63. Finest in the 400: GERMAN CANDARI, 1934 Far East Games Gold Medalist

In the 1930s, some of the finest 400 meter runners in Asia were Filipinos like Constantino Alambra, Serafin Estrada, Nemesio de Guzman (who went on to run in the 1936 Olympics) and the Antique-born athlete, GERMAN Tajanlangit CANDARI. His running career was a brief one, but undoubtedly rich with accomplishments and rewards, capped with a most amazing performance at his one and only Far East Games appearance in 1934.

German was born in Pandan, Antique in 1909, the eldest son of Bonifacio Candari and  Socorro Tajanlangit, also from Antique, in Dao. He was named after his paternal great grandfather German Torres Candari. His younger siblings include Concepcion and Victorio, who died young. He grew up in relative comfort as his father Bonifacio, then only in his mid-20s, was the Presidente Municipal of Pandan ( a granduncle, Marcelo Dioso Candari , had also been Pandan’s gobernadorcillo during the Spanish time, 1867-68)

German went to local schools, and it was in Antique High School that his athletic skills came to fore, as a representative of his school in various in interscholastic meets. To pursue his athletic dream, Candari moved to Manila, after being accepted as a student athlete of the National University. As part of the school’s track team, he regularly competed at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (N.C.A.A.) meets.

In the 2^nd week of February 1931, he was sent to the Philippine National Athletics Championship as an NCAA athlete. There, Candari caused a major sensation when he upset the heavily-favored 1928 Olympian, Anselmo Gonzaga by beating him in the 200 m. dash. From thereon, Candari became a valuable asset to the U.P. track and field team as he began asserting his supremacy in sprints even with veterans around.

With the Philippines scheduled to host the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in May, the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (P.A.A.F.) Track and Field Committee drew up a list of 107 athletes in February to train and try out for a slot in the Philippine National Team. German Candari, who was representing National University, was one of those shortlisted to join the training program.

The first cut was made in March when the number was pruned down to 77 athletes. Again, Candari survived the elimination  and was quartered along with the other aspirants at the La Salle College where they were subjected to a regimen of intense training and body conditioning. On March 25, 1934 he had to excuse himself for a day so he could attend his commencement exercise at the Manila Opera House and receive his secondary school diploma from N.U.

The arduous qualification process culminated at the Jose Rizal Memorial Field where the athletes were pitted against each other in final try-out races on the first day of May.

Bidding to run in the longer 400 m. sprint, Candari’s performance in the finals made headline news when he broke the existing Philippine record. The star spikeman clocked in at 50 secs. flat, obliterating the 51 secs held by Constantino Alambra. Newspapers made their fearless forecast by proclaiming Candari as “the best bet in the coming Olympic Games”. His victory earned him a loving cup and earned him a ticket to the 1934 Far East Games which unfolded in Manila just 2 scant weeks later.

Candari was at his peak when the intercontinental athletic events got underway at the Rizal Track and Field Stadium on May 13. The 400 m. race was crowded with ace Chinese and Japanese ace runners, made more competitive with the first appearance of Dutch East Indies and Indo-Chinese athletes. The famed Filipino Olympic veteran, Fortunato Catalon, was the official starter of the track events.

 At his signal, the runners flew out of their starting blocks to complete one trip around the oval. The crowd cheered as they caught sight of the three Filipino finalists coming round the bend leading the pack. German Candari crossed the finish line first, followed by the fleet-footed teen Nemesio de Guzman and the 1927 champ Serafin Estrada. The 1-2-3 Filipino finish was a monumental victory for the Philippines, which, at the last 1930 Games, could only snag a Bronze in this event, courtesy of the legendary Miguel White.

But when the time of Candari was announced, the reaction was thunderous—with his time of 49.8 secs., he became the first Filipino athlete to breach the 50 sec. barrier, and establish a new Far East Asian championship record.  It was Candari’s best race and his life’s finest hour. The young athlete was suddenly thrust in the limelight and was sought after to run in special events and sporting competitions both here and abroad.

In September 1934, for example, when renown American runner Al Fitch of the University of Southern California visited the Philippines, Candari was one of the star athletes  invited to run against him in special races at the Rizal Stadium, placing 2^nd.

