58. A Life of Hurdling Barriers: JULIAN R. SAPNU, 1917 Far East Games Medalist

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

 

57. 2-Time Olympian JIKIRUM ADJALUDDIN, Sulu’s Sultan of Swim

Sulu has had a deep and long involvement in the history of Philippine aquatic sports, and its long list of swimmers and their legacy are irrefutable proofs, their names still held in reverence for those who remember: Tamse, Jakaria, Arasad, Usman, Ali, and the most acclaimed of them all, JIKIRUM ADJALUDDIN.

Surprisingly, for an athlete as celebrated as  Jikirum Adjaluddin (b. 11 Jan. 1912), there is not much known about his early life in Sulu. He arrived at the scene when the prowess of “the Moro swimmers” was coming to its peak. In 1928, Tausug Tuburan Tamse, became the first Muslim swimmer to become an Olympian in Amsterdam. This pioneer Olympian share the same story as his fellow Tausugs who were driven to leave their province to find better opportunities in Luzon.

A few got into Manila schools like Tamse, but many, like Adjaluddin, enlisted with the U.S. Army-Philippine Scouts division in 1929, which had an excellent sports training program in athletics and swimming. It is in the latter sport that the Muslim boys excelled for they were natural-born swimmers, growing up surrounded by the waters of their island province.

Natural-Born Swimmer

Adjaluddin took to swimming easily, and became so skilled that he was sent to compete at the 1929 Philippine-Formosa Dual Meet and to the 1930 Far East Games in Japan. There, together with Teofilo Yldefonso, they would both meet—and beat the 1928 Olympic gold medalist, Yoshiyuki Tsuruta in the 200 m. breast stroke, for a rare 1-2 Filipino finish.

Indeed, he became a prized all-around swimmer of the 45^th Infantry (Philippine Scouts), an honor shared with his more seasoned team mate, Teofilo Yldefonso, 10 years his senior, and member of the 5^th Infantry. The two would engage in friendly rivalry during the annual inter-department athletic tournament called McKinley Games , with separate events for both Filipino and American cadets.

In the 1931 edition held from Dec. 18-19, Adjaluddin participated in just one aquatic event---the 1 Mile Swim. To the shock of the crowd, he upset the Olympian Yldefonso who came in 3^rd, and finished with a New Dept. Record of 22 minutes 27 and 2/5 secs. This time also beat the 1-Mile Swim record of the American Cameron of the Air Corps, who clocked in at 27 mins. 3 secs.—a full 5 minutes slower!

Swimming His Way to L.A. 1932

Swimming officials of the P.A.A.F. kept a watchful eye on Adjaluddin as the next year, he was invited to try out for the Philippine Olympic Team being assembled to compete at the 10^th World Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The tryouts were conducted at the Rizal Memorial Pool on Saturday, 21 May 1932. The swimmers were whittled down to just 6: Arasad Arpad, Teofilo Yldefonso, Nils Adolf Christiansen, Tuburan Tamse, Abdurahman Ali, and Jikirum Adjaluddin. The 6 swimmers contested the 3 Olympic spots by swimming the 100 m., 400 m. (freestyle), and the 200 m. breaststroke.

The 20 year old Adjuladdin, the youngest of the batch, stunned the crowd and officials when he swam the 200 m. breast stroke at 2 mins, 47 secs.—which broke the existing record of Tsuruta of 2 mins. 48.8 sec. established in the last 1928 Olympics--faster by 1.8 secs.

When all the times have been examined, Adjaluddin—with Yldefonso and Ali—were announced as official members of the Philippine Swim Team for L.A. Both Adjaluddin and Yldefonso were assigned the breaststroke events while Ali, the 100 m. freestyle sprint.

The Philippine delegation set sail for the U.S. on 11 June 1932, on board the ship “Tatsuta Maru” arriving on time on 30 July in California, in time for the aquatic events scheduled from Aug. 6-13 at the Olympic natatorium. Local papers updated Filipino sports fans about the performance of the national athletes.

First Olympics, Fifth at the Finish!

The initial news of the preliminary events were very encouraging—for the 200 m. breast stroke event,  Yldefonso topped his heat ahead of the American world record holder, Walter Spence. Adjaluddin, in his first Olympics—came in 2^nd to the current Olympic champion Yoshiyuki Tsuruta. The 2 Filipinos were through to the Semifinals.

The 2 Semifinal Races  were held on the same day, with 9 swimmers contesting the 6 Finalist slots. Adjaluddin placed 3^rd in the first race topped by Tsuruta and the schoolboy Koike, while Yldefonso placed 2^nd to the German, Eugene Sietas. It was unimaginable to conceive that 2 Filipinos were now in the swimming finals of the world’s greatest sports event—and the news of their double feats were proudly bannered in the front pages of local newspapers

In the Finals, however, only one Filipino was fated get a podium finish. Experience won over youth when Yldefonso placed third, winning the Bronze. The veteran Tsuruta won the Gold over the teener, Koike, who bagged the Silver.

