Past Presidents
1990, Louie Abiva.
In 1990, the year of Louie Abiva was the PGFF’s Golden Anniversary. Even in early 1989, he was already the indisputable presidential timber to lead PGFF’s 50th year celebration – he joined Vic-Vic Villavicencio to the 11th Asian in Thailand to lobby for holding the 12th Asian in the Philippines and again joined the HIBT with an invitational mission.
In spite of some hitches brought about by the grounding of the bigger yacht as floating hotel, the Triple-V 12th Asian is considered quite a success with a new 93.75 kg. world Record Sailfish underscoring the Philippines enormous game fishing potentials.
After the Asian tournament, IGFA representatives from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Hongkong and the Philippines finally organized the Asian Game Fishing Federation with Vic-Vic Villavicencio, the Philippines IGFA representative, as the chairman for a two-year term. To encourage greater camaraderie among members, a regular monthly get-together was held.
The PGFF as 104th Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron has been formed and is just awaiting formal oath taking before the proper authorities. The new fishing venues – Hundred Islands and Talaotao were opened when super typhoons kept tournaments off the tried and tested fishing sites.
This year is a record of sort in the number of tournaments held. In addition to the Asian tournaments, there were seven competitive events in the Angler of the Year series, two fun tournaments, not to mention four children’s tournaments and one media fishing tournament where PGFF members were involved. There were so many social and monthly events, that the usual Mid-Year gathering and Awards rites were set for the bigger yearend event.
1989, Ernesto T. Echauz.
The tenure of Ernesto T. “Judes” Echauz in 1989, was marked by hectic activities. He pursued coming out with a guidebook – Sportfishing in the Philippines (in collaboration with the Department of Tourism’s Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation) compiled from the fishing sites surveys made by several anglers since the late 1987. (The guidebook was lunched early 1990.) A new fishing venue for giant yellowfin Tuna in Bohol Sea off Surigao city was inaugurated.
A two hectares beach land which was valued at Php498,659 – PGFF’s fishing campsite for almost two decades in San Vicente, Sta. Ana, Cagayan – was donated to PGFF by Anscor Land Management and Development Corp. upon Echauz representations with the Soriano family.
Through Echauz representation with DOT and the Philippine Tourism Authority, the club was granted Php2,000,000 for a 25-boat project in Palawan and Cagayan. (So far, Php1,350,000 had been released and plowed into the project.)
On the request of some directors, he also conducted a Navigation Seminar for PGFF members. At year’s end, bowing out of the presidency, but not from the Board, he had made sure “the course of a better association has been set and the momentum is expected to continue” as it did.
1988, Roman Herman.
The usual tournament activities continued under Roman Herman’s presidency in 1988. He advocated PGFF to be a Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron to help the Coast Guard minimize illegal fishing activities. But somehow, there was lukewarm interest at that time.
The setting up of the record catch system for different IGFA species was formalized under the chairmanship of Lito Ylen and rigorously pushed by Vice-President Judes Echauz. On the Board’s approval, Echauz also made representations with the Department of Tourism for a Php35,000 grant to undertake surveys of major sites which have potentials for sportfishing tourism.
1987, Conrad Cuesta.
In 1987, with Conrad Cuesta as president, PGFF activities continued with the same regularity as in previous years. Taking a more visible stance on the conservation of marine resources, PGFF advocated marine conservation generating publicity and hosting media events like the SCOOP sa Kamayan sports columnists forum to enlighten media and public about destructive and illegal fishing methods.
1986, Ernesto T. Echauz.
The current incentive Award System was formulated by PGFF vice president Leo A. Gonzales in 1984 which was unanimously approved and immediately implemented the Angler-of-the-Year and other special and presidential service awards. The highest PGFF award-North Star Award – “given once every three years to an outstanding member who had continuously demonstrated leadership, professional excellence and commitment to sportfishing.” As the North Star is the natural guide of fishermen, so shines the North Star awardee among sportfishermen. Vic-Vic Villavicencio was the unanimous choice for the first the PGFF North Star Award on 1986, the awardee continous until now to be well-deserved.
1985, Vic-Vic Vilavicencio.
In 1985, saltwater tournaments were held mainly in Dasol Bay, Zambales whose productive fishing grounds prompted PGFF to sponsor the 9th Asian Fishing Championship in those waters to coincide with the PGFF’s 45th anniversary. However, the increasing unstable political situation in the country discouraged the invited Asian anglers to participate except for one representative from Thailand (Capt. Siri) and two others – expats representing Saudi Arabia.
1984, Vic-Vic Vilavicencio.
