Herminio A. Astorga
Encyclopedia
Herminio “Togay” A. Astorga (December 22, 1929 – January 19, 2004) served as the vice-mayor of the City of Manila from 1962–1967. He was also a National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
(NCAA) and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball star, college professor, entrepreneur, and Catholic lay leader.
in poverty. His father was a driver from Barugo,Leyte
, and his mother was a vegetable vendor from Sibonga,Cebu
. It was on the streets of Malate that Astorga first learned the basics of basketball
.
Astorga was known as “batang Rizal Memorial Stadium” during his youth because he did odd jobs at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
(RMSC), including tennis “pulot” boy, utility boy for baseball teams, and assistant in the dressing rooms of the RMSC swimming pool. Further, he also worked as a bootblack, newsboy, market “cargador”, janitor, and a night pier stevedore at the Manila South Harbor
. He gave over all his earnings to his family, helping his brothers and sisters finish their studies and get started in their careers.
broke out. He served the guerrillas in Malate and Ermita and was subsequently imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese soldiers. After Manila’s liberation, Astorga was able to finish high school at Colegio de San Juan de Letran
on a basketball scholarship. He played center, forward, and guard positions. Astorga played for the Malate Catholic Club basketball team, and aided in its 1948 tour of Mindanao
, where the team won all its 33 matches.
In Letran, Astorga played for the Intramuros Squires and played during the team’s victory in the 1948 NCAA junior tournament as well as the 1949 national high school championship. Afterwards, he was voted the “Most Popular NCAA High School Player” in the nationwide contest sponsored by the defunct Philippines Herald.
Shortly thereafter, despite still being a high school junior, Astorga was elevated by Letran’s Dominican Fathers and was allowed to play in the NCAA senior basketball tournament. This was a first in the history of the league. Astorga played center on this team, helping the team to win the 1950 NCAA senior title. This set a new record for consecutive victories and earned the Letran Knights
the moniker “Murder, Inc.”. Astorga was voted 1950 NCAA “Rookie of the Year” and held the record as top scorer for the entire season with 26 points.
Upon graduation from Letran, Astorga enrolled to the Far Eastern University
(FEU), also on a basketball scholarship. Astorga majored in economics and graduated with a B.S.C. degree. Astorga played for the FEU Tamaraws, coached by Martin Dio, for two years before turning to campus politics and becoming a student leader. He was a prominent member of the Student Catholic Action.
In 1953, Astorga led the underdog UAAP collegiate players to victory in the then prestigious annual ‘Challenge to Champions’ basketball tournament, beating the highly favored NCAA Selection, powered by the legendary Carlos Loyzaga; the MICAA All-Stars, skippered by the fabled Lauro Mumar
; and a Chinese team composed of Chinese Olympians.
Astorga went on to complete post graduate studies in financial and credit management in the U.S. and London, taking graduate courses at Stanford University
, MIT, and the Wharton School of Business. Astorga earned an MBA degree in business and commerce. He also completed an M.A. in Public Administration. He received his Ph.D. degree in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School
in Manila.
during the incumbency of Arsenio Lacson
. When Lacson died in 1962, Vice Mayor Antonio Villegas took over as mayor. President Diosdado Macapagal
appointed Astorga as vice mayor of Manila.
Astorga was well-known as a crusader for good and clean government. As vice mayor, Astorga was tapped by President Macapagal to act as national spokesman of his Moral Regeneration program. In 1964, he was the recipient of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award for political leadership. He was the first athlete to receive this award. Astorga was the first public official who proclaimed June 24 as Manila’s Foundation Day in 1962. Since then, the city has observed the event as “Araw ng Manila".
, as well as other colleges throughout the city of Manila.
.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an athletics association of nine colleges and universities in the Philippines. Established in 1924, the NCAA is the oldest athletic association in the Philippines...
(NCAA) and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball star, college professor, entrepreneur, and Catholic lay leader.
Early life
Astorga was born December 22, 1929 in Malate,ManilaMalate, Manila
Malate is an old district of the city of Manila in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The district is located at the southern end of the city of Manila, bordered by Pasay City to the south, by Manila Bay to the west, by the district of Ermita to the north and by the districts of Paco and San Andres to...
in poverty. His father was a driver from Barugo,Leyte
Barugo, Leyte
Barugo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 26,919 people in 5,108 households...
, and his mother was a vegetable vendor from Sibonga,Cebu
Sibonga, Cebu
Sibonga is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 40,765 people.-Barangays:Sibonga is administratively subdivided into 25 barangays.* Abugon* Bae* Bagacay* Bahay* Banlot...
. It was on the streets of Malate that Astorga first learned the basics of basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
Astorga was known as “batang Rizal Memorial Stadium” during his youth because he did odd jobs at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, is national sports complex of the Philippines, located on Pablo Ocampo St. , Malate, Manila. It is named after the country's national hero, José Rizal....
