SPORTS play a significant role in the lives of people around the world. They contribute to physical fitness and serve as a favorite bonding activity for friends and family. In the Philippines, sports hold a special place in the hearts of Filipinos.
The Philippines offers a diverse array of sports, with six major ones taking the spotlight: basketball, boxing, tennis, football, billiards, and volleyball. Additionally, activities such as athletics, weightlifting, aerobics, and martial arts enjoy popularity as recreational pursuits.
Let’s celebrate the exceptional achievements of the top 10 Filipino athletes of all time:
- Rafael Paeng Nepomuceno – Bowling
Rafael was a renowned Filipino bowler and coach, boasting a remarkable six world bowling championships. He’s an esteemed member of the World Bowling Hall of Fame and the first and only bowling athlete ever to receive the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president’s Trophy. His accolades also include being named the International Bowling Athlete of the Millennium by the Federation International des Quilleurs (FIQ) in 1999. In 1998, he was proudly inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame. Today, he continues to share his knowledge as a professor and senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines while still maintaining his passion for bowling.
- Manny Pacquiao – Boxing
Manny Pacquiao, known as “Pacman,” is not just a legendary Filipino boxer but also a politician who has served as a senator in the Philippines since 2016. His career is marked by being the only eight-division world champion in boxing history, winning twelve major world titles, and securing the lineal championship in five different weight classes. His retirement announcement in September 2021 leaves him as the reigning pound-for-pound king of boxing.
- Efren Manalang Reyes – Pool Player
Popularly known as “Bata,” Efren Manalang Reyes is a professional pool player with over 100 international titles. Notably, he is the first player to win the WPA World Championship in two different disciplines. Reyes has a remarkable record, including being a four-time World Eight-ball champion, a WPA World Nine-ball Champion, and multiple wins at the U.S. Open and the World Pool League, among other titles.
- Gabriel Elorde – Boxing
Gabriel Elorde, often regarded as the most beloved Filipino boxer, was the first Filipino international boxing champion after Ceferino Garcia. He was the only Asian inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His illustrious career included 88 wins, 27 losses, and 2 draws, establishing him as the greatest super featherweight champion in WBC history. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 49 due to lung cancer.
- Francisco Bustamante – Pool Player
Known as “Django,” Francisco Bustamante is a Filipino professional pool player who held the world’s number one billiard player title in 1998. His extensive list of achievements comprises over 70 international titles, including the 2001 World Pool Masters and the 2010 World Nine-Ball Championship. He also holds the world record for the most powerful break shot and continues to participate in professional billiard tournaments.
- Lydia de Vega – Athlete
Lydia de Vega, a retired athlete from the Philippines, gained recognition as Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s. She secured gold medals in the 100m dash at the 1982 New Delhi Asiad and the 1986 Seoul Asiad.
- Mansueto Velasco – Boxing and Comedy
Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr. is a retired Filipino boxer who also pursued a career in comedy and acting. Notably, he won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games and a silver at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the 48kg category. Following his boxing career, he found success as a comedian, appearing in ABS-CBN sitcoms and portraying a boxing trainer in the TV5 comedy-drama “Beki Boxer.”
- Carlos Loyzaga – Basketball Player and Coach
Carlos Loyzaga, considered the greatest Filipino basketball player of all time, was a dominant figure in Philippine basketball. As a two-time Olympian and a key member of the Philippine National Team, he contributed to the country’s success by winning four consecutive Asian Games gold medals and two consecutive FIBA Asia Championships. After retiring as a player in 1964, he transitioned into coaching, leading teams such as YCO and the Manila Bank Golden Bankers in the MICAA.
- Hidilyn Diaz – Weightlifter and Airwoman
Hidilyn Francisco Diaz made history by becoming the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. She achieved this remarkable feat in the women’s 55 kg weightlifting category at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Recognized for her achievements, she received numerous awards, including the Athlete of the Year Award from the Philippines Sportswriters Association and Congressional Medals of Distinction in 2016 and the Congressional Medal of Excellence in 2021 from the Philippine House of Representatives.
- Eugene Torre – Chess Player
Eugene Torre, Asia’s first grandmaster of chess, achieved this prestigious title at the age of 22 in 1974. He’s widely acknowledged as the strongest chess player to emerge from the Philippines in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1976, Torre made chess history by defeating the reigning world champion in a memorable game. In 2021, he was honored with induction into the World Chess Hall of Fame, becoming the first male Asian chess player to receive this distinction. He continues to participate in professional chess tournaments, representing the Rizal Towers in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines.
(Filed by JR AMIGOai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
RECOGNIZING THE POWER OF SPORTS to foster unity and bring pride to the country, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said more aid should be given to Filipino athletes as he congratulated the Philippine delegation for capturing four gold medals in the recent 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, jiu-jitsu martial artists Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, and the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team seized the four gold medals for the country in the recently concluded Asiad.
“The achievements of the Philippine delegation, including securing medals and setting new records, demonstrate our athletes’ dedication, hard work, and excellence. Their success is a testament to the resilience and talent of Filipino sportsmen and sportswomen,” Romualdez said.
Aside from the gold medals, Tokyo Olympics boxing bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial and wushu sanda ace Arnel Mandal secured silver medals. The Philippines also bagged 12 bronze medals.
“Sports has [have] the power to unite a nation, and our athletes have certainly united us through their outstanding achievements. I am committed to furthering sports development in the Philippines to nurture future champions,” Romualdez said.
He also commended the Philippine delegation, the support team, and the individuals and organizations that contributed to the athletes’ success.
“The 19th Asian Games have showcased the country’s potential as a competitive force in international sports. I am confident that this success will inspire future generations of Filipino athletes,” Romualdez stressed. (ai/mnm)