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

22. Hurdler-Hero: MIGUEL S. WHITE: Lone Philippine Medalist,1936 Berlin Olympics

The Olympic Games in Berlin unfolded in Germany from Aug. 1-16, 1936. “Hitler’s Olympics” was used by the Nazi leader as a stage to prove the supremacy of the Aryan race. But this quickly unraveled when sprint sensation Jesse Owens, won 4 gold medals in quick succession, and Cornelius Johnson and David Albritton achieved a 1-2 finish in the high jump—all black Americans. Add to this, the extraordinary Bronze achievement of a Filipino-black American MIGUEL S. WHITE in the 400 m. hurdles; modest it may seem, his win was a statement of defiance against racism, from a small country in the Far East.

Of his beginnings, little is known about the Philippines’ greatest hurdler, MIGUEL SOLANO WHITE (b. 9 Oct. 1909/d. 20 Aug. 1942). Born to a black American father and a mother from Legazpi, Albay, Miguel may have filial ties with the political Solanos of Camalig. He was also believed to have spent his growing up years in Sagmin town.

White’s earliest recorded participation in a major meet was at the 1930 Far East Games in Shanghai. He may have already been a Philippine Scout under the U.S. Army at this point, as the army is known for its excellent sports program that has produced many Filipino athletes of international calibre.  At age 23, White won a Bronze Medal in the 400 m. flat race.

White began specializing in the Hurdles event, doing both 110 m. and 400 m. hurdles. On 21 May 1932, the qualifying trials for a slot in the Philippine Olympic team were held, and he was one of those shortlisted to compete. But, of the only 8 spots available, only one was reserved for a track and field athlete, which went to high jumper Simeon Toribio. This did not deter White at all, continuing his  focus on training for the next best thing—the so-called Oriental Olympics—the 1934 Far East Games of Manila.

Under the tutelage of coach Pedro Ablan, he competed in the preliminary rounds held in early April 1934, against the country’s best hurdlers at that era: Constantino Alhambra, Eliseo Dumaliang, Filomeno Lagasca, Carlos Atud and Jesus Roa. White topped the heat and, along with Alhambra, made it to the Far East team.

In the 400 m. finals held in the second week of May, White proved his superiority by winning Gold, registering a blistering time of 53 seconds, outrunning his teammate Constantino Alhambra (Silver) and Masao Ichihara of Japan (Bronze). He extended his winning streak in a June 1935 dual athletic meet held at the Meiji Shrine in Japan when he won the 400 m. Hurdles, the only Filipino to win top honors in an individual event.

By the time the 1936 Philippine trials for the 1936 Olympics came around in April, White was at his peak. He came out as the fastest qualifier of the 400 m. Hurdles event, with a time of 53.8 seconds.

Miguel Solano White was one of 31-man contingent from the Philippines when the 1936 Berlin Olympics opened on 1 Aug. 1936 under the watchful eyes of Chancellor Adolph Hitler. Three days later, White was in the Olympic stadium for the heats of the 400 m. Hurdles. He heralded his presence when he topped his heat in a very fast 53.4 seconds, with American W. Schofield in 2nd. White advanced to the finals

In the finals, the next day—6 finalists reported to the field: two Americans, Glenn Hardin and Joseph Patterson, John Loaring (Canada), Sylvio de Magalhaes Padilha (Brazil), Christos Mantikas (Greece) and Miguel White (Philippines). At the sound of the starting gun, Patterson led the runners, with Hardin, Loaring and White in hot pursuit.

Hardin caught the fading Patterson in the stretch and won by 4 yards at 52.4 secs., with Loaring just a breath away at 52.7 secs., pipping White who came in 3^rd at 52.8 secs.—just .1 from a Silver medal. The unprecedented Bronze was just the 2^nd athletic medal for the Philippines, and the number still stands to this day.