Adjaluddin came in 5^th, an incredible finish in his debut Olympic appearance—and he would return to the country with great adulation and much rejoicing at the Fort McKinley garrison. Many congratulatory radio-grams across the Pacific were received on their behalf by his Coach Joaquin Alviar of the Post Y.M.C.A and the head of the Philippine delegation, Prof. Candido Bartolome.

Newspapers heaped praises on Adjaluddin’s feat: “the Moro lad departed for L.A. as a dark horse, and to observers, it seemed as though he might spring a surprise. He had repeatedly won over Yldefonso in the latter’s favorite event in the Olympic try-outs..  However, age and experience were needed before he can stand in the first, second, or third order. Given a few more years, Jikirum may yet forge to the front in the next Olympics”.

Going Farther at the Far East Games, 1934

Indeed, Jikirum Adjaluddin trained even harder in his quest for another chance at Olympic glory, joining high-level meets like the 1933 McKinley Games, the 1933 1^st and Philippine Endurance Marathon Swim (winner), An invitation from the Australian Swimming Association for Adjaluddin and Yldefonso  to swim in a series of meets from January to February in Melbourne had to be shelved because of schedule conflicts—the 1934 Far East Games were coming to Manila.

Jikirum gain an instant berth in the Philippine swim team for the 1934 Far Eastern Games in Manila held from 16-20 May 1934. He would win 2 medals in the regional meet, a Bronze in the 200 m. breast stroke, and Silver in the 4 x 200m. relay. There was no time to catch his breath, as he was sent off  to the 1934 International Army-Navy YMCA Pentathlon—which was actually an athletic event, but which he topped anyway!, His last tune-up for the next Olympics was the 1935 Philippines-Formosa Dual Swim Meet.

Keeping Abreast with the Best in Berlin, 1936

With a new Philippine record for the 100 m. freestyle under his belt at 58.9 secs, the breast stroke specialist Adjaluddin was ready for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Joining him in Germany were Yldefonso on his 3^rd Olympics, another breast stroker Arsad Alpad, backstroke record holder Fil-Am Nils Christensen and freestyler Jose Obial (freestyle).

In Berlin, Adjaluddin had 3 chances of winning a medal, as he was entered in 3 events: 100 m. free, 200 m. breast stroke and the 4 x 200 freestyle men’s relay. In the 100 m. free, held on Aug. 8, Obial was eliminated outright , while Adjaluddin came in 2^nd in heat 3 with a time of 1:01.0 secs, after British Mickey Ffrench Williams, thus qualifying for the Semifinals. 

Adjaluddin lucked out, timing in at 1:00.5 secs, sharing 5^th place with 2 other swimmers with identical times—and was shut off from the Finals. The 100 m. crown was won by Hungary’s Feren Csik in 57.6 secs., trailed by 2 Japanese.

After 2 days’ rest, the Philippine team of Adjaluddin, Christensen, Alpad and Obial were supposed to enter the 4 x 200 m. men’s freestyle relay, but “did not start” (DNS) or opted not to participate.

Adjaluddin’s last chance for a podium finish was for his pet event—the 200 m. breast stroke slated for Aug. 13-14. But 2 compatriots were also on the same hunt for a medal--Arsad Alpad and Teofilo Yldefonso. The three hurdled their preliminary heats with ease.

Unfortunately, in the Semifinals, Adjaluddin’ 2:54.0 secs.  and Alpad’s 2:54.6 secs.were not enough to advance;  only the 33 year old Yldefonso was left fighting for a medal at the Finals, which did not come. Yldefonso took 7^th place while  Japanese Tetsuo Hamoro and Reizo Koike, finished 1-3. Erwin Sietas of Germany, whom Yldefonso had beaten in the last Olympics, placed second.

Riding the Post-Olympic Wave

Adjaluddin concluded his Olympic journey with his 1936 Berlin stint, but not his love for the water. Sulu’s Pool Royalty continued to be the toast of Philippine swimming, remaining active and competitive before the outbreak of war. 

In the second week of July 1938, Adjaluddin was picked by the P.A.A.F to compete at the Philippine-Hongkong Swimming Meet, along with the Philippines' best at the Rizal Natatorium. Representing San Beda, he was fielded in 2 events: the 100 m. individual freestyle race and the 4 x100 m. freestyle men's team relay. 

The next year,  1939, he was one of the participants at the Formosa Dual Meet that was held also at the Rizal Memorial pool from Sep. 1 to 3. He had also been there at the 1935 and 1937 biennial games. He reunited with his former team mates Arsad Alpad and Teofilo Yldefonso , in this goodwill meet against the best of Formosan tankers.