Vic-Vic Vilavicencio was pushed to the presidency in 1984, as no one was willing to take the top post then. During his three successive terms, active PGFF membership doubled and the number of competitive and fun tournaments increased from four up to eight or ten per year. The infusion of new members from the Silver Jack Anglers Club (SJAC) renewed enthusiasm for big game saltwater fishing as new productive fishing venues such as Dasol Bay, were discovered. This year, also lunched the annual competion between PGFF and SJAC who staked a huge silver cup for winning three consecutive years. The PGFF finally won the coverted Silver cup in 1990.
The anglers enthusiasm rubbed on to their children in the PGFF Take a Kid Program. This was initiated by Jesus SJ Felipe, then personnel manager of General Motors Pilipinas. The program took off with an annual children’s fishing tournament at the lagoon of the Tropical Palace Resort in Las Piñas. The venue was later moved to Nayong Pilipino hito pond after the Tropical Palace burned down. ( This children’s tournament is now a summer angling circuit of four or five events known as the Triple-V Junior Anglers Fishing Tournament.)
1983, Vic-Vic Vilavicencio.
In August 1983, on the same day Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, some 250 sportfishermen, in yellow T-shirts, participated in the Manila Bay breakwater fishing tournament. This was spearheaded by Aldeza, Peter Tie, Vic-Vic Villavicencio and other PGFF directors.
1982, Clem Lam.
In 1982, Clem Lam was re-elected President. During this year, PGFF fishing tournaments were held quarterly at Lake Caliraya in Laguna for the largemouth bass under the auspices of Joey Aldeza. His Nayong Kalikasan Resort (now non-existent) situated in the upper part of the man-madelake, used to serve as outfitter and home for bass anglers, mostly PGFF members.
1981, Clem Lam
But all’s not always well for the PGFF. During its 24th Nationals in San Vicente, Cagayan in May 1981, two anglers-Filipino lawyer Romy Limpingco and General Foods Corp. president David Vadnais including their boatman, were lost at sea. Inspite of massive air and sea search and rescue operations foe several days by the Philippine Coast Guards, US Navy and Airforce as well as several local boats hired by the PGFF anglers, no trace or any wreckage were found. Due to this accident, the PGFF cancelled the 5th Asian for the year. Since the mishap and also until now, the PGFF has not organized any deep sea tournament in San Vicente, Sta. Ana, Cagayan. Small groups, though, continue their annual fishing pilgrimage to that sailfish capital up north.
1980, Amado Dy
During Amado Dy’s presidency in 1980, aside from the regular national tournament and the 4th Asian in May and June, there was also Hongkong-Philippine invitational tournament held at La Union by trolling, drifting and bottomfishing during the Chinese New Year and on August tournament in San Vicente.
In June, some members were invited by Philippine Airlines to survey the fishing possibilities of Leyte Gulf in connection with the establishment of a brand-new luxury hotel in Tacloban City. But even after three nights of trolling and drift fishing aboard a Coastal Guard cutter, they had virtually no catch. While the Fisheries representative that they came off-season, foreign scuba divers claimed that 80% of the fish had been wiped out by dynamite fishing destroying the coral reefs around the area.
Twice a PGFF Secretary-Treasurer before his presidency, Dy has steadily raised funds of the club thru the ads in the annual souvenir programs for the Nationals and the Asian and left the PGFF coffers a healthy balance at the end of his term.
1979 Dr. Eusebio M. Nazareno
At the 1979 Nationals, Tetu Santos was champion with 1502 points among 18 participants who caught 1,385 ks. Consisting of 140 Dorado, 9 Sailfish and 5 Wahoo. The 3rd Asian was won again by a Hongkong team led by affable architect Hiro Okasaki and his team mate Peter Au, the 1978 champ. Earlier in March, at the RP-Hongkong invitational tournament in Bonawa, Siatan, Negros, Hongkong beat the RP team.
The PGFF was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 1979 with Dr. Eusebio Nazareno as president. The year also marked the completion of PGFF’s artificial reef project, the project involved submerging old tires filled with concrete at Point San Diego, about two kilometers from Nasugbu, Batangas with invaluable help from professional skin divers lead by Mars Pedrigal.
1978, Carlos Quirino
In 1978, the 2nd Asian followed the 22nd National with Amado Dy as champion at Port San Vicente, Cagayan. Nine sailfish were caught, four of which were by the Asian Champion Peter Au, a Hongkong boutique shop owner. A total of 1,200 kg. were caught by the ten Asian anglers competing while only about 600 kg. were caught during the earlier Nationals by 20 local anglers.
