In history, there is one man who paved the way for the Philippines to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a country of consequence in the world of sports. He was Jorge B. Vargas who became the first Filipino member of the IOC in 1936. Frank Elizalde and Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski later followed in his footsteps to represent the Philippines in the IOC.
Vargas was a founding member of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF), precursor of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), in 1911, joined the PAAF Executive Committee in 1918 and served as PAAF vice president from 1925 to 1935 and president from 1936 to 1955. He was head of the Philippine delegation at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics and Asian Games Federation president from 1950 to 1954. Vargas played an instrumental role in bringing the Asian Games to Manila in 1954. Deeply ingrained in his nationalist vision, he saw in the goal of sports development a vehicle to improve the Filipino’s well-being and in the spirit of competition a source of Filipino pride.
Beyond sports, Vargas made an impact in government service as the country’s first Executive Secretary from 1936 to 1941, vice mayor of Manila from 1931 to 1940, mayor of Manila from 1941 to 1942, secretary of National Defense in 1941 and chairman of the National Planning Commission from 1946 to 1954. In 1960, he was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander and in 1967, presented the Presidential Award for Meritorious Service. Vargas died in 1980 at the age of 89.
Last Thursday, the Rotary Club of Manila launched its annual Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year award and named it in Vargas’ honor, a tribute to the distinguished lawyer, diplomat and youth advocate. Vargas’ grandson, former POC president Ricky Vargas, said the yearly project is a “wonderful idea (as) it’s a recognition of the important role that sports plays in our lives and an acknowledgement of the achievements, sacrifice and hard work of our sports heroes.”
The PBA chairman and PLDT executive called his grandfather “my idol since I was a boy.” He said: “I was very proud to watch him on film handing out Olympic medals to the winners at the podium. He has done more for athletes than was ever published and always kept his support in confidence. My lolo was an inspiration and today, as I look back at my own involvement in sports, I am thrilled to relate how much he has influenced my life. My lolo was born in Bago City, the country’s hotbed of boxing where the Olympic medalists Onyok and Roel Velasco are from. Today, I am head of ABAP and two of our 2019 SEA Games gold medalists were Bago boxers Rogen Ladon and James Palicte. My lolo was once the PAAF president and I never dreamed that I would later serve as POC president. My lolo’s passion for sports was rooted in his love of country. When my lolo passed away, he left behind a legacy of greatness to inspire all Filipinos.” The Rotary Club of Manila has stepped forward to promote sports through the Jorge B. Vargas Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award and is planning a nationwide campaign to push for grassroots development in partnership with the POC and PSC.