On 16, Mar. 1940, Philippine Olympic stars, Adjaluddin and Yldefonso, gave a thrilling exhibition at the opening of a new 25 m. x 12 m.  swimming pool in San Juan, Rizal. Also invited were outstanding swimmers from U.P., UST, FEU and M.I.T. A record crowd attended the inauguration of the new Php22,000 pool that was also graced by the 1939 Miss Philippines, Iluminada Tuazon.

Later in the year, at the National Rover Scouts Conference (a gathering of older Boy Scouts from 16-25 years old) held from Dec. 29-31 in Manila, Adjaluddin gave swimming demonstrations and life-saving techniques on water as part of the water safety activities of the program.

Like all Philippine Army men, Corporal Jikirum Adjaluddin was called to active duty during the war, but nothing was heard about him. He is reported to have died young, at age 26, on 1 April 1938 as his date of passing. This is erroneous as newspapers show that from 1939-40, he was still making appearances in meets and swimming-related events.

He must have survived the war unlike his contemporaries Yldefonso and Ali who perished in defense of the country. A more reliable  informant comes from Farida Usman Fischer, a relative, who declares that Adjaluddin,  passed away in Zamboanga City in the 1990s.

For 80 years, Jikirum Adjaluddin held the distinction of being the only Southeast Asian to qualify for the Semifinals in multiple Olympic swimming events, a feat repeated only in 2016 by Singaporean Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen. Adjaluddin will always be remembered as a leading figure in the glorious age of Philippine swimming, when, from the late 1920s to the 1970s, Sulu swimmers ruled the waters and reigned supreme.

SOURCES:

“Las Pruebas Olimpicas de Pista, Manana”, La Vanguardia, 20 May 1932, p. 3

“Yldefonso y Jikirum Se Cualifican Para Los Semifinales”, La Vanguardia, 12 Aug. 1932, p.3

“Yldefonso, Jikirum en los Finales”, La Vanguardia, 13 Aug. 1932

“Jikirum Hace Nuevo Tiempo Para 200 Mts.”, Desportes de La Vanguardia, 23 May 1932, p. 3

“Jikirum Places Second Behind Tsuruta Who Sets New Olympic Mark with 2:26.02”, The Tribune, 13 Aug. 1932, p. 7

“Las Sensaciones Intimas; las Sorpresas; los Pequeños y Grandes Recuerdos de la Olimpiada Revelados por Primera Vez”, Seccion del Hogar, La Vanguarda, 24 Sep. 1932, p. 11

“Yldefonso, Jikirum in Breast stroke Finals”, The Tribune, 14 Aug. 1932, p. 26

“Post Mermen Congratulated”, The Tribune, 16 August 1932, p. 7

“Jikirum Wins Marathon Swim”, The Tribune, 14 Feb. 1933, p. 7

“En Los Campeonatos de Natacion”, La Vanguardia, 8 Feb. 1934

“Jikirum Competes in  the 100-Meter Freestyle”, The Tribune, 1936

“Swimming, Cage Meets on Today”, The Tribune, 8 Aug. 1936, p. 9

“Swimmers Prepare for Formosa Meet”, The Tribune, 24 June 1939, p. 14

“P. I. Olympic Stars Give Exhibition at New Pool’, The Tribune, 17 Mar. 1940, p. 31

“Stage Set for Moot”, The Tribune, 20 Dec. 1940, p. 21

Official Report of the 1932 Olympic Games. Publication Year, 1933.

Official Report of the 1936 Olimpic Games, Publication Year, 1937

51. Sprinter and Hurdler CONSTANTINO J. ALAMBRA: Far East Man of Speed

The 1930s decade spawned many sprinting stars, thanks to the athletic programs of the United States Army Philippine Division for their Filipino scouts and recruits.  Every year, the McKinley Games, consisting of track and field and swimming events, were held to test the sporting skills and strengths of both the U.S. and Filipino army men.

Many products of these games went on to become national athletes that competed in Olympics and major regional sporting competitions like medalists Miguel White (hurdler), Teofilo Yldefonso (swimmer), Nemesio de Guzman (track),  and Far East Games champ Miguel Sujeco (pole vaulter). Add to this list the name of CONSTANTINO J. ALAMBRA, who made a name for himself as both a hurdler, sprinter and relay specialist at the Far East Championship Games.

Very little is known about Alambra’s life before he became an athlete. Like many able-bodied young men out to find their place in the sun, Alambra applied, and was taken in by the U.S. Army Phil. Division, as member of the Philippine Scouts. It was in the McKinley Games that his running talent was discovered when he began winning various events from the quarter-mile run (400 m) to shorter sprints, and the hurdles. Alambra was considered a major rival of the celebrated hurdler/sprinter Miguel White, and they have crossed tracks many times.

In 1929, the Army fielded him in the Philippine National Athletic Meet where Alambra ruled the 400 meter run. He duplicated that feat in 1930, and established a National Record of 51.0 secs. With that feat, he also earned a ticket to the 1930 Far East Games held in Tokyo, Japan, where he was entered in 3 events.