White had another chance to win a medal the next day, August 6, as he was also entered in the shorter 110 m. Hurdles. Running in the last heat, White had a bad start and fell while negotiating the second to the last hurdle. He was painfully injured, and withdrew from the race. It really didn’t matter, as by then, White had made history, and was recognized as an outstanding Olympic performer—the only Filipino to bring home a medal for the Philippines.

White came home a hero, and when things settled, the self-effacing corporal resumed his military duties at Fort McKinley. Other than invitations to run in some tournaments in the country, White seemed to have hung up his running shoes after the 1936 Olympiad, as not much was heard about him until the outbreak of World War II in the Philippines.

It will be recalled that the Philippine Scouts played a crucial role in defending the country from the entry of the Japanese into the country. The young lieutenant was called to service to hold the fort during the first wave of the Japanese invasion of  the Philippines. White went missing in action, but was later ruled to have been killed in action on 20 Aug. 1942. Just like Teofilo Yldefonso, Miguel White was another one of our Olympians to become another tragic casualty of a war.  He was yet to turn 33. 

SOURCES:

Abdon M. Balde Jr. ,“AN ALBAYANO WON A MEDAL IN HITLER’S 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS”.

David Wallechinsky, The Complete Book of the Olympics, “400-M. Hurdles”, Penguin Books, ©1988, p. 62

The Tribune Newspaper, various issues, 1932-1936: 30 May 1932 (Las Pruebas Olimpicas de Pista Mañana);  4 Apr. 1934 p.13: 16 June 1935, p.30 (“White Wins 400 M. Hurdles”); 21 Apr.1936, p. 7 (“Olympic Tryouts”; 4 Aug. 1936, p.1 “:White Placed 1^st in Heat”); 5 Aug. 1936, p. 6 (“Outstanding Olympic Performer”); 6 Aug. 1936,p. 6 (“White Painfully Injured”).

Graphic Magazine, 10 May 1934, 10th Far Eastern Games, pp. 28-36

Miguel S. White, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_White

 Official Program of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, vol. 1, LA Digital Collection

12. Part Two: 1st Filipino Olympic Medalist and Swimming Hero TEÓFILO YLDEFONSO

Back-to-Back Bronzes in L.A.

On  June 1932, the Philippine line-up made headlines with the announcement of the 8 athletes for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Making it to the list were 4 boxers, 3 swimmers, and only one field event athlete. The Olympic hero and corporal was joined by 2 rising Muslim swimmers, 100 m. freestyler Abdurahman Ali and the young Jikirum Adjaluddin, who, like Yldefonso was a 200 m. breaststroke specialist. The Philippine contingent embarked that same month for the United States to start their new quest for glory. They were among the first national athletes to reach Los Angeles, arriving there on the 1^st week of July, headed by Prof. Candido Bartolome, head of delegation and coach, Joaquin Alviar, assistant coach.

Hopes were high when the Olympics unfolded in Los Angeles (Jul. 30-Aug. 14, 1932), where the games were “dedicated to the principles and ideals of modern Olympism”. The finals were held at the open Swimming Stadium, with 12,000 people in attendance, beginning with the preliminary heats. Filipino swimmer Ali placed third in his heats and was immediately eliminated. But it was dfferent in the 200 m. breaststroke events where two Filipinos were fielded—Yldefonso and Adjaluddin.

The trials consisted of 4 heats where the first 2 fastest, plus the fastest 3^rd  automatically advanced to the Semifinals. Yldefonso topped Heat 3 with a time of 2:53.7 minutes, but Adjaluddin fared much better in Heat 1 with a time of 2: 49.9 minutes, placing 2^nd to Yoshiyuki Tsuruta. However, Tsuruta, the current Olympic record holder ,had lost the Far Eastern Games gold to Yldefonso in 1930. 

The 2 Filipinos breezed through to the 2 semifinal heats with the first 3 moving on to the Finals. Both heats  produced surprising results: Tsuruta, in Heat 1, was beaten by fellow Japanese, Reizo Koike.  Germany’s Erwin Sietas, whom Yldefonso had relegated to 4^th place in the 1928 Olympics, topped Heat 2. Five Asians (3 Japanese, 2 Filipinos) and one European (German) thus, constituted the Finals of the 200 m. breaststroke.