A month later, the U.S. track team ( Glenn Cunningham, Frank Crowley, Ralph Metcalfe, Howard Greene, Wirt Thompson, John Anderson, Gordon Dunn, Charles Hornbostel) arrived in Manila to participate in a 2-day U.S.-Philippine Dual Meet while touring the islands. Once again, Candari was invited to lead the Philippine contingent as the Flag Bearer and participant.

1935 was another busy year for Candari, now a college student of the University of the Philippines, taking up Education with Physical Education as his Major. A track and field meet featuring elite athletes from the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and National University—known as the “Big 3” in Athletics—was organized and schedule for January 12 and 13 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. U.P.’s delegation included the old reliables Silvino Cristobal, Rafael Navallasca, Mario  Branzuela and of course, German Candari.

As expected, Candari won the 400 meters Gold, followed by his U.P. teammate Teodoro Malasig, a future Olympian. He also placed 4^th in the 200 meter dash, helping U.P. keep the “Big 3” Track and Field Title.

Midway through the year, in the 3^rd week of June 1935, a crack Philippine team consisting of runners German Candari, Rafael Navallasca, Silvino Cristobal, Nemesio de Guzman, Antonio Salcedo, hurdler Miguel White, discus thrower Aurelio Amante, pole vaulter Miguel Sujeco and other Filipino standouts flew to Japan to  compete against the All-Japan Students track team. Though they lost overall, the Filipinos won the team relays, while White and Candari secured individual Golds for the 400 m. hurdles and the 400 m. run, respectively.

Pushing 30, Candari went to Samar before the outbreak of the war, together with fellow sprinter Rafael Navallasca, who had found a job there as a Forest Ranger of the Bureau of Forestry. He met his wife in the province, and started a transportation business offering trucking, moving and delivery services. Business flourished and he settled in Catbalogan to start his family, grow his enterprise to include the sale of heavy equipment, including International Harvester agricultural and construction equipment. By the 1950s, Candari was a prominent figure in Samar, a respected freemason in the community, and one of the most successful businessmen in the province.

On 14 November 1967 however, a major setback befell the Candari family. A pre-dawn fire blazed through the commercial district of Catbalogan, destroying buildings and residences, some of which belonged to the Candaris. All the members of the household escaped the fire but were unable to save anything. Big machineries and stocks of spare parts displayed on the ground floor of their beautiful building also went up in smoke.

Like a true sportsman with the “win-some-lose-some” attitude, German Candari picked himself up, rebuilt his home, re-started his business and never looked back. At age 72, he passed away on 4 October 1981, in Marikina.

SOURCES:

German Tajanlangit Candari (1909–1981). FamilySearch, https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GC87-CXB/german-candari-1909-1981

Personals, German Candari, The Filipino Athlete, Offcial Publication of the P.A.A.F, Mar. 1949 issue. P.15

P.A.A.F. Track and Field Committee To Meet Soon to Discuss Training Program.The Tribune, 17 Feb. 1934, p 9

77 Candidates are Quartered, The Tribune ,24 March 1934, p.10

Osias and President Hamilton Guests At Twenty-Second Commencement, The Tribune , 24 March 1934 , p.9

Olympic Notes, The Tribune, 24 March 1934 p.10

Trabad Conocimiento con Atletas de la Olimpiada: German Candari, La Vanguardia, Manila.  11 May 1934, p.17

White, Candari, Se Lucen Otra Vez en Japon..La Vanguardia, Manila,  21 Jun. 1935, p. 6

Al Fitch Cracks P. I.Mark in 400-Meter Run, The Tribune, 25 Sep. 1934

Complete List of Entries For Big Meet Is Announced, The Tribune ,  27 October 1934, p. 13

‘Sports of all Sports “BIG 3” Track, Field on, Shortly Entries Are Announced’. ’The Tribune (Philippines.  4 Jan. 1935 , p.11

Miguel White, German Candari Sta- P.I. Athletes Set New Record in Relays, The Tribune,  21 June 1935, p.11

From Catbalogan, Samar. The Cabletow Volume XLIII (Issue No.12) December 1967, https://repository.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/omekas/s/rare-periodicals/media/235361

43. PH Olympian HEDY GARCIA: The Teenage Girl Who Swam Across the Laguna Lake

The day after Christmas in 1965, a long-distance swimming competition was organized by Dr. Clodualdo Manas, manager of the Nonino Swimming Club of Laguna, involving crossing the Laguna Lake. From the starting point of barrio Pipindan,  Binangonan, to the coastline of barrio Cuyab in San Pedro Laguna, the total distance was about 18 kilometers.