Alambra bombed out of the 200 meter dash but captured two team Silvers for the 4 x 200 m. Relay (with German Candari, Anselmo Gonzaga, and David Nepomuceno) and the 4 x 400 m. Relay (with Candari, Gonzaga and Miguel White), all won by Japanese athletes who managed to keep the athletic championship title. That year’s Far East Games would be known for the sorry performances of the Filipino athletes who could only bag 2 Golds, won by Felizardo Casia (200 m. hurdles) and Simeon Toribio (high jump).

P.A.A.F. officials lost no time in revitalizing the sports program to ensure that this would not happen again. After all, the Philippines was poised to host the next Far East Games in 1934, followed by the the staging of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

The 1931 Philippine National Athletic Meet was once again held in February, with the best athletes from the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) , the Army, and the Bureau of Education. Defending champion Alambra was the heavy favorite to win the 400 m. race. One more win could earn him the chance to own the P.A.A.F.  Silver Cup permanently, as he had already won the same event twice in  the past 2 years. He breezed thru the trials and was supposed to run on the final day of the competition. Unfortunately, he developed cramps and pulled out of the Finals, allowing NCAA stand-out Silvino Cristobal to take the quarter-mile run.

Alambra took the loss in stride and focused on his training that included travelling to Iloilo and Negros Oriental in November 1933, along with fellow McKinley athletes to give exhibition and compete against the best athletes of the provinces. His efforts bore fruit as by the end of April 1934, the P.A.A.F announced that he had been shortlisted as one of the 71 athletes, to be quartered in De La Salle College as aspirants for the Philippine Olympic Team.

The candidates were divided into groups and assigned a Coach to oversee their over-all training. After their training, they will run in qualifying races against each other to determine the final members of the Philippine team. Coach Pedro Ablan was assigned to groups of athletes who were proficient in running all races that covered the 400 m distance: 400 m. flat race, 400 m. hurdles, 4 x 400 m. (1600) relay. Alambra was in this elite group that included names like Miguel White, Nemesio de Guzman, Jesus Roa, Serafin Estrada, and German Candari.

Alambra triumphed in the 400 meter hurdles, upsetting Miguel White who came in 2^nd, with Roa in 3^rd. In the 400 m. race, however, Candari smashed Alambra’s national record of 51 secs., lowering it down to 50.2 secs. In the 4 x 400 m. relay, Alambra teamed up with Candari, White and de Guzman to tie the record that they themselves set early in April. Their clocking of 3:20.0 mins broke the games record of 3:24.06 secs by the Japanese in the last Far East Games.

On 4 April 1934, the names of the members of the new Philippine athletic team to the 1934 Far East Games in Manila were announced—and Alambra was high up on the list. He has made it again to his second Oriental Olympics, this time, happening in his home turf of Manila.

Hopes and spirits were high as the 1934 Games opened in the heart of Manila. After days of intense competition, host nation  Philippines, again took second place overall in Athletics after Japan. This time though, Filipinos claimed the other seven titles and had a clean sweep in the 400 meters—in the 400 m. hurdles, Miguel White denied his arch-rival the Gold, and this time, Alambra had to settle for the Silver medal, but still ahead of Japan’s Masao Michihara, the Bronze medalist.

The 400 m. flat race saw the Filipinos winning the top 3 places with German Candari breaking the 50 sec. barrier with a 49.8 sec. clocking, followed by Nemesio de Guzman and Serafin Estrada. In the 4 x 400 m,, the Philippine team (Alambra, Candari, de Guzman, White) won the exciting match with 3:20.3 mins, just a hair’s breadth ahead from Japan which finished in 3:20.5 mins.Though the Philippines still placed 2^nd to Japan, our athletes’ performance was way better than the last edition.

 Alambra was touted as a possible Philippine Olympic team member for the 1936 Berlin Olympiad, but in the end, only 4 runners were sent to Germany: Miguel White, Nemesio de Guzman, Antonio Salcedo and Teodoro Malasig. It was in Berlin that White placed 3^rd in the 400 m. hurdles and won a rare Bronze for the Philippines.

With the end of the major athletic tournaments, Alambra buckled down to focus on his family. He took on a wife, Mariana Japson, an Ilocana. A son, Fermin, was born to them in 1939. In 1940, Alambra was appointed teacher of Leyte High School by the Director of Education, Celedonio Salvador. 

Things were going well until the War intervened. Lt. Constantino Alambra was called to active duty and died defending the country. His name, along with 51 other athlete heroes, is inscribed a bronze plaque that was unveiled on 17 July 1951, on the wall of the coliseum facade inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. It was put up during the term of president Jorge Vargas of the  Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation.