Before a cheering, screaming crowd, the Japanese secured a 1-2 finish with Tsuruta duplicating his Gold medal finish (2:45.4 mins.) in 1928, followed by Koike (2:46.6 mins.). Yldefonso was a close 3^rd with an improved time of 2:47.1 mins. Sietas, again remained medal-less in 4^th . The other Filipino, Adjaluddin acquitted himself in his Olympic debut by placing 5^th. With his second Bronze, Yldefonso secured another place in history as the first Filipino to score a back-to-back medal finish in the same event, in 2 successive Olympics, a feat boxer Nesthy Petecio would repeat only in 2024, after 92 years!

Going for a Three-peat in Berlin

Yldefonso was the toast of the country upon his return.  Of the 3 Filipino medalists who brought home Bronzes from Los Angeles, his star shone the brightest. The corporal was given a Dinner-Dance tribute in October 1932 led by Capt. E.U.O. Waters, his company commander , at the 57^th Inf. Barracks, for bringing pride and honor to his Company “A”. The formal event was graced by the guests of honor:  Commanding Officer Col. Howard C. Price; and ranking officer like the Batallion Commander Maj. Collins, Plans and Training Officer Maj. Gunnar Mortensen, and of course, the Yldefonso Family.

In the next few years, Yldefonso continued to stamp his dominance in swimming when, in the 1933 Philippine-Formosa Dual Meet, he emerged again as the Gold medalist in the 200 m. breaststroke event. This was followed by another Gold at the Philippine National Championships, and a final Gold for his pet 200 m. breaststroke event at the last Far Eastern Games held in Manila in 1934.

The Australia Swimming Association invited Yldefonso in November 1935 to participate in a series of swim meets in Melbourne in February 1936, but he was already deep in training. In 1935, Yldefonso accomplished the unthinkable by establishing new National Records for the 100 m. breaststroke , clocking in first with an impressive time of 1 :16 mins. He reset the 200 m. breaststroke time, cutting it down to 2 mins 45 secs. flat. Everybody knew he was a shoo-in for the 1936 Olympic team that was set to be held in Berlin.

The Philippine team that was finally assembled for the Olympic year was the biggest ever—30 athletes to compete in 20 events. Aside from Yldefonso and Adjaluddin, the  swimming team was boosted with 3 more additions: Arsad Alpad, Jose Obial, and Nils Christiansen.

Off to a good start, all swimmers—saved for Obial—cleared their first heats for the semifinal round.  But only Yldefonso reached the Finals of the 200 m. breaststroke event with a time of 2:46.8 mins. By now, Yldefonso was a 33 year-old husband and a father. 

In the finals, watched by Adolph Hitler from the bleachers,  Yldefonso faltered and slowed down to 2:51.1 mins., placing 7^th and last. New Japanese star Tetsuo Hamuro grabbed the Gold in Olympic record time, followed by Erwin Sietas and Reizo Koike, 2 swimmers whom Yldefonso had beaten in the past. The Philippine team came home from their Olympic debacle with just one medal to show, a Bronze from hurdler Miguel White. With that, came to a close Yldefonso’s amazing run in 3 World Olympics.

Post-Olympics and His Final Lap

After his return from the Olympics, Yldefonso got back to the swing of things at his camp. He and other Olympic players were invited to perform public exhibition swims at the Rizal Memorial pool, and toured nearby towns like Angeles, Pampanga during fiestas. After the hoopla, Yldefonso turned to the more serious business of raising his growing family of 6 children: Porfirio, Emilio, Felipe, Norma, Herminia, and Carmelito.

In 1937, he participated in another edition of Philippine-Formosa Dual Meet where he won double Golds for his 100 m. and 200 m. breaststroke events without a cinch. This would be his final competitive appearance. News reports in 1939 also confirmed that the “old reliable” was training for that year’s dual meet in Manila, but no follow-up news confirmed his actual participation.

