World muay thai champion Islay Erika Bomogao and former wushu taolu player Kariza Kris Chan joined hotelier Peter Ng and councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr. in painting one of the walls at the big grandstand at the Baguio athletic bowl Wednesday officially launching the final phase of the Heroes Wall of Fame mural project.
Painter Gladys Labsan and Ged Alangui bore witness to the ceremonial painting as they gear up to paint some 60 athletes and sportsmen past and present.
It will be the latter who will actually start painting first this coming week the six sports personalities lined up by the organising eponymous Publications and Media Works (e-Pub).
The third and final component will be the biggest where nearly 60 athletes/sportsmen will be featured in the remaining 24 walls at the big grandstand of the Baguio athletic bowl, the e-Pub announced over Facebook.
With no big sponsor this time, the Final Push, as the phase is called, may take longer to be finished with a six month timeline so that e-Pub may be able to get financial backings to finish the work that may even exceed the 60 projected figures.
The first six will include four wushu taolu players to be led by Southeast Asian Games silver medal winner John Keithley Chan who will be joined by the Chan siblings (no relation) Kariza Kris, a two time SEAG bronze medalist, and her twin brothers Justin and Dustin.
The late Dr. Charles Cheng will join the late journalist Ramon Dacawi in one wall.
Cheng may have been the biggest promoter of amateur boxing, where the basement of the Fil Chinese Hospital, which he owns, is used as a gym. He also had researches to help female athletes during their monthly period.
Dacawi is a sports journalist who is known for his eco friendly endeavors. The former head of the Public Information Office – Baguio was the biggest supporter of the famous Baguio women’s football team while also a Games and Amusement Board accredited ring official.
Bomogao leads the inductees to the wall and she will be joined by kickboxers Gina Iniong Araos and Claudine Veloso. The ONE’s Graceful Jenelyn Olsim will be joined by brother and former kickboxing champion Jerry Olsim. The siblings have recently opened their own gym at their hometown in Bokod, Benguet.
Wushu players will dominate this edition with inductees coming from the two disciplines, sanda (combat) and taolu (form).
The late Rexel Nganhayna, athlete turned wushu coach and now restaurateur Michael Humiding, George Lusadan and Rolly Chulhang are among former national team members to grace the walls.
Humiding was coach to Chulhang when he won a silver in the Asian Games. Chulhang and Lusadan were the seniors of Mark Sangiao and Eduard Folayang. Nganhayna joined the now mixed martial artists in the 2001 SEAG and where he won a silver medal, while Sangiao and now fight choreographer Jearome Calica were gold medal winners.
Sangiao later took over the coaching duties of Humiding when the latter left to pursue another career.
They will be joined by the present national wushu sanda player in Gideon Fred Padua.
Natasha Laxamana, Kariza’s partner in the 2015 and 2017 SEAG, as well as current national team members Jones Inso and Thornton Lou Sayan are also lined up
The other athletes are: Ruscha Bayacsan (Muay Thai) and coaches Billy Alumno, Edzel Ngina and Zaidi Laruan.
There is also Kobe Macario from Taekwondo, Buguias mayor Ruben Tindaan and the late Arsenio Bawingan, Jr., both Karate black belts.
There is also judoka Racquel Lorenzo, Helen Aclopen (judo/sambo kurash) and Mark Striegl (sambo).
In arnis, two time SEA gold medal winner Crisamuel Delfin and 2019 SEAG gold medal winners Elmer Manlapas and Abegail Abad are slated.
In athletics will be former Gintong Alay members Alex Cabosura, Manuel and David Carmelo, Ed Laureano and Art Alimbuyao.
The others are: Sandi Abahan Che Alberto and Kath Santos.
Former Far East Games participant Federico Mandapat, Sr. and his three sons – the late Romy, namesake Federico, Jr. and racing champion Julius, are also slated for painting.
The Ramos family led by Josh and Lou Ann are also scheduled for painting for their promotion of triathlon.
Three basketball players are included – cage legend Robert Jaworski and PBA originals Romualdo Cabading and Florendo Ritualo Sr.
The golfers include Fred Puckett, Fil-Am Golf founder Rogelio dela Rosa and former professional Danny Zarate.
Former pro bowler Bec Watanabe is slated this time along with the spouse dancing tandem of Stephanie Sabalo and Angelo Marquez.
The others are: Raniel Resuello (Bike Racing), Raffy Panagan and Brico Santig for boxing promotion; councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales, the late bishop Carlito Cenzon for golf promotion and Leonides Bautista for the promotion of chess.
Supporters of the event include the Baguio Filipino Chinese Community, Jomarcann Construction, Tiong San Harrison, Larry Puckett and Sizzling Plate. Pigeon Lobien
