Aliño, a revered sportsman and weightlifting patron, passes away

CEBU, Philippines - The country has lost a strong pillar in sports with the passing of revered sportsman and weightlifting patron Narciso L. Aliño, Jr. He was 87.

Aliño, former chairman of the Philippine Weightlifting Association Incorporated (PWAI) and former vice president of both the Asian Weightlifting Federation and the ASEAN Weightlifting Federation, succumbed to cardiac arrest at his home last Tuesday night.

Mark Rommel Aliño, one of Aliño’s six children who replaced his father as PWAI chairman for seven years now, said that before his father died, he would always ask how is coach Ramon Solis and the rest of the athletes.

“He would always ask how is Ramon (Solis) and the other athletes. Magsige gyud to siya og pangumusta nila,” said Mark Aliño.

Even when Aliño suffered diabetes and lost his sense of sight, the retired colonel and topnocth lawyer never lost his vision to further develop weightlifting in the country. He would always attend PWAI meetings to make it sure that no one can put the association down despite some attempts in the past just like what happened in the other NSAs.

“He made it sure that everything was in place before he vacated his post at PWAI. And we will do everything we can for the athletes just as what he wanted,” assured Mark.

Unknown to many, aside from being one of the longest-serving officials of PWAI, Aliño also once served as the national vice president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), president of ABAP-Cebu, charter president of the Cebu Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Association, and president of the now defunct Cebu Martial Arts Association.

On top of being an official, Aliño was also a champion athlete and served as an international referee, member of the jury appeals and head of delegation for several international events including the Asian Games, SEA Games, and the Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Aliño’s invaluable contribution to sports was not left unnoticed as he had been honored as “Sportsman of the Year” during the 1996 edition of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Corporation (SAC-SMC) All-Cebu Sports Awards. Three years later, he was formally enshrined into the elite Cebu Sports Hall of Fame.

More to being a sportsman, Aliño chaired the Aliño Integrated Services, Inc., had been a senior partner of the Aliño, Vendero and Associates Law Office, chairman of the board, president and general manager of the Southern Philippine Investigation and Security Agency, Inc. and a legal counsel to several companies here.

Aliño’s body now lies at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Nivel Hills, Brgy. Lahug. Interment will be announced at the soonest possible time. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol   (FREEMAN NEWS)