Dubbed as Swimathon 1965, the local challenge was reminiscent of the English Channel swim contest where athletes swam across the Channel unaided by an escort. The event attracted 22 participants—from former Olympians to a 10-year-old boy swimmer. The race started on the Pipindan shore at 7:30 a.m. on a clear Dec.26 morning, after the water temperature was checked.

By 12:30 p.m. 16 of the original 22 starters had given up, including 10 year old Noli Manas, fished out from the water by a motorboat. The remaining swimmers plodded on, stroke after stroke.

First to make it to the finish line after five hours and five minutes was high school student Loreto Garcia, a UAAP champion swimmer from Far Eastern University, with a time of 5 hours, 5.5 minutes . But what caught the crowd’s attention was the second placer—15-year-old high school girl,  Hedvig “Hedy” Garcia, who timed in at 5 hours, 40 minutes and 8 seconds.

So impressive was her time that Hedy trounced two former male Olympians: Bana Sailani, who failed to finish, and the Tokyo Olympian Rolando Landrito of the Philippine Air Force (6:17.0 hrs.). She was also way ahead of 31 year old long distance swimmer Ricardo Cuenca (5:43.2 hrs.) who would set an endurance record of 47 hrs. swimming from Nasugbu to Manila Bay in 1969.

Hedy. who stands only 5 feet 2.5 inches tall, was an amateur swimmer from Far Eastern University. She was born on 8 Feb. 1950 in Pakil, to a sports-loving family. Her fantastic Laguna feat was just part of her intensive training that led her to improve her times---and a slot in the Philippine swimming team. Less than a year later, she was sent to the 1966 Asian Games from Bangkok, and won a team Silver, by placing second in the 4 x 100 m. Medley relay swim team that included Rosalina Abreu, Helen Elliott, and Gertrudes Lozada.

By the time the Olympic year came along, Hedy was the holder of 8 Philippine bests in 100 m., 200 m. backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly records, The breaststroke and the individual medley became her specialties.  

She went on to qualify for a place in the Philippine Olympic swimming team--the youngest member at 18-- that competed in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. The talented swimmer swam in four events: 100 m. free (7th in her heat), 200 m. breaststroke (4th), and both the 200 m. (3rd)  and 400 m. individual medley (7th).

Hedy made it as well to her 2^nd Asian Games, and returned to Bangkok, Thailand in 1970 to claim a team Bronze Medal in the 4 x 100 m. Medley relay event, along with Luz Arzaga, Susan Papa, and Luz Laciste.

 After retiring from competitive swimming, Hedy turned to coaching, mentoring the University of the Philippines Women’s Varsity Swimming Team from 1978-1984. She continues to live in her hometown of Pakil, Laguna.

SOURCES:

Benjamin Afuang, Photos by Ben Santos, “The Long Swim Across Laguna Lake”, The Sunday Times Magazine, 9 January 1966 issue, 24-27.

Olympedia, https://www.olympedia.org/lists/114/manual?page=6

Philippines at the 1966 Asian Games, Wikimedia.com

Philippines at the 1970 Asian Games, Wikimedia.com

42. Marked for Gold: ALBERT VON EINSIEDEL: Olympic Marksman, Asian Games Medalist

One of the top marksmen of the country from the late 1930s to the 1950s was the sharp-shooting ALBERT  VON EINSIEDEL who had the distinction of competing for the Philippines in  shooting sports at both the world Olympics and the continental Asian Games.

 Born on 14 May 1917 to German Albert H. von Einsiedel and Filipina Lucia Salamanca, the young Albert developed an early interest in shooting, which he mastered as a student of the University of the Philippines. In 1936, U.P. shooting standout, Martin Gison, became the first and lone representative of the country in shooting at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he nearly medalled, placing 4^th in the small-bore rifle event.