1977, Carlos Quirino
It was in ’77 when the first Asian Fishing Championship was held May 25-27 in Barrio Tinitian, Roxas, Palawan with two Hongkong anglers emerging team champion among the eight competing teams from Hongkong, Taiwan, Guam and the Philippines.
1976, Carlos Quirino
In 1976 to 1978, Carlos “Charlie” Quirino was head of the PGFF. He was succeeded by Dr. Eusebio Nazareno in 1979 and then by Amado Dy in 1980.
1975, Jose Santos.
1974-1975 The club president was Jose “Tetu” Santos.
1974, Jose Santos.
In 1974, during the 16th Annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, where some 30 countries competed, the PGFF emphasized the tourism potential of Philippine gamefishing areas such as the waters of Fuga Island, Palawan and Dumaguete aside from less known areas in the country.
1973, Martin Duarte
In 1973, Martin Duarte bore the torch to keep the PGFF fier burning. It was in 1973 when the Freshwater Fishing Tournament was held in Lake Caliraya Country Club upon the invitation of Junie Kalaw’s Caliraya Development Corporation thru the late Joey Aldeza. Only 15 anglers were allowed to participate due to limited number of boats.
1972, Antonio Aquino.
Tony Aquino’s headstart did not end in 1971. He went on to head PGFF in 1972, spearheading the seventh edition of the annual fishing tournament of the PGFF in Aparri May 11-13.
1971, Antonio Aquino.
Tony Aquino kept the ball rolling for PGFF, so with vice president Virgilio Talusan and treasurer Peter Tie. The highlights of 1971 activities of PGFF included among other things, its traditional big game fishing tournament at Fuga Island.
1970, Antonio Aquino.
In 1970, Antonio “Tony” Aquino energetically led the way for more activities ahead for PGFF. One discovery was the confirmation that indeed, Fuga Island, a famous fishing ground in the Babuyan Channel, is the favorite of sportsmen. And why not? Fuga offers big under sea game preserves that any catch could be a prize to any sportfishermen. It was also in this year when PGFF board held meetings in members’ houses. This way, they say, better food is served and more results are obtained.
1969, Virgilio Talusa.
Head of PGFF in 1969 was Virgilio Talusan, a regular columnist in the 60’s and 70’s of the then Daily Mirror’s “Gun and Tackle”. April 3-5 were significant dates for PGFF in 1969. The annual tournament held on these dates at Fuga Island was going to determine the Filipino entries to the 1969 Hawaii International Billfish Tournament at Kona, Hawaii, August 15-24. for the first time in the Philippine sportfishing history, a team will be fielded in an international fishing tournament.The members of the 1969 HIBT Team were composed of Tony Aquino, Col. Urbano Caldoza, Tony Balanquit and Conrad Antonio. Substitutes to the team included Wesley Haraldson and Clemente Lam.
1968, Victor Osias (ret.)
In March 1968, a three-man committee was organized to screen the nominate PGFF candidates, two of whom was sent to Honolulu on a travel grant to conduct the feasibility study of the oceanarium project. The committee was composed of Gordon Fraser, Virgilio Talusan and Lawrence Ng with Col. Urbano Caldoza as alternate member. The Oceanarium is the first recorded civic project undertaken by the PGFF.Around the midlle of 1968, Conrad Antonio and Larry Ng were sent by the PGFF to Hawaii to study the oceanarium there with the objective of adopting its features to the proposed local project which may be set up in Manila because of the polluted waters of Manila Bay.
1967, Conrad Antonio.
Conrad Antonio, 1967 president, continued the 1966 headstart. Seventeen more members were added to the club, bringing its membership to 63. This is quite large during that time. Among the new members were Homer Arrieta, Clemente Lam and Don Francisco “Paco” Dalupan. The late Victor Osias (ret.) was 1968 president. The election of new officers of the PGFF for this year was held with a bienvenida in honor the “dean” of the PGFF, the amiable and tireless Lou Wagner. He just returned from the United States that time after several months of vacation here.
1966, Col. Urbano Caldoza.
In 1966 Col. Urbano Caldoza headed the PGFF. He was formerly the Commissioner of the BTTI. He flew the plane used by sportfishermen during the fishing sortie off Fuga Island in 1967. The year 1966 was said to be the re-birth of the PGFF, thereby putting the association into action again after some years of inactivity.
1940, J. L. Meyers, founder.
The very first president who moved the PGFF into action was J. L. Meyers, who also its founder in 1940. Not much has been recorded about Meyers but was known to be exemplary in his functions at that time, together with the equally active members then. During the forties, up to the middle of the sixties, other gamefishing associations existed assaulting the waters of Mariveles and Corregidor, Bataan and Palawan, to mention a few.