Huguete, bemedalled Cebuano swimmer, passes away

CEBU, Philippines - Joey Huguete, the last Cebuano swimmer who made it to the Philippine Team, succumbed to heart attack recently. He would have turned 40 years old on February 2.

Unknown to many, the six-footer Huguete fought for the flag and country twice in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 1989 and 1991.

Huguete won bronze medal during the Manila SEA Games in 1991, according to another Cebuano RP swimmer Loi Rafols.

Although he made it to the national squad and bagged medal in the SEA Games, the late Huguete kept his feet on the ground and maintained a low-profile status.

“Maayo ug buotaan kaayo to nga athlete. Di gyud to mukawas sa pool ug di niya makuha iyang time.That’s how determined he was,” recalled decorated Cebuano swim coach Rolando Alvarez, who trained Huguete under the Talisay Youth Simming Club and Maruka Swimming Club also based in Talisay.

Alvarez said under his watch, Huguete won a silver in Palarong Pambansa and was a triple gold medallist in the 1989 Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA) Meet.

Prior to the PRISAA Meet, Alvarez told Huguete, who was then studying college at the University of the Visayas (UV), that if he trains hard and do well in that event, he will definitely get a slot to the RP team.

Huguete gamely rose to the challenge as he stunned Manila-based tankers to scoop three golds that eventually paved the way for him to the RP Team.

So far, no other Cebuano swimmer earned a spot to the national team after Huguete, but Alvarez hopes that Huguete's story of fortitude and determination will serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes so that they must strive hard to be the best they possibly could. (FREEMAN)