| Herminio A. Astorga | |
|---|---|
| Vice-Mayor of Manila | |
| In office 1962–1967 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1929 Malate, Manila, Philippines. |
| Died | January 19, 2004 (aged 74) Allentown, New Jersey, U.S.A. |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Erlinda V. Astorga |
| Occupation | Politician/Entrepreneur |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
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.[1]
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Astorga was born December 22, 1929 in Malate,Manila 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.[1]
Astorga was a teenager when the Pacific War 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,[1] 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.[1]
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.
In the early 1960s, Astorga was elected councilor for the then fourth district of Manila under the Liberal Party 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.[2]
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".[2]
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.[2] Astorga taught courses in public administration, government, business, credit and management at the Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas, as well as other colleges throughout the city of Manila.
Astorga suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage on January 19, 2004 in New Jersey at the age of 74.[1] Astorga died at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, NJ and is buried at the St. John’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Allentown, NJ.[2]