Better late than never

In a previous column, I wrote about the Philippine Sports  Hall of Fame that was enshrining a new batch of former athletes who gave honor to the  country.  I wanted to dub this column “Too Late The Hero!” but I might be again misunderstood by some sports officials.  Yes, just the other week, several athletes including my good friends Mona Sulaiman and Jack Cayco were inducted to the Hall  of Fame together with another awardee,  Inocencia Solis from Iloilo.  Mona, who hails from Marawi City, has been a controversial athlete as many claim she is more male than female.  Mona, who is now on a wheelchair,  won the gold medals in the 100- meter, 200- meter, sprints while anchoring the Philippine Team in the 4x100m relay in the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games.  Mona also represented the country in the 1960 Rome Olympics where she reached the quarterfinals of the 100 meter dash. She also participated in the Tokyo Olympics .  I was with Mona when we  represented the  country in the Asian Masters Athletics Championship in Seoul, Korea in 1996. Mona who could no longer run, won the bronze in  the shot put.  Also in that team were Asian Games veterans Lolit Lagrosas and Romy Sotto, Sea Games medalists Linda Lavandia (who is still active todate), Dorie Cortejo (shot put) and Danny Jarina (hammer throw).  Four other members of that team are now deceased,  Manny Ibay, Willy Calica,  Jun Elnar and Art Dela Cruz.  On the other hand, Jack Cayco was probably one of the best swimmers in the country during his prime.  Jack and I were monitoring officers for swimming and chess respectively in the 1991 Sea Games in Manila.  Speaking of chess, my “agaw”, GM Eugene Torre, also was inducted.  But one question lingers.  Why can’t we give them the honors when they can still enjoy it?.  If you notice, some of the inductees  are dead while others came to the awards night  sporting canes and on wheelchairs.  I remember what former The Freeman publisher Nito Jabat said while he was lying in a hospital bed, ” It’s nice when you’re lying here and could still smell the flowers”.  Nito added “ But when you’re lying  down and can’t smell the flowers that’s another story”.   Rening Ylaya,  the oldest runner in Cebu at 80 agreed,  “Unsaon pa ang kumpay (grass) kung patay na ang kabajo este.. kabayo”.  My tennis buff friend  Sammy P. is still asking this question “ Asa naman ang atong Cebu Hall of Fame photos?”

Sporty Iloilo

 I was in Dinagyang crazy.  IloIlo  City last week to play host to Wenz Federer, Swiss husband of my niece Julia.  It was the first time that Wenz visited the Philippines.  I was supposed to accompany them to Coron, Palawan and Bacolod City but I have to prepare for my trip to Southern Leyte.  I’ve been tasked to find a route in the Pacific towns for the Province’s proposed marathon.  While in Iloilo, I was informed that the City will be the venue of the Milo Marathon Finals in December while also hosting the Milo  Little Oympics.  Wow, this is news for Visayas and Mindanao runners who will not travel to Manila anymore.

Did you know? 

Arnold  Schwarzenegger’s father Gustav and his older brother Meinhard, both died from drunk driving.  When he was governor of California, Arnold  refused to receive his salary of $ 175,000 a year. He was also the first private individual in the USA who was allowed to buy the  then military vehicle, “Hummer”.  Arnold’s name means “The  black ploughman” in German. And did you know, O.J Simpson was initially considered to play the role in The Terminator but producers rejected him in the last minute and Arnold got the part.

More dead singers

The last time around I wrote that several singers have died like Natalie  Cole.  But just recently a few more  have followed, David Bowie, Glen Frey of the Eagles and only the other day, Paul Kantner, founding member of the psychedelic rock band, Jefferson Airlane of the mid-1960s.  After the group disbanded in 1972, Kantner formed Jefferson Starship.