 SOURCES:

Friedlander, Alfred. “Results of the Philippine National Athletoc Competitions”, Graphic Magazine, 18 Feb. 1931, p. 22

“3 Swimmers, 1 Track Man Leaving for Visayas This Morning”, La Vanguardia,  27 Nov. 1933. P.9

“71 candidates are quartered aspirants for the P.O. Olympic Team at La Salle College”. Tribune, 24 Mar. 1934, p. 10

“Three Record were Improved in the Final Tests”, Tribune, 30 Apr. 1934, p. 10

Alinea Eddie, “For Flag and Country: In Sports and in War”, Business Mirror, 28 Aug. 2022.  https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/08/28/for-flag-and-country-in-sports-and-in-war/

Alinea, Eddie, “A Tribute to Sports War Heroes”, Philboxing.com. 13 June 2013. http://m.philboxing.com/news/story-84257.ht

44. ANTONIO ALO and his Vaults of Gold, 1919-1925

When the Americans introduced Athletics to Filipinos, they included Field Events (hence, Track and Field) that included throwing (classic discus, shotput, javelin) and jumping events like  broad jump, hop, skip and jump, standing long jump (now the high jump) and the Pole Vault. These are less popular as they don’t elicit the same energy level from the crowds as the sprint races; they take awhile to finish. Yet, a Field Event Gold is worth the same as a Gold won in the more glamorous century dash or hurdles.

In forming their track teams, national coaches scouted schools for students with certain body types  adapted for  jumping, leaping (tall, slim, with springy legs) and throwing (hefty, muscled, stocky, yet nimble). It was in this way that in the 1917 Far East Games in Japan, the coaches discovered 2 boys who had these built and trained them for the Pole Vault, an ancient sport known during the medieval days.

JUSTO LLANES, 20, at 5’7”, was from Bangued, Abra. He was tall and long-limbed,  and even his face was described as “long and oval”. From Cebu, Cebu came 19 year old ANTONIO ALO (b. 10 May 1898), an inch shorter, and described as “round-faced”. The 2 students were named to the National Athletic Team, and set for Japan on 23 April 1917. On board the ship “Panay”. These two young athletes thus became the first known Filipino Pole Vaulters to compete in the internationa; arena, at the 1917 Far Eastern Championships.

It was Llanes, however, who reached the finals, medalling behind Tang Ichung (CHN) who cleared 3.15 m., followed by another Chinese, Kuo Chiaoyen, with 3.07 m. Llanes (PHI) did not even exceed the 3 m. mark, clearing only 2.99 m., but still enough for the Bronze. The dejected Alo, still a teen,  came home without a medal in his first Far East Games campaign.

He would come back with vengeance for the 1919 Far East Games in Manila, and this time, the young adult, now more confident and better-trained,  snatched the Gold, the first of 3 he would capture  in the most prestigious sporting event of Asia. In fact, 3 Filipinos ruled the Pole Vault finals led by Alo with a 3.31 m. leap—a new games record. Faustino Carlos and a certain Puno—both Filipinos finished 2-3, but their jumps went unrecorded

The 3 Filipinos would defend their titles at the 1921 Far East Games—with the beanpole Alo, again, smashing his own record with an incredible vault of 3.51 m. (.20 cm. better) . Carlos repeated his Silver finish, a a new rising vaulter, Carlos Nicolas, claimed the Bronze. In the same games, Alo was deployed to the Shot Put event as well—a throwing event, yet remarkably, he placed third (12. 55 m) , behind PH teammate Moises Lucas (12.72 m.) and Japanese winner Masasuke Nakamura (JPN), 12.83 m.

At the 1923 Far East Games in Japan, Alo suffered a temporary setback,  slipping to 2^nd place with a leap of (3.32 m.), same height as the Filipino third placer, Mala, who di 3.32 with more attempts. The winner, Japanese Yonetaro Nakazawa (JPN) made it to 3.40 m, good for Gold, leaving Alo’s best mark of 3.51 unscathed,        

His 5^th and last appearance in the Far East Games would come in Manila in 1925. And what a way to finish his sterling pole vaulting career. Four proud Filipinos claimed all the podium spots with Alo and the sensational Numeriano Tagavilla sharing the Gold with the same cleared height of 3.415 m. Sharing Silver were Carlos Mejillano and Miguel Sujeco (PHI) who managed  3.35 m.

 In all, Alo’s stash were 3 Golds, 1 Silver for Pole Vault, and 1 Bronze, for the unlikely sport of Shotput, making him the most successful vaulter ever at the regional games, pre-cursor of the Asian Games. Alo receded quietly from the limelight after that, and no more was heard of him.The champion pole vaulter, untouchable in his heyday, blazed trails in heightening the awareness for this sometimes lonely, tedious, and repetitive jumping sport until Ernest John Obiena proved that Filipinos, despite their short stature., could stand tall and compete with the best jumpers in the world.

