CYCLING ICON CORNELIO A. PADILLA JR., 67
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 09 Dec 2013
Back-to-back Tour of Luzon cycling marathon champion Cornelio Agaid Padilla Jr. died of heart failure at St. Luke?s Global City Medical Center on Sunday (December 8). He was 67.
Padilla carved a name at the pinnacle of national sports in the 1960?s when he won the grueling Tour of Luzon cycling championship twice in a row, in 1966 and 1967.
His popularity soared during the time that his victories were widely credited to have placed cycling in the national sports consciousness.
In 1966, Padilla topped the 15-lap TOL, clocking 60.45.31 in 1,999.82 kilometers of bicycle race.
The following year, Padilla again emerged on top after eight laps of cycling. He clocked 70.34:57 for the 1,634-kilometer competition.
Known as Paddy to friends and family, Padilla retired early from the sport in order to devote his time to his college studies. His winnings helped him finish a law degree at the Far Eastern University.
As a lawyer, Padilla became a member of the the legal department of Cacho Printing press before his stint at the National Book Store as personnel manager and house lawyer. He worked his way into the corporate ladder to become one of the NBS's top executives, handling the firm?s vast human resources department.
Padilla also spent much time to humanitarian service by making himself active in Rotary International activities. He was charter member of the Rotary Club of Quirino-Quezon City under RI District 3780, serving as its president from 1994-95.
?He excelled in sports in the same manner he won the hearts of many Rotarians for his unstinting efforts to serve above self,? said former Assistant Governor Fol Rana, former RCQQC president.
The late cycling icon remained loyal to cycling until a heart attack struck while negotiating steep Antipolo mountains on his racer bicycle some 15 years ago.
He survived but decided to give up cycling as part of his exercise regimen. Padilla turned to bowling to become one of the top caliber bowlers of Rotary.
Manila-born Padilla is survived by wife, labor attach? to US Luzviminda Gumatay-Padilla; and children, Jennifer, May, Nathalie and Eli.
His remains lie in state at the Funeraria Paz on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Interment will be announced later. -Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025