MANILA, Philippines—Congratulations to the Philippine Sports Commission for launching the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.
Although I missed the deadline for the submission of nominees last Dec. 31, still I would like to nominate the country’s true greats in motorsports for inclusion to the next batch of Hall of Famers.
I’m hoping that PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez would consider my nominations for racing’s greats:
The late lawyer-sportsman Arsenio “Dodjie” Laurel, who won the world-famous Macau Grand Prix twice (in 1965 and 1966);
Jovy Marcelo, who proved to the world that a Filipino driver could make it to the Indianapolis 500, a famous and prestigious race in motorsports;
Roberto “Baby” Luna, a world-class karter during the 1960s;
Motorsports’ ambassador of goodwill Conrado “Dodo” Ayuyao, a much-respected lawyer who served as legal counsel for several big corporations, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, where he once served as director.
I would also add to the roster of motorsports greats “living legends” RP Grand Prix winner Dante Silverio, rally king Robert Aventajado, durable driver Pocholo Ramirez and Michele Bumgarner, the present Asian karting queen, who dominated several international karting races, including the recent Tag Seniors crown at the Rock Island Grand Prix to become the first female champion in the event’s 14-year history.
Dodjie Laurel has a special place in my heart. I first met him and his associates at the Cam Wreckers Association as a sportswriter for the defunct Evening News while covering their weekly drag races.
Upon Dodjie’s invitation way back in 1965, I joined (together with then Manila Times sports scribe Gus Villanueva) the Philippine delegation to the Macau Grand Prix, Asia’s premier motorsports event.
Dodjie won the prestigious race that year, becoming the first Filipino Formula 3 driver to emerge champion of the world-famous race. He repeated the dramatic feat in 1966, but met a tragic death on his third try in 1967.
On that fateful day on Nov. 19, Dodjie lost control of his Lotus 41 racer and slammed it on the seaside wall, choosing to sacrifice his young and promising life instead of plowing through thousands of innocent spectators who lined the race course.
Laurel was only in his mid-30s when he died.
KN Suen of Macau, who drove a Lotus 22 owned by businessman Teddy Yip, was asked to withdraw halfway through the race as a sign of respect to the brave Filipino following the fatal accident.
Yip was a good friend of Laurel, Luna, Ayuyao, Paquito Ventura and then Cam Wreckers Association president Ramon Rodriguez.
Dodjie was one of those drivers you just love to watch. As a racer, you have to keep your eyes open because he drove with raw courage. Dodjie was fearless when he races.
Good-looking, inoffensive and straightforward, there was no upper-class snobbery in him although he belonged to a rich and politically powerful family from Batangas.
After his death, Laurel was enshrined at the Macau Grand Prix Museum. However, I find it ironic that the Philippines has yet to find a place of honor to perpetuate the memory of an authentic sports hero.
The launching of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame is therefore a step in the right direction.
Earlier, bowling icon Paeng Nepomuceno, sprinter Lydia de Vega, Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines; long jump champion Elma Muros, Olympic and Asian Games swimmer Akiko Thompson and Dr. Alice Saldaña, the widow of basketball Olympian Pons Saldaña, turned over to the PSC their memorabilia, certificates of recognition, trophies, medals and souvenir photos.
