Sports luminaries from the Cordillera who have brought pride and honor for the country for winning in the international stage the past decades up to the present will be featured in two murals dubbed, “Heroes: Portrait of the Baguio-Cordillera Athletes” at the Athletic Bowl.
The first mural, “Heroes/Legends,” will feature Cordilleran professional and amateur athletes who competed in the Olympics, Asian Games, and international professional sports events.
Gracing the first mural are three-time Olympian long-distance runner Hector Begeo, who is now in Australia, and two-time Olympian, the late judoka Jerry Diño, who competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.
Also to be painted in the first mural are multiple world javelin throw medalist Erlinda Lavandia; world and Asian wushu gold medalist Divine Wally; world taekwondo gold medalist Jeordan Dominguez and Cordillera’s most accomplished boxer, former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight champion Rey Tam.
The portraits of these heroes will be painted by artist Gladys Ann Labsan in a seven by 11-foot acrylic on cement on the walls of the long stage dugout.
The second mural will feature the portraits of world mixed martial arts champions mostly from the famous Team Lakay, namely Eduard Folayang, Geje Eustaquio, Kevin Belingon, Joshua Pacio, Honorio Banario, Stephen Loman, Cris Pitpitunge, and Lakay Chair Mark Sangiao.
The second mural will be painted by Harold Banario on the walls near the former tourism office inside the Athletic Bowl complex.
The athletes will also be featured in a photo exhibit at the City Hall lobby.
Baguio’s own photographer, Eliza Consul, will feature the athletes in an exhibit where they will be photographed wearing the traditional attires of their respective indigenous people’s groups. – Harley F. Palangchao
