Long before Wesley So and Yuka Saso changed national flags, there was another superstar who pledged allegiance to another country. Paulino Alcantara was an Ilonggo football player born in 1896 to a Spanish military officer and an Ilongga in Concepcion, Iloilo. In 2007, he was recognized by FIFA as the greatest Asian footballer of all time, 43 years after he died. In 1899, their family went to Spain where Alcantara polished his skills and caught the eye of FC Barcelona founder John Camper who recruited the Ilonggo. At 15 years old, he was the very first to play in a European league. Alcantara showed what stuff he was made of in his very first game when he scored three goals for the club. When the family returned to the Philippines from 1916-1918, Alcantara studied medicine but continued playing football and was named captain of the Philippine team. The Pinoys blasted Japan 15-2 in the Far Eastern Games. When he returned to Spain he eventually became the top scorer of FC Barcelona. He scored 395 goals in 399 games which stood for 88 years until Lionel Messi shattered it in 2014. Alcantara retired in 1927 and became director for Barcelona in 1930 and coached Spain’s national team. He also became a Spanish citizen.
Hasta La Vista Manny
In 1992, I was tasked by then Philippine Sports Commisson (PSC) chairman Cecil Herchanova to whip the national chess team to a well-oiled machine, physically that is, as we prepare for the Manila World Chess Olympiad. Of course it is a fact that a player must also be physically fit to hurdle the mental challenges. The team trained in Baguio City for close to a year. We had an almost all-Bisdak team composed mostly of Ilonggos, Cebuanos and Visayan-speaking Mindanao members. The Ilonggos were composed of camp director GM Eugene Torre, Fernie Donquines, Drigo Atutobo and Manny Senador. The Cebuanos were Econg Sevillano, Eric Gloria, Luis Mascarinas, Barlo Nadera , Banjo Barcenilla and Petronillo Roca (Tacloban), Maging Maga(Davao) Omar Cartagena and Adrian Pacis (Iligan). Players from Luzon were Joey Antonio , Ricky De Guzman , Ruben Rodriguez, Chito Garma and Rolando Nolte. Last February 23, Manny Senador from Iloilo City succumbed to colon cancer after a long battle. He was 62. Hasta La Vista Manny... Rest In Peace.
Iloilo lose
After an amazing winning streak, the red-hot Iloilo Kisela Knights finally lost to an equally strong contender, Pasig Pirates in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Tournament last Saturday. Before losing to Pasig 14-7, Iloilo was coming from victories over Rizal 14-7 and Quezon 13.5-7.5. The Knights however won over Olongapo 12-9 to still lead the Southern Division with a 19-2 record. The Pasig King Pirates bannered by Darwin Laylo and Mark Paragua leads the Northern Division 20-1.