LAOAG CITY—Ilocanos in this
northern part of Luzon is looking forward to celebrate Teofilo Yldefonso Day on
November 4 of every year as a regular holiday in the province.
Known as the first Filipino
Olympics medalist who brought pride to the country in 200-meter breaststroke in
the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and in 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, senior
Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc initiated the filing
of a provincial resolution requesting President Rodrigo R. Duterte to declare
November 4 as a regular holiday.
Born in Piddig town in 1903, Mr.
Yldefonso’s remarkable achievement as the only Filipino athlete to have won
back-to-back medals at the Olympics is one for the books up to this day.
Mr. Manotoc said “it is just
right and proper” to recognize Mr. Yldefonso, known as the “Ilocano Shark” for
his unique style in swimming.
Backing this move, members of
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved on November 20 a resolution
requesting the House of Congress and the Office of the President to declare
November 4 “Teofilo Yldefonso Day” of every year as a regular holiday in the
province to honor him.
History records show Mr. Yldefonso
at a young age was already an orphan. In a statement by the International
Swimming Hall of Fame (ISOFH), the famous son of Piddig learned swimming by
himself at the Guisit River near his home. (Leilanie
G. Adriano)
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