Antonio De Las Alas remembered
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Feb 2010
He is acknowledged as the man responsible for the planning and construction of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, then the first multi-purpose stadium in Asia.
Antonio de las Alas, then the Secretary of Public Works, in collaboration with the then president of the now-defunct Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation Jorge Vargas, was instrumental in raising funds, through proceeds in the Philippine charity Sweepstakes, for the rise of the stadium which was to become the site of the 1934 Far East Olympics, 1954 Asian Games and the 1981, 1991 and 2005 Southeast Asian Games, among others.
As public works top honcho, Alas used the services of the department engineers, personnel and equipment to start and complete the facilities as designed architect Juan Arellano. First to be completed in time for the 1934 Far East Olympics, the precursor of the now Asian Games, the baseball stadium, a soccer field, a natatorium and tennis courts.
Believing in the proposition that the youth is the hope of fatherland, De las Alas, whose 120th birth anniversary his family is celebrating this year, is also acknowledged as the father of cycling and table tennis, he being the one to introduce the sports to the Filipinos.
He, in fact served as the first president of the Philippine Amateur Cycling Association, and helped in the initial staging of the Tour of Luzon.
Part of birthday celebration was the launching of his book titled ?Small Man with a Tall Shadow? authored by youngest daughters Ching de las Alas-Montinola and Menchu de las Alas-Concepcion held yesterday at the Philippine Columbian Association.
Yesterday was also the occasion for the opening of an exhibit on photos, writings and events in the life of one of the most well-loved sports leader in one of the function rooms of the PCA.
Alas is actually belongs to the few longest serving sports leader in the country having served as PAAF vice president to Vargas from 1935 to 1955 and president from 1955-1968, the period when he also served as National Olympic Committee president 1956-1968.
His 35 years as leader in sports saw him head the national delegation to the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, 1956 Melbourne Olympics and 1960 Rome Olympics. He was also the chief organizer and host of the 1954 Second Asian Games in Manila and head of the Asiad delegations in 1958 in Tokyo, 1962 in Jakarta and 1966 in Bangkok.
As a young man, the small and frail alas attended public school in the morning, while teaching in the afternoon so that he found little time involving himself in sports activities. Weighing 79 pounds, he hardly passed the physical examination to pursue his studies in the United States.
Aware of his handicap, he devoted a good deal of time in athletics at the University of Indiana where he finally was able to where he took up tennis, baseball, track and field, cross country running, boxing and, later basketball. He earned a slot in the Indiana University athletics team as a sprinter and was crowned featherweight boxing champion of the university.
Alas? service to the country was not only confined in sports as he also had, at one time or another, held the high positions in the government, among them, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator and secretary of justice, interior and finance.
SCOOP sa KAMAYAN Advancer
Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco, chief organizers of the Manila 5000-meter run and the Philippine Sports Commission?s Run For Your Heart race and the national futsal team will be the guests in today?s edition of the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
Carrasco, along with national coach Peter Gonzales will be discussing with members of the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines their association?s preparations for the coming Asian Games and the Asian Beach Games both slated later this year as well as the participation of Vitwater and Sunkist in their year-long program of activities.
Dino Jose, managing director and, along with Red Dumuk, is the race organizer of the Manila 5000-meter run set next month will be talking about the coming race in the session, sponsored by ACCEL.
The RP futsal squad, headed by coaches Esmael ?Esse? Sadigh and his assistants Gil Talavera and Avelino Baltazar will take up the Filipino booters participation in the Asian Football Confederation championship next week in Jakarta.
Discussion starts at 11 a.m. and will be aired later at 3 p.m., also today, over Sports Radio.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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