 This spurred more Physical Education students to sign up for the school’s shooting program. So, while  Einsiedel was learning folk dancing steps, he was also becoming adept in both rifle and pistol shooting where he trained religiously at the U.P. range,  until he became a deadeye in both disciplines.

After 1936,  Einsiedel showed that he, too, was capable of becoming a world-class shooter.  The U.P. Shooting Team then held regular competitions against members of the National Rifle and Pistol Association of the Philippines, which counts ace shooters from the military, as well as sports hunters and shooting hobbysts. In one such meet on 31 Oct. 1937, Einsidiel placed 4^th among the state shooters in the Rifle .22 caliber, helping U.P. win over the N.R,P.A, shooters. In the Pistol .22 caliber, he placed 3^rd , resulting in a tie with the more seasoned N.R.P.A. team.

 The next year, on the 27^th of February, the versatile all-around U.P. athlete earned a pistol championship title, by winning the Philippine Exposition .22 caliber pistol championship, sponsored by the N.R.P.A. held at the Pureza shooting grounds, with a score of 493 x 600. Highly-regarded Felix Cortes shot a score of 484 x 600 to garner second place, nosing out Ramon Villamor, who took third with 483 x 600. The course fired was 60 shots at 80 meters on the 50 meter target.

 But as every country, including the Philippine Commonwealth, was gearing up for the 1940 Olympics, the war intervened, cancelling not only the games scheduled in Japan, but also the 1944 edition in London. When the war ended, there was a slow return to normalcy, as rebuilding began. The government resumed its operations, the economy was restarted,  and schools reopened. Sports training went back into full swing and our nation’s athletes began to look forward to competing at the 1948 London Olympics.

The 1948 National Shooting Championships, held in February and March, were the first to be held since the outbreak of the war, and served as try-outs for the Olympics. Ten individual matches were held to determine the members of the shooting team. Einsiedel had already installed himself as one of the favorites of the meet, and he lived up to expectations.

 In the first event, Einsiedel had no trouble in beating a large field of free pistol experts by scoring a creditable 521 out of a possible 600 points. In Event no. 2, Einsiedel snuck into the winners’ circle, placing third in the 3-Position small-bore rifle with a score of 508, behind winner Higinio Pacaña, and ahead of 4^th placer Gison. Next, he landed 5^th in the small bore rifle 60 Shots Prone at 50 m., and 7^th in the 45 cal. National Match Course. In the Center Fire National Match Course, he placed 5^th, but came back in the next 2 events placing 1st in both the Olympic Free Rifle (3 positions) and the Navy Cup Match -20 Shots Military offhand.

Only 3 shooters would end up being part of the Philippine Olympic shooting team: Martin Gison ( 25 m. pistol, 50 m. pistol); Cesar Jayme (50 m. rifle), and Albert von Einsiedel (50 m. pistol, 50 m. rifle). Einsiedel was chosen to captain the lean, but mean shooting team in London.

In the Free Pistol, 50 metres event, Einsiedel ended up in 26^th place among 50 shooters, trailing Martin Gison who was ranked 25^th. The two were the highest placed Asians, with the Lebanese entry, Khalil Hilmi, in last place. The winners were  Edwin Vasquez (Gold, Peru),  Rudolf Snyder (Silver, Switzerland) and Torsten Ullman (Bronze, Sweden).            

 Einsiedel fared better in the Small-Bore Rifle, Prone, 50 m., placing 22^nd ,with a score of 591, among 71 athletes. His teammate Cesar Jayme also did very well, landing among the top 20 finishers, in 17^th place with 593 points. Gison could only pace 43^rd, with 585 points. Americans went 1-2 with Arthur Edwin Cook and Walter Tomsen winning Gold and Silver with identical 599 points, new world records.  Jonas Jonsson of Sweden won the Bronze with 597 score.

After the Olympics Einsiedel finished his university schooling and became a Physical Education instructor at the American School (the future International School) in Manila. He was still active in shooting until that time, and when Manila was chosen as the site of the 2nd Asian Games in May 1954, an issue arose as to the amateur status of active athletes employed as teachers. As it turned out, it was clarified that teachers were not considered pros at all. The ruling was announced rather late, leaving  Einsiedel only 4 months to train for the Asian Games.

