
Al Fitch Cracks P.
I.Mark in 400-Meter Run, The Tribune,
25 Sep. 1934
Complete List of
Entries For Big Meet Is Announced, The Tribune , 27 October
1934, p. 13
‘Sports of all Sports
“BIG 3” Track, Field on, Shortly Entries Are Announced’. ’The Tribune (Philippines. 4 Jan. 1935 , p.11
Miguel White, German
Candari Sta- P.I. Athletes Set New Record in Relays, The Tribune, 21 June 1935, p.11
From Catbalogan, Samar. The Cabletow Volume XLIII (Issue No.12) December 1967, https://repository.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/omekas/s/rare-periodicals/media/235361
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