SOURCES:

Passport Applications - Philippine Islands, Volume 24 (5350-5599)

Far East Championships, http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/fec.htm

“The pre-war star athletes of Cebu (Part I)”, CEBUPEDIA - Clarence Paul Oaminal - The Freeman , 9 Sep. 2016

Athletics at the 1921 Far Eastern Championship Games, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1921_Far_Eastern_Championship_Games

41. Titan of Throws: AURELIO AMANTE, Discus and Shot Put Record Breaker (active 1930-1954)

Throwing events in athletics—like discus, shot put, javelin and hammer throws—do not exactly command attention the way that the more popular foot races, relays and sprints do. But in the 1930s, whenever Bicolano AURELIO AMANTE steps on the field to throw the discus or put the shot, the bleacher crowd is hushed into silence, their attention riveted on the field as this hulk of man prepares to unleash his renown power in the discus throw.

Indeed, Aurelio “Liling” Amante, in his prime, was not only the top discus thrower of the country, but also of the Asian region, breaking records at these field events in both local and international meets. His formidable hurling strength led to sportswriters to give him the sobriquets,  “Strongman” , “Hercules” or “Big Boy” of Philippine sports.

A Star Disc-overy in Field Athletics

Born in 1912, Amante was exposed to sports early—not as an athlete, but as a member of a crew that organized inter-school and inter-provincial track and field tournaments. His assigned tasks included retrieving discus plates, shot put balls and javelins after every athlete’s throw. During the breaks or after the conclusion of the meets, Amante would often tinker with the discus, practicing how to hurl them. He was surprised to find he could throw them at great distances, and the teen soon developed a keen interest in the sport. He was largely self-taught, learning from books and sports manuals to improve his skills.

It was in one such meet in Masbate that Amante  caught the attention of national discus champion Fidel Mendoza while he was practicing his throws. He mentored him about the finer points of discus throwing, sharing the technical aspects of the throw, from his grip, to his turns, and timing of the release.

Amante would meet Mendoza again—this time as fellow competitors at the 1930 National Track and Field Meet in Manila. The seasoned veteran Mendoza, as expected, bagged the Gold—but trailing not too far behind was his 18 year old protégé, Aurelio Amante, who earned a Bronze medal finish.

Throwing His Weight Around at the Try-Outs

Amante continued to improve in the next few years and 1934 proved to be his busiest season yet—and also the most productive. At age 22, now in the collegiate ranks, he competed at the 1934 Interscholastic Meet in Bacolod, Negros Occidental—and reigned supreme in the Discus Throw by winning the Gold.

This instantly qualified him to join the Track and Field Preliminary Qualifying Meet held at the newly-built Rizal Memorial Stadium on 31 March 1934—which was the first level elimination round to determine the Philippine team to the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games slated in May.

By this time, there were emerging strong student athletes like William “Bill” Ray, Mario Branzuela (both from U.P.)  and Delfin Danguilan (Army) who were to be Amante’s biggest rivals. In the Discus Throw where Amante was the defending champion, he suffered a surprise loss when Ray, who heaved the discus to 129 ft. 3 inches, beat him to second place, with Branzuela in 3^rd. 

Not one to ponder at his defeat in his pet event, Amante returned to the field in the afternoon for the Shot Put event. In one mighty throw, Amante put the shot at an incredible 43 feet 1 5/8 inches, breaking by 3 feet the national record of Toribio Bucoy which stood at 40 ft. 1 in. Branzuela also surpassed Bucoy’s record, with a distance of 40 ft. 11 inches for Silver, Bucoy got the Bronze, while Bill Ray—who also entered this event—was a distant 4^th.

News of Amante’s sensational record-breaking feat in the shot put made headlines as he considered himself more as a discus specialist. Amante proved this, without a doubt, at the final try-outs for the remaining athletes held in the afternoon of 28 April 1934. At the discus event, he threw the disc at an astounding distance of 138 ft 1 7/8 inches, breaking the current Asian record of 132 ft. 11 ¾ , established by Japan’s Masae Saito at the 1930 Tokyo Far East Games. This time, Bill Ray came in 2^nd and Branzuela 3^rd.

The  Farthest of the Far, 1934

With his victory, Amante became part of the 197-strong Philippine national team to lead the country’s golden quest at the 1934 Far East Games slated for 16-20 May, in Manila. Amante was chosen to carry the country’s colors during the opening of the Games at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Brimming with renewed energy and confidence, Amante came to the Rizal Memorial Stadium just a day after the Games opening as a hometown favorite for the discus crown title. The Japanese though, led by Kosaku Kikutoto and Kiyoharu Fujita,  were determined to keep their title. Throw after throw, their distances were measured and registered, and when their attempts had all been used up, it was Amante of the Philippines who was at the top of winners’ list.