 His first event was the Free Pistol, where he lost by a whisker to  Japanese Choji Hosaka, settling for the Silver Medal. But it was a different story in the 50 m. Rifle Prone, which he topped—followed by team mates Cesar Jayme and Martin Gison for an all-Filipino sweep of the shooting event. The Philippines amassed 4 Golds, 4 Silvers and 4 Bronzes from the Manila Asiad, the best-performing country in shooting sports.

Albert von Einsiedel was married to the former Luz Alabastro with whom he had 2 sons, Nathaniel and Albert Jr., He passed away in August 1999 at age 82.

SOURCES:

Maj. Carlos Quirino, 1948 National Shooting Championships, The Filipino Athlete, Vol. IX, No. 3, may 1948, p. 8-12.

 “Einsiedel Captures Pistol Championship”, The Tribune, 1 Mar. 1938, p. 10

 “U. P. Rifle Shots Win Over N.R.P.A”, The Tribune, 3 Nov. 1937. P. 9

 London 1948 Shooting 50m rifle prone 60 shots men Results, https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/london-1948/results/shooting/50m-rifle-prone-60-shots-men

 London 1948 Shooting 50m rifle prone 60 shots men Results, https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/london-1948/results/shooting/50m-rifle-prone-60-shots-men

 Shooting at the 1954 Asian Games, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_at_the_1954_Asian_Games

 The Marksman, August 1939 issue, https://repository.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/omekas/files/original/28d401e3ff35f8f38f8315c0ae88c4a722ca0e4a.pdf

 Albert von Einsiedel, geni.com

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

23. Basketball Great, Sen. AMBROSIO B. PADILLA: A Legacy of Leadership in Sports,

In the annals of Philippine basketball history, one name stands out for achieving his ambitions in two supposedly diametrically opposed fields: Sports and Academics. In both disciplines, AMBROSIO B. PADILLA  left his exemplary mark of excellence—as captain of the Philippine Basketball Team, he gave the country its best-ever finish in the 1936 Olympiad in Berlin, placing 5^th among the  world’s best basketeers—an incredible feat that has yet to be duplicated. In the same breath, Padilla was a brilliant student of Ateneo , graduating summa cum laude, and then finishing law at the state university as Class Salutatorian.

Born in Lingayen, Pangasinan on 7 Dec 1910  to Dr. Nicanor Padilla and Ysabel Bibby, “Paddy” as he was called, grew up with 11 siblings. His formative high school and college years were spent at the Ateneo de Manila, where he developed a love for basketball. As a varsity player, he skippered the Blue Eagles that won the 1928 NCAA basketball championship.

At age 20, Padilla made it to the 1930 national cage team that went to Tokyo, Japan for the Far East Games, winning Gold after beating the host country. His team mates included Augusto Bautista (who won his 5^th basketball medal, plus medals in volleyball), Alfredo del Rosario, Pedro Villanueva, Mariano Filomeno, Rizalino Gamban, Johnny Schlobohm, Briccio Reynoso, Jesus Lacson Suarez and Jacinto Ciria Cruz. The formidable Filipinos repeated their triumph before a thrilled Manila home crowd in 1934, in what would be the last Far East Games. That same year, he earned his Law degree as Salutatorian  from the University of the Philippines, and became a bar topnotcher by placing 3^rd in the exams.

The highlight of his sporting career was to come 2 years later. Though Padilla – now a full-fledged lawyer--had earned a reputation as a skilled basketball player, he still had to pass the tryouts to secure a spot on the Olympic team for Berlin. There was no dearth of talents in the country with the most developed basketball sports program in Asia, thanks to the Americans. Padilla passed the tryouts with flying colors, and was named a member of the elite 1936 Philippine Basketball team.

It was in Berlin that the first official Olympic basketball tournament was played. It was held outdoors in a tennis stadium on courts of clay and sand. The International Basketball Federation passed a rule that would ban all players who were taller than 6 ft. 3 inches. The U.S., who stood to lose 3 players, protested and the rule was rescinded.