Japan was supposed to host the next 1938 Far Eastern Championship Games, but troubles brewed when the country invaded Manchuria that turned into another serious Sino-Japanese War. Japan had also won the bid for the 1940 Olympics. With the worldwide condemnation of Japanese forces in Manchuria, and with the U.S. calling for the boycott of the 1940 Tokyo, the Japan government decided to scrap both events. In fact, even the 1944 Olympics was cancelled, all because of a terrible war was looming in the Pacific horizon.

By the late 30s, the war that had spread and ravaged Europe had escalated into a World War with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan in 1941. With the U.S. declaring war, it was just a matter of days before the Philippines, a U.S. territory, was attacked. 

Yldefonso’s 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) were called to action to man the Abucay-Mauban line in Bataan, which was critical to the defense of the Philippines as it was a major point of entry for the Japanese. After a valiant stand, the Fil-Am forces—exhausted, starving, disease-ridden and with depleted supplies, began to retreat. On 9 April 1942, Bataan fell and the United States and its forces surrendered, to prevent any more casualties.

The remaining troops that survived, including Yldefonso, were forced to walk in the infamous 105 km. Death March from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga, with scores dying along the way. Yldefonso reached the prisoner camp, O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, weak and emaciated, but his condition worsened due to maltreatment. He died of dysentery and blood poisoning, as per official records,  on 19 June 1942.

Like many deceased POW, Yldefonso’s was buried in a mass grave. His name is inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery. A long-overdue memorial monument of their fallen son was unveiled in the town plaza of Piddig in 2006—a true hero whether in the arena of sports or in the field of battles.

NOTES: Yldefonso’s birth year appears as either 1902 or 1903. He held the rank of a sergeant, as it appears on the memorial wall; some accounts say he rose to become a lieutenant. Versions from the family about Yldefonso’s last days have it that he died of gangrene infection due to untreated shrapnel wounds, cradled by younger brother Teodoro when he breathed his last. Also, his swimming archrival, Yoshiyuki Tsuruta, who had become a lieutenant of the Japanese Imperial Army, was said to have tried to have him released upon learning of his capture. However, Yldefonso chose to stay with his men. Her eldest daughter, Norma Yldefonso (later, Arganda)  inherited his swimming genes; she won a Silver in the 100 m butterfly event at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila. She passed away in 2017.

SOURCES:

Official Olympic Report, 1928 Amsterdam Olympics

Official Olympic Report, 1932 Los Angeles Olympics

Official Olympic Report, 1936 Berlin Olympics, vol. 1 and vol. 2.

Teofilo Yldefonzo - NHD Silent Heroes, https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/teofilo-yldefonzo/#:~:text=Through%20a%20fellow%20soldier%2C%20Yldefonzo,States%20entered%20World%20War%20II.

"Teófilo Yldefonso - Hall Of Fame Pioneer". www.swimmingworldmagazine.com. Retrieved August 22, 2021.

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/hall-of-fame/bio/pioneer/te%C3%B3filo-yldefonso

When Tokyo Cancelled its First Olympics, https://www.pacificatrocities.org/blog/1940-summer-olympics-when-tokyo-cancelled-its-first-olympics

The Tribune, various 1932-1938 issues.

11. Part One: 1st Filipino Olympic Medalist and Swimming Hero TEÓFILO YLDEFONSO

The Philippines, in just its second participation at the World Olympics, won its first ever Olympic medal,  courtesy of the much-celebrated, trailblazing swimmer  TEÓFILO YLDEFONSO (or Spanish “Yldefonzo” as entered in Olympic record books). It was for Yldefonso’s historic third place finish in the 200 meter Breaststroke swimming event at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, where he bagged the Bronze Medal. In 1932, he would repeat that feat in the same event 4 years later at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, winning another Bronze for the first ever back-to-back win for the Philippines.