He had reset his month-old record to a new distance of 139 feet and 7 ¼ inches (42.54 m.), an unbelievable improvement of about a foot and a half—and a new Far East Games record! The Japanese were left fighting for next two places, with Kikutoto claiming Silver (42. 21 m) and Fujita, the Bronze (40.35 m.). The hometown crowd went wild with Amante’s triumph, and for days, his win was the buzz of local newspapers long after the closing of the Manila Far East Games.

Having a Field Day Putting and Throwing, 1934-1938

With the major competitions done, Amante began focusing on the future. As a scholar at Jose Rizal College, he was able to pursue both his sports and schooling. One of the more memorable events he was invited to join was the two-day dual track and field meet between visiting American stars led by the world’s fastest human, Ralph Metcalfe, and the cream of Filipino athletes.

Held in the last week of October, 1934, Amante was pitted against the 22 year old “Stanford Giant” Gordon Dunn in the Shot Put. He was no match for the American who smashed the Philippine record of 12.65 meters thrice, with a heave of 15. 27 meters. Though Amante was good only for a 3^rd place with 12.36 meters to show, he had a good time thrilling the packed audience of 6,000 at the Rizal Stadium.

Now a national sports figure, Amante was honored to appear as a guest of the 1935 National  Interscholastic Championships where he led 400 young crack athletes in declaring the Amateur Oath at the Rizal Track and Football Stadium.

The next year, Amante saw action at the Shot Put event of the annual NCAA Track and Field Meet where he claimed the Gold, enabling Jose Rizal College to capture  the overall championship title against perennial rivals La Salle and Mapua. He continued this winning streak in the Discus when he represented the NCAA in the 1937 National Track and Field Meet held on February 13.

Two important events awaited the much heralded athlete in 1938: the Intercollegiate Track and Field Meet (Feb. 26-27), and the National Open Track and Field Meet where NCAA dominated the field events with his Gold medal finish in the Discus, and Bronze in the Shot Put.

Discus Star Dismissed by U.P., 1940-1948

As the 1940s decade began, the now 28 year old athlete found gainful employment at the University of the Philippines, and secured a state scholarship to further his Education studies. In May 1940 however, Amante tried out and qualified to join the East Asia Athletic Meet in Japan in July along with sprinter Nemesio de Guzman and hurdler Jose Ravelo. They were lucky enough to earn winners’ points from the Tokyo tournament.

Upon their return however, Amante and the 2 alums were barred from admission due to their excessive absences, a violation of the scholarship rules. Disappointed due to the university’s lack of consideration, De Guzman transferred to Ateneo, a private school, while Ravelo accepted a high school teaching job in Iloilo. Amante stuck it out in his UP job despite being denied enrollment. He was conspicuously absent from the 1941 UAAP Track and Field Meet held at the end of January.

Amante, however, was allowed to compete by U.P. a month later at the 1941 National Open Track & Field Championships that took place end of February.  Amante proved his worth by winning the Gold in his favorite Discus Throw, hurling it a distance of 40.93 meters, or some 135.30 feet. It would seem that Amante’s golden win  settled the scholastic issue once and for all, but a scant 10 months later, the war would defer his academic and sporting ambitions for a good number of years.

When the war ended in 1945, the much-damaged University of the Philippines relocated its buildings to Diliman beginning in 1948. Amante resumed his academic and athletic pursuits here at age 36.  After all, he was still the undisputed holder of the Philippine and UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) records in the Discus Throw and Shot Put. And, in the 1948 National Field Meet, he still managed to win Silver Medals in the Discus and Shot Put (16 lbs.) events. He was entered in the same events at the 1948 UAAP Track and Field Meet where he beat out his younger rivals for the Gold in both the Discus and 16 lbs. Shot Put.

The Dean of the Discus: Asian Games and Beyond,  1951-1954

Three years later, now 39 years old, Amante was named to the Philippine national team that was sent to compete at the seminal Asian Games in New Delhi, India in 1951, from Mar. 8 to 11. He lost his title bid and settled for third place (38.14 m.) after India’s Makhan Singh (1^st, 39. 92 m. ) and Japan’s Norimi Sato (2^nd, 39.29 m.). Still, he was named by the Philippine Sportswriter’s Association as one of the Athletes of the Year in Field Events, for 1951-1952.

The second Asian Games in Manila staged in 1954 was to be Aurelio Amante’s last major international outing. In the finals, the 42 year old senior athlete finished a dismal 7^th in the Discus Throw, won by another Indian, Parduman Singh Brar, who likewise pocketed the Shot Put Gold. Thus ended his domination as the region’s best discus thrower.

Retiring from Athletics, he became an instructor of Physical Education at the Araneta Institute of Agriculture (now known as De La Salle Araneta University) until the 60s and while staying connected with the University of the Philippines, Press section. “Big Boy” Aurelio Amante, the Filipino titan of throws, the Hercules strongman, remained a lifelong bachelor, opting to devote most of his young, productive years to the sport that he loved best.

