Who?s our biggest sports newsmaker?
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 31 Dec 2016
THE year in Philippines sports was a heady high-and-low mix of victory and defeat, triumph and tragedy, but what remained to be determined was whether or not lifter Hidilyn Diaz, who snatched a silver medal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, was indeed our biggest sports newsmaker in 2016.
Her surprise silver medal, no doubt, felt like solid glittering gold, and this alone should make her a popular choice for most outstanding athlete of the year.
Super girl Hidlyn was the biggest sports news.
However, there were bigger headline achievements by other Filipino athletes away from the Olympics.
**
At least four Filipino boxers, headed by Manny Pacquiao, were at the forefront of a successful quest for world crowns.
Although unsuccessful in securing another knockout after seven years, Pacquiao scored big by claiming a seat in the Philippine Senate in the last national polls.
The celebrated winner of eight world division titles followed up the great political feat by recapturing his WBO welterweight crown with a compelling win over Jessie Vargas, thus establishing himself as the lone world champion senator in the world.
Other Filipino world boxing crown winners were Marlon Tapales, Johnriel Casimero and Edwin Ancajas.
**
Elsewhere, the popular Gilas Pilipinas national basketball squad figured in a tragic fall in the special pre-Olympic qualifying tournament here, with the Gilas program next left to face an uncertain future.
Three all-time Filipino sports greats, basketball?s King Carlos Loyzaga, The Maestro coach Virgilio Dalupan and baseball/softball legend Filomeno Codinera Jr., passed on one after the other; tragic losses rivaled only by the death of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.
**
In what could be the noisiest win scored in national sports, former Congressman Jose Cojuangco Jr. was elected to a fourth straight term as President of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
With his battle cry ?I am surrounded by idiots,? Cojuangco was elected unopposed after he caused the disqualification of a top aspirant, with the use of dubious self-imposed election rules.
The election of Cojuangco, owner of the most selfish and unproductive reign at the POC, was big sports news, although it was received with widespread gloom.
It should go down as the wildest non-achievement in Philippine sports for 2016.
**
GOODWILL HIGH: Out in Lipa City on Thursday, there was a record outpouring of love and goodwill. This happened after kind-hearted citizens, like sportsman Bambi Rivilla and Lipa go-to guy Bart Mayor learned about the problems besetting organizers of an annual gift-giving for humble farm families in Barangay Pangao. Rivilla and Mayo readily came to the rescue by sending boxes of cannned goods. Engineer Mar Maralit, on his way to help out with his son Bishop Junie Maralit of Boac, up on his toes rescuing typhoon victims in Marinduque, made a turn-around and delivered two huge boxes of sardines. Trader Nick Lantin, a favorite son of Lipa, rushed to the event site with hefty bags of assorted goodies, including trays of eggs from his farm.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bobby Magsino, head of the Good Samaritan Foundation from the Mary Mediatrix Meidcal Center, was at the site ahead with more than enough gifts in hefty blue bags for over 50 families. Record kindness and joy was spread. So touched was Dr. Ruel Reyes of San Pablo City that he made his son Gio to vow he would continue helping out indefinitely.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxers swing into action
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
Fri, 05 Sep 2025SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
Fri, 05 Sep 2025THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
Fri, 05 Sep 2025GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
Fri, 05 Sep 2025DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 05 Sep 2025India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Sep 2025TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
Thu, 04 Sep 2025150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Sep 2025