In his time, Yldefonso would be regarded as one of the best breaststrokers in the world, known for his unique style of doing the stroke closer to the surface, instead of underwater, which allowed for quicker recovery and faster speed. This “Yldefonso Style” would become popular with swimmers of smaller stature, which led to his being named “Father of the Modern Breaststroke”. Decades after his tragic death , the International Swimming Federation would honor Yldefonso with the ultimate accolade, by inducting him in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2010.

An Ilocano Baby Shark is born.

Yldefonso was born on 11 November 1902 in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, one of 3 sons of Felipe Yldefonso and Aniceta de la Cruz, the middle of 3 siblings after Vicente and before Teodoro. Another brother died in infancy, and his own mother soon followed.

Despite these early tragedies, Teofilo, according to a 1938 article about his early life , “was raised in an environment mentally, and physically so healthy as to lay the foundation for his fighting heart and marvelous physique. Experimenting bit by bit, and growing bolder and more confident in himself as time went on, he taught himself the rudimentary principles of swimming.” It was said that Yldefonso learned to swim at the nearby Guisit River in his hometown.

Making Waves in the Military

Yldefonso joined the Philippine Scouts under the command of the U.S. Army Philippine Division in 1922.  At age 24, now a slim, muscular youth of twenty four, Yldefonso raised his right hand and took the oath of allegiance to the United States. He was assigned to Company "D" 57th Infantry 'where he received his initiation into the military, and found it to his liking. The young military was stationed at Fort McKinley, and as part of his physical conditioning, he would refine his self-taught swimming skills at Pasay Beach near Manila.

Yldefonso had not been three months in the service before he entered his first swimming meet. It was against the University of the Philippines which that year boasted as strong an aggregation of tank stars as had ever represented the University. He took second place for the McKinley team in the 200 yard breast-stroke. True, it was

but second place, but the young soldier, having tasted once of the thrill of competition knew that greater things were in store — and they were.

In the next few years, Yldefonso  competed in every available swim meets—from the local McKinley Games in 1924 where he won 4 Golds in his individual events (except for a swim relay where the team settled for a Silver),  the Philippine National Championships (where he won 6 first places in 1925) to the highly competitive regional multi-sport  Far East Games Championship Games, that he started joining beginning in 1923.

A Pool of Talent at the Far Eastern Games

The sixth edition of the Far Eastern Championships marked Yldefonso’s debut in this regional meet against Japanese and Chinese athletes that was staged in Osaka, Japan in May 21-25, 1923. As if he were just testing the waters, he placed second in his 100 m. breast stroke event, ruled by the Japanese.

When he returned to the 1925 Far Eastern Games held in Manila, Yldefonso won Gold in the 220 Yds. breaststroke,  and a Silver for 200 M. Men’s Relay. Another milestone achievement that same year was his marriage to Manuela Ella, with whom he would father 6 children.

In the next 3 stagings of the Far Eastern Games (1927 Shanghai, 1930 Tokyo, 1934 Manila) Yldefonso would dominate the 200 M. breaststroke winning 3 Golds in all 3 editions. By 1928, the name "Yldefonso",  became synonymous with the sport of swimming.  Soon the whole world was to hear of the self-taught merman.

A Man of Bronze in Amsterdam

Yldefonso’s unparalled performance at the 3 Far Eastern Games made him an instant member of the compact Philippine Olympic team chosen to go to the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Four Filipino competitors comprised the selection, an improvement from the 1-man representative in 1924: 2 in Athletics (Anselmo Gonzaga for the sprints, Simeon Toribio for the High Jump) and 2 in Swimming.  Yldefonso had a companion in the person of a spectacular Tausug swimmer, Tuburan Tamase, who specialized in middle to long distance swimming races.

It must have been an exciting journey for Yldefonso to travel for the first time to Europe, to Netherlands of tulips and windmills, so far removed from his humble Piddig hometown. But the thrill of competition was far greater as the swimming events went underway in August 1928.