The Philippines had a great start, winning two in a row by beating Mexico and Estonia. But then, to shorten the tournament, a new ruling was announced that any loss thereafter would put a team in the consolation bracket.

In the quarterfinal, the Filipinos were pitted against the much taller United States players--and lost 56-23.  Thus ended their Olympic journey, though it was their one and only defeat. Like true sportsmen, the team continued on in the classification rounds, winning over Italy, and then Uruguay, landing the Philippines in 5^th place among 21 countries with a 4-1 record. The U.S. won 1st, Brazil in 2^nd, and Mexico—which the Philippines had defeated in the early rounds, placed 3^rd. Still, this was Asia’s best finish ever in the Olympic Games men’s basketball history.

The Olympians returned to a tumultuous welcome for their unprecedented feat, and when the Olympic hoopla died down, Padilla move on and went back to school at the University of Santo Tomas, earning his doctorate in Civil Law in 1938 with honors. Though officially retired from basketball, he worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the sport, serving as chairman of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) Basketball Committee from 1938 to 1954.

In 1941, he married Lourdes “Lily” de las Alas (b. 18 Oct. 1917/d. 29 Jul. 1994) daughter of former finance secretary Antonio de las Alas under the Quezon administration. They became parents of 10 children: Josie, Vicente, Francisco, Ambrosio Jr, Lourdes, Felipe, Manny, Alexander, Gigi, and Rose.

In 1954, Padilla forayed into politics after his appointment as Solicitor General by Pres. Ramon Magsaysay. He was elected Senator in 1957, serving 3 terms until 1969, which was interrupted by Martial Law. After Marcos’s ouster, Pres. Corazon Aquino appointed him to the 1986 Constitutional Commission, which he served as Vice Chair.

His association with basketball continued with his FIBA appointment as Vice President for Asia (1956-1964). He was also elected President of the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC, now FIBA-Asia). Padilla also had the distinction of being the 1st president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (formerly PAAF)  in 1975.

The acclaimed Olympian and Senator, who served and honored the country in two different fields passed away on 11 Aug. 1996 at the Capitol Medical Center, and laid to rest in his beautiful retreat, Alpadi’s Farm in Antipolo. He was inducted post-humously into the Philippine National Basketball Hall of Fame in January 1999, along with his own Olympic coach, Chito Calvo.

In his honor, an award for top academically-gifted Ateneo student athletes, and a room at the Malcom Hall of the U.P. College of Law, bear his name. In 2010, a stamp was also struck to mark his birth centenary. Today, Ambrosio Padilla is regarded as one of the most important sports figures to shape the course of basketball development in Asia.

SOURCES:

Christian Bocobo and Beth Celis, Legends and Heroes of Philippine Basketball, ©2004 by Christian Bocobo, p. 114

Senator’s profile, Ambrosio Padilla: https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/ambrosio_padilla.htm

Ambrosio Padilla, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosio_Padilla

Bill Velasco, The Game of My Life column, “Unresolved Olympic Controversies”, 13 Feb. 2021, The Philippine Star

David Wallechinsky, The Complete Book of the Olympics, ©1988, Viking Penguin, “Basketball”, p. 173

“Basketball Olympian, Senator Dead at 85”, Manila Standard, 26 Aug. 1996 issue, p.4

 

4. DR. REGINO R. YLANAN: From a Top Student Athlete to a Pillar of Philippine Sports

In the annals of Philippine sports history, one name stands out for his multifarious roles in advancing and supporting the cause of national sports: DR. REGINO R. YLANAN—a premiere student athlete, a bemedalled international track star, a medical doctor, educator, coach, and venerable sports official and administrator.

His life legacy includes winning the first gold medals for the Philippines at the Far East Games (1913) , heading the University of the Philippines P.E. Dept. (1921), co-founding the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF, 1924) as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines (NCAA, 1924), and coaching  the first Filipino Olympian David Nepomuceno in Paris (1924). Four years later, in Amsterdam, he was back as physician of the Philippine Olympic team. It was also during his term as PAAF secretary-treasurer that the Rizal Memorial Stadium was completed (1936).

