Will A National Hero Be Forgotten?

He lives in a poor neighborhood, in a tiny one-bedroom unit that his wife owns. He speaks very slowly and struggles very hard to walk, the result of a stroke he suffered seven years ago. He cannot afford physiotherapy or medication, much less provide for his family.

While this profile may fit many Filipinos living in poverty at the fringes of society, unknown to many, it also describes a man who was once regarded as a national hero.

Against the odds, he had risen to become the first Olympic silver medalist of the Philippines in 1964. It was at a time when there were no national coaches, no specialized training programs, no financial support, no P1-million or P7-million incentive for winning an Olympic medal. If an athlete wanted to represent his country at an international sporting event, it was borne out of a deep sense of national pride. The only reward that awaited the victorious was honor.

So for Anthony Villanueva – a man for whom those old-fashioned values of discipline, determination and dedication were more than lip service – it was a painful experience to have been unfairly denied the gold medal in a controversial decision at the boxing final in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Nineteen years old at the time, he made the bold decision to participate at the Games after only three years of training under his father, who incidentally happened to be the 1932 Olympic bronze medalist, Jose Villanueva.

Driven by a strong desire to make his father proud by equaling his record, he eventually surpassed every other Filipino Olympian with the silver medal he had to settle for. That day, the Philippines had a new national hero in the form of the cherubic-faced boxer and upon his return, he was given a hero’s welcome.

For two weeks, the people took to the streets in spontaneous celebrations. For his good looks, he was courted by the media and given a starring role in a movie. For the handful of endorsement deals he took on, he was unfortunately labeled a professional athlete and his dream of winning gold at the next Olympics was dashed.

Before long, this national hero was reduced to a faded memory. The promise made by the then-president to meet with him was forgotten. No rewards – monetary or otherwise – came his way. He became marginalized.

On August 8, 2008, the world will be tuning in to watch the much-anticipated XXIX Olympic Games as it unfolds amid much fanfare in Beijing. Filipinos will be hoping that a fellow countryman will follow in the footsteps of Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr., the Philippines’ last Olympic medalist in 1996, and become the next national hero by bringing home a medal.

Perhaps the first gold medal for the country this time. After all, very attractive incentives await the sportsman who clinches it. With both fame and fortune to look forward to, today’s athletes are a lucky bunch. But can this nation keep her eyes fixed on the future without honoring its past? For the glory that Anthony Villanueva brought to the nation, where is the honor due to him? Will Filipinos allow this living legend to fade away into obscurity or will we rally to restore him to his rightful status? Let’s choose to make things right for those who gave their all to our country. Glory for country should not be so fleeting.