To get to the finals, the well-built, 161 pound,  5 ft. 7 athlete had to hurdle the preliminary series or heats. There were 4 series of 5 swimmers each. Only the top 8 finishers of the heats will advance to the Semifinals. Yldefonso was in Series  3, and finished the race with a time of 2 min. 56 and 2/5 secs. But since there were ties (Yldefonso and German Erwin Sietas were in joint 5th, Canada’s W. Spence and Austria’s K. Schafer were in joint 4th ), nine swimmers made it to the semifinals).

Two Semifinal races were held to determine the 6 finalists. Yldefonso was in the series with the Japanese Yoshiyuki Tsuruta, who had topped the preliminaries. He came in 3^rd, improving his time to 2:53 and 1/5 of a second. Of the 6 finalists, he had the third best time, with Tsuruta on top.

On 8 August 1928, the 200 m., the breaststroke finals were held before jampacked crowd at the Olympic natatorium. Yldefonso was in the outermost lane, next to the German Sietas. At the sound of the gun, the swimmers dove into the 50 meter pool and began their strokes, 4 laps in all. Japan’s Tsuruta won a clear Gold, clocking in at 2 mins. 48 4/5 secs—a new Olympic record. Germany’s Erich Rademacher came in 2 seconds later, at 2 mins. 50 3/5 secs., for the Silver medal. Yldefonso and Sietas practically clawed their way to the wall, but Yldefonso touched first to claim the Bronze Medal, at 2 mins. 56 2/5 secs. Sietas was just 1/5 of a second behind. 

Yldefonso’s Bronze would be the very first Olympic medal to be won by a Filipino across all sports; but to a jubilant Philippines, it was just as good as  Gold. Upon his return from Amsterdam, he was met with tumultuous reception by his countrymen, was feted by his proud comrades of the 57^th Infantry Regiment, and was given medals of recognition by his U.S. Army Commander.

In the Swim of Things Between Olympics

Never to rest on his laurels, Yldefonso continued his swimming career with the next Olympics in mind. In 1929, he was sent to the 1^st Philippine-Formosa Dual Meet, a biennial swimming championship goodwill even that would run until the 1950s.

As usual, the “Ilocano Shark” was unbeatable in his favorite breaststroke event and was part of the 4-man freestyle relay team that won Gold. His winning streak continued later in the year at Philippine National Championships, even trying out longer distances with success—he placed 2^nd in the 1,500 m. race. He also medalled at the 1930 Philippine Military Department Meet.

His most important meet however was the 1930 Far Eastern Games held in Tokyo, Japan. In the 200 m. breaststroke finals, he turned the table on the 1928 Olympic champion Yoshiyuki Tsuruta. It could be recalled that Yldefonso placed 3^rd to Tsuruta in Amsterdam, but this time, he won the Gold convincingly, to the dismay of the hometown crowd.

Then, as a tune up to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Yldefonso made a splash once more at the 1931 Phil. National Championships and the Phil.-Formosa Dual Meet, sweeping all the breaststroke golds. His only rare miss was at the 1932 Philippine Military Dept. Meet where he placed second in the 220 Yds. breaststroke event, but came back to win Gold at the Philippine National Championships.

PART II FOLLOWS

8. Heights of Triumph, Depths of Tragedy: MIGUEL SUJECO, Champion Pole Vaulter

It is to Ernest “E.J.” Obiena’s credit that Pole Vaulting has become more well-known to Filipino sports audience today. It is a field event that really does not hold much local attraction as previous winners have all been mostly Russians, Europeans and Americans. Obiena’s climb up the athletic rankings-- as high as the second best vaulter in the world, plus his 4^th place finish at his 2^nd Olympic appearance, has done much to elevate the appeal of the sport.