He started carving his name in sports early. Born on 7 Sep. 1889 in Bogo City, Cebu to Sen. Pedro Rodriguez and Francisca Ylanan, Regino developed an early passion for sports in athletics and baseball. In Cebu High School, he was the captain of the baseball team that became a 3-time interscholastic champion (1910, 1912, 1913) that played in the Manila Carnival games.

After high school, he enrolled at the College of Medicine & Surgery (C.M.S.), University of the Philippines where he further honed his athletic skills. His younger brother and fellow athlete Catalino, was also a student there. The brothers became members of both the crack U.P. Varsity Baseball Team and the C.M.S. Baseball Team which became school champions in 1914-1915. The two were also in the varsity and college Basketball Teams. 

On their own, Regino was both a member of the C.M.S. and the U.P. Varsity Track teams in 1916. Catalino was a Varsity Track member the year before, in 1915.

The older Ylanan came into national prominence at the inaugural Far Eastern Championship Games held in Manila in 1913, participated in by 6 countries. The 24 year old athlete parlayed his baseball-throwing skill by winning  Gold in Discus (28.28 meters), Shotput (10.76 meters)  and Pentathlon.

In the 2^nd edition of the games played in Shanghai in 1915, Regino was back, this time with his brother Catalino, as among the 6 representatives of the school. Regino defended his Shotput title with a heave of 10.91 meters for a back-to-back Gold, plus a Bronze in Pentathlon. Catalino won the team Gold for basketball. 

In 1916, Regino resumed playing baseball, captaining the varsity team to win that year’s  P.A.A.F. Baseball Championship. The two brothers would return to the 1917 Far Eastern Games in Tokyo, their last participation in the games. In Japan, Catalino claimed his second basketball gold, while the Philippine  Baseball team, in which Regino was fielded as a catcher, lost the Gold to Japan.

Upon his return, Ylanan finished his medical studies in 1918 and became a surgeon at the Philippine General Hospital. With his heart still in sports, he accepted a government offer to go to the  Springfield College, Massachusetts for a course in physical education, which he finished in 1920. This led to a job at his alma mater as head of the U.P. Physical Education Department.

A highlight of his career in sports administration was representing the Philippines at the 1924 Paris Olympics and to accompany star sprinter David Nepomuceno, the first Filipino Olympic delegate. He would attend two more Olympics, in Amsterdam (1928) and Berlin (1936), to witness the first medals won by Filipinos in swimming and athletics.

In 1927 he was named National Athletic Director and Secretary-Treasurer for the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation, the forerunner of the Philippine Olympic Committee. The last Far East Games was held in Manila in 1934, and from thereon, with 2 looming wars in the horizon (2^nd Sino-Japanese War that began in Manchuria, World War II) , interest in regional sports went into a decline.

But Ylanan carried on, authoring and promoting books on basketball and baseball, as  part of his advocacies. He was on his way to finishing “The History and Development of Physical Education and Sports in the Philippines”, when he was felled by a heart attack on23  August 1963. He was about to turn 74. Wife Carmen Wilson-Ylanan, who was one of the early women basketball players in the country, finished writing his opus that finally saw print in 1965

In 1999, the Sports Association of the Philippines acclaimed Regino Ylanan as a “Sports Leader of the Millennnium”, along with Ambrosio Padilla, Gonzalo Puyat, and Florencio Campomanes.  It was a fitting honor or his life-long service to promote a culture of excellence in sports, not just for physical health but also for nation-building. For many, Dr. Regino R. Ylanan was truly both a pillar and Father of Philippine Sports.

SOURCES:

Regino Ylanan, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regino_Ylanan

CultureEd Philippines, Sagisag Kultura: Regino Ylanan: https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/ylanan-regino/

1915, 1916 University of the Philippines Yearbooks

Athletic Handbook for the Philippine Public Schools, Bureau of Education, Manila, 1904. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/acp1028.1913.040/29?rgn=full+text&view=image&q1=Regino+Ylanan

The Games of the VIII Olympiad: Official Report, (part 1, page 89). la84foundation.org. French Olympic Committee

Iñigo, Manolo R. (2001-09-07). Ylanan Legacy a Tough Act to Follow. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pg. A22. Retrieved on 2015-01-12.