 SOURCES:

 “El record nacional de ‘shot put’ batido por Aurelio Amante”, Deportes, La Vanguardia, p. 7, 2 Apr. 1934

“Amante mejora el registro Oeriental en disco”, Deportes, La Vanguardia, p. 9, 30 Apr. 1934

“197 Atletas representaran a Filipinas en la olimpiada”, Deportes, La Vanguardia, p. 9, 4 May 1934

“Amante Takes Amateur Oath”, The Tribune, 15 Feb 1935, p. 11.

Photo: “Amante, Ray, Branzuela”, Presentando a nuestros atletas.

Photo: “Aurelio Amante”. La Vanguardia, p. 7, 17 May 1934

Photo: Aurelio Amante,“Record Breaker”, The Tribune, 28 Sep. 1934, p. 11

Photo: Aurelio Amante shot put”, Saturday Mirror Magazine, 2 Nov. 1957

Philippine Yearbook, 1951-1952, “Sports”

Graphic Magazine, 1934 Far East Games coverage

38. My Most Thrilling Game: SEBASTIAN UGARTE, Champion Football Player, Graphic Magazine, 27 Nov. 1929

Here is a reproduced article from Philippine Graphic Magazine, from Nov. 27, 1929, part of "My Most Thrilling Game", a series of sports features based on interviews with our most popular athletes of the 1920s generation.

The name of SEBASTIAN UGARTE is familiar to all lovers of athletics. For one thing, while writing sports write-ups regularly for four publications and occasionally for two others—one of them GRAPHIC—he was usually seen wherever games were played. And for another thing, he figures in several branches of athletics.

But his fame lies in soccer football, which he began playing early in life—so early that by the time he was fifteen, he was already in the big leagues. He was for a long time a member of the La Salle combination, for fourteen consecutive years collegiate soccer champion of the Philippines. He has also played for the now defunct Circulo Recreativo, Club Filipino, Casino Español, last year’s champion Santo Tomas eleven, and some others. There can be little doubt that he is the best right-out in the country, for he can center a “cornered” pigskin with deadly precision, can dribble and pass skillfully, and has considerable force behind his kick.

In his sixteenth year, he was asked to join the Olympic team, but as they traveled to Osaka, his family objected on the ground of his youth. Later, however, he eventually became an Olympic player.

 “The most thrilling game I’ve ever played?” He considered the question for a minute or two before deciding: “I think that came about when I was with the All-Manila outfit which invaded Java a few years ago. We were playing then in Batavia, the capital, against the ‘Hercules’ aggregation—a team worthy of its name, for it was certainly a strong one.

 “The game began badly for us, and throughout the first half and the best portion of th second, all indications were to the effect that it would end that way too.

“The fight was heated enough and, for that matter, fundamentally even also. But somehow, they had the edge on us and whereas they failed repeatedly, we couldn’t manage to shoot the sphere between their goal posts. It seemed as if we were, to put it in soccer parlance, ‘dominated’. However, we didn’t lose hop and were resolved not to let the battel ease to the very end.

 “Ten minutes before the whistle blew for the last time, with the score three to nothing in favor of the Javanese team, a series of unexpected things began to happen. I don’t know what started them, but start they did.

 “Perhaps, we sort of became desperate and determined to make at least one goal before the game ended, fought like tigers. In any case, we surpassed all expectations . We made rush after rush, breaking through the Hercules defense again and again, the while checking all efforts of our opponents to advance and retaliate. And all in ten minutes—but believe me, within that short space of time was packed the thrill of years!

“To this day, I don’t know how we did it.”

Mr. Ugarte smiled humorously. “it was a miracle, really! From out the fury with which we attacked and the Javanese defended, a shot streak past the Javanese goal-keeper. Score 1-3. That was encouraging, perhaps electrifying, to the Filipinos. That lone tally inspired us. The furious mix-ups which followed found the sphere shooting into enemy goal twice in quick succession. The score was now 3-3.

 “The Javanese literally became ferocious at this state of the game, and we, with the coming of hope for victory, were no less fierce. In that atmosphere—one goal and a few fast fading minutes to make it—was defeat or victory.

 “The ball was soon sailing across the field---and in the direction of our own goal. The Javanese were determined to shoot another goal, and the ball was approaching the goal posts with lightning speed and deadly precision. A beautiful kick from the Javanese and the sphere shot straight between the posts. Our heart sank with that beautiful kick, but we hoped our own goal keeper would stop it—and he did. The ball sped back now into enemy territory and there followed one of the most desperate seconds of football I have ever played.

We got the ball so near the enemy goal posts that only a few feet separated us from victory. But the Javanese would not yield, but there followed a last second which gave us victory.”

SOURCES:

 GRAPHIC, 27 Nov. 1929 issue

De La Salle Alumni Association Sports Hall of Fame 1993

Photo: 1930 Far east games Foot ball team, wikimedia commons

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