But long before Obiena’s spectacular ascent to pole vault stardom, Filipinos have been outperforming their Asian counterparts in the said discipline for decades, especially in the regional Far Eastern Games that began in 1913. Record books from that era show the names of champion pole vaulters  like Antonio Alo (2-time Gold medalist, FEG 1919, 1921), Numeriano Tagavilla (FEG Gold, 1925), Carlos Mejillano, T. Bucoy, S. Siao, Felipe Asuncion, and the tragic subject of this article, Miguel Sujeco.

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MIGUEL F. SUJECO (b. 29 Sep. 1910) was one of 4 children of Victoriano Sujeco and Modesta de la Fuente with roots in San Miguel, Bulacan and ties to Nueva Ecija. As a student, he trained in athletics and did the rounds of running, throwing and jumping events. Pole vault must have been his calling as at age 15, he was sent to the 1925 Far Eastern Games in Manila held in May--and surprised everyone in his first multi-nation sports outing by winning the Bronze Medal behind co-gold medalists Numeriano Tagavilla and Antonio Alo, clearing the bar at 3.35 meters (10.990 ft.).

No sooner had he settled back to school when, the next year,  he was called again to represent Nueva Ecija at the 1926 Central Luzon Athletic Association Meet. This was an annual meet with events contested by athletes from Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Central Luzon Agricutural School (C.L.A.S.). Entered in the Pole Vault, Sujeco cleared the height of 3.395 meters or 11 feet ¼ inch, which was better than his winning jump at the Far Eastern Games . This became an all-time record of the CLAA meet where it stood for over a decade.

In 1927, he was back at age 17 for the Far Eastern Championship Games in Shanghai, China. The teener improved on his leap,  resetting his personal best to 3.60 meters (11.811 ft), winning the Silver medal behind Japan’s Yonetaro Nakazawa who cleared the height of 3.675 m. and became an Olympian.

When he came of age, Sujeco joined the 47^th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) of the U.S. Army, just like top athletes David Nepomuceno and  Miguel White. He continued training and competing in national meets. At the first tryout matches held at the Rizal Memorial in April 1934, he broke the 12 foot barrier by clearing 12 ft. 1 inch.

In the first week of May, Sujeco was named to the Phil Track and Field team to compete at the 1934 Far Eastern Games in Manila, which went underway from May 16 to 20. Japan’s Sueo Oue copped the gold at 3.96 m (12.992 ft.) , China’s Fu Baolu 2^nd, ad another Japanese, Iwao Matsumoto 3^rd.

Not to be daunted, at the 1936 Army Track Meet (or McKinley Games) held in December, Sujeco broke the Philippine pole vault  record, resetting it to 3.895 meters (12 .78 inches) that would have won Silver at the 1934 FEG.

Another milestone in Sujeco’s life happened the next year, when he married 19 year old Rosario Hamoy Labisig on 20 January 1937.Sadly, they would barely have 5 years of connubial bliss. When World War II reached the Philippines in 1942, Miguel Sujeco was called into active service.

As a member of the  57th Infantry (PS), he was in the regiment that tried to repel the Japanese all throughout the Bataan Peninsula. He was reported missing in action, and then presumed to have died on 23 May 1942. Sgt. Miguel Sujeco’s name is inscribed on the “Walls of the Missing” memorial  at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the capital district. Leaping all his life to reach the sky, pole vaulter Miguel Sujeco, by his tragic, but honorable death, has vaulted to immortality.

SOURCES:

Central Luzon Athletic Association Program 1934-1935

The Tribune, various issues: 5 Feb. 1934;  2 April 1934, p.7; 20 April 1934, p.6; 8 May 1934, 9 May 1934, p. 9; p. 9; 21 June 1935, p.6; 25 Oct. 1934;

La Vanguardia, 25 April 1935, Rotogravure section

FindAGrave, Miguel Sujeco

American Battles Monument Commission, https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/sujeco%3Dmiguel

Gloria Garchitorena-Goloy, Golden Era of Sports, SPORTS ISSUE, Sunday Times Magazine, Sept. 1963, p. 14

Athletics at the 1925 Far Eastern Games, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1925_Far_Eastern_Championship_Games