(RMSC), including tennis “pulot” boy, utility boy for baseball teams, and assistant in the dressing rooms of the RMSC swimming pool. Further, he also worked as a bootblack, newsboy, market “cargador”, janitor, and a night pier stevedore at the Manila South Harbor
Port of Manila
The Port of Manila is the largest seaport in the Philippines, and is the premier international shipping gateway to the country. It is located in the vicinity of Manila Bay.-Port Area:...
. He gave over all his earnings to his family, helping his brothers and sisters finish their studies and get started in their careers.
Education and Basketball Career
Astorga was a teenager when the Pacific WarPacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
broke out. He served the guerrillas in Malate and Ermita and was subsequently imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese soldiers. After Manila’s liberation, Astorga was able to finish high school at Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Letran College, or simply Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of learning located in Intramuros, Manila, in the Philippines. The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the distinction of being the oldest college in the...
on a basketball scholarship. He played center, forward, and guard positions. Astorga played for the Malate Catholic Club basketball team, and aided in its 1948 tour of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, where the team won all its 33 matches.
In Letran, Astorga played for the Intramuros Squires and played during the team’s victory in the 1948 NCAA junior tournament as well as the 1949 national high school championship. Afterwards, he was voted the “Most Popular NCAA High School Player” in the nationwide contest sponsored by the defunct Philippines Herald.
Shortly thereafter, despite still being a high school junior, Astorga was elevated by Letran’s Dominican Fathers and was allowed to play in the NCAA senior basketball tournament. This was a first in the history of the league. Astorga played center on this team, helping the team to win the 1950 NCAA senior title. This set a new record for consecutive victories and earned the Letran Knights
Letran Knights
Letran Knights is the name of the varsity basketball team of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Letran College is a Roman Catholic institution and the oldest college in the Philippines....
the moniker “Murder, Inc.”. Astorga was voted 1950 NCAA “Rookie of the Year” and held the record as top scorer for the entire season with 26 points.
Upon graduation from Letran, Astorga enrolled to the Far Eastern University
Far Eastern University
Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
(FEU), also on a basketball scholarship. Astorga majored in economics and graduated with a B.S.C. degree. Astorga played for the FEU Tamaraws, coached by Martin Dio, for two years before turning to campus politics and becoming a student leader. He was a prominent member of the Student Catholic Action.
In 1953, Astorga led the underdog UAAP collegiate players to victory in the then prestigious annual ‘Challenge to Champions’ basketball tournament, beating the highly favored NCAA Selection, powered by the legendary Carlos Loyzaga; the MICAA All-Stars, skippered by the fabled Lauro Mumar
Lauro Mumar
Lauro "Larry" Mumar , is a former Filipino basketball player and later served as the national team head coach of India and the Philippines...
; and a Chinese team composed of Chinese Olympians.
Astorga went on to complete post graduate studies in financial and credit management in the U.S. and London, taking graduate courses at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, MIT, and the Wharton School of Business. Astorga earned an MBA degree in business and commerce. He also completed an M.A. in Public Administration. He received his Ph.D. degree in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School
University of Santo Tomas Graduate School
The University of Santo Tomas Graduate School is the graduate school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines....
in Manila.
Political career
In the early 1960s, Astorga was elected councilor for the then fourth district of Manila under the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
during the incumbency of Arsenio Lacson
Arsenio Lacson
Arsenio H. Lacson was a Filipino journalist and politician who gained widespread attention as Mayor of Manila from 1952 to 1962. An active executive likened by Time and The New York Times to New York's Fiorello La Guardia, he was the first Manila mayor to be reelected to three terms...
. When Lacson died in 1962, Vice Mayor Antonio Villegas took over as mayor. President Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...
appointed Astorga as vice mayor of Manila.
Astorga was well-known as a crusader for good and clean government. As vice mayor, Astorga was tapped by President Macapagal to act as national spokesman of his Moral Regeneration program. In 1964, he was the recipient of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award for political leadership. He was the first athlete to receive this award. Astorga was the first public official who proclaimed June 24 as Manila’s Foundation Day in 1962. Since then, the city has observed the event as “Araw ng Manila".
Later life
Astorga left City Hall in 1967, but still continued to work for good government and empowerment to the citizenry in his capacity as a civic and religious leader, as well as a private entrepreneur. Astorga taught courses in public administration, government, business, credit and management at the Graduate School of the University of Santo TomasUniversity of Santo Tomas Graduate School
The University of Santo Tomas Graduate School is the graduate school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines....
, as well as other colleges throughout the city of Manila.
Death
Astorga suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage on January 19, 2004 in New Jersey at the age of 74. Astorga died at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, NJ and is buried at the St. John’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Allentown, NJAllentown, New Jersey
Allentown is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,828.Allentown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of Upper Freehold Township, based on the...
.