July 4, 1958 – Founding of PHCI
First row: Simon Pascua, Eladio de Guia, Robert Bautista, Jimmy Fajardo, Oscar Ocampo, Guido Villado, Toti Ballecer
Seated: Ely Bautista,
Naty Ortega, Vicky Ortega, Tessie Lozano, Cora Villado, Chit Salonga, Lita Ranola, Aida Salonga, Laine Tengco
Third row: Rito Ilao, Ben Bautista, Nene Constantino-Bautista, Florie San Juan, Elena Dionisio, Guia Ilao-Layco, Berlin
Villado, Jun Bautista, Ernie Reyes, Rustico Tengco, Carling Dionisio
Fourth row: guest, Pater Recio, Tony Tolosa, Danny Ventura, Leandro Fermin, Gorgonio Luna, Pepe Dionisio, Manoling
Coronel, guest, guest, guest, Frank Fajardo, Berlin Villado, Daniel Ranola
Last row: Bayani Bautista,
Francisco Lopez, Nardo Constantino, Sandy Bautista, Luis Ilao, Berting Canlas, Eloy Luna, Dad Hermoso, Virgilio Ventura, Santiago
‘Dudoy’ de Guzman, Eddie Labanan, Popo Aguilar, Cirilo ‘Bakal’ Castillo, Manuel Luna, Leonardo ‘Rabat’
Fajardo, Ernesto ‘Badang’ Dionisio, Eddie ‘Katsure’ Tolosa, Virgilio ‘Tatang’ Dionisio
In the early part of the 1950’s, the group of Frank Fajardo and Popo Aguilar, both basketball
players of Manuel A. Roxas High School, which during that time was located at Mehan Garden, Manila, Paterno Recio, Liling
‘Bakal’ Castillo, Polly Recio, Narding ‘Rabat’ Fajardo, Ruben Gonzales, Viyo Dionisio and Manoling
Coronel participated in basketball tournaments in Pandacan, Sta. Ana, Mandaluyong, Terbalac, Sta. Mesa, Paco, Manila and some
parts of Luzon with Graciano ‘Chito’ Fajardo, who served as manager and playing coach while Luciano ‘Ising’
Dionisio served as adviser and coach.
Due to financial bind being just mere ‘barkada’ and students, with their eagerness to play
basketball, they decided to ‘hike’ and call their team, Pandacan Hikers Club.
Years later, Leandro Fermin, Boy Hermoso, David San Luis, “Tanggoy”, Jaime Rivadelo, Lardy
Gonzales, Rolando Lozano, Lutgardo Fajardo, Pepe E. Ilaw, Francisco ‘Kit’ Lopez, , joined the group.
On July 4, 1958, the group was officially organized at Kapitan Isidro Mendoza Public Library located
at Teodora San Luis Street, Pandacan, Manila with the late representative, Hon. Augusto Francisco as the Inducting Officer.
The late Leandro ‘Andoy’
Fermin became the First President and Danilo Ventura as the Vice President of the club.
Mrs. Teresita Lozano was the club muse.
The group eventually expanded throughout the years. They also participated
in various civic activities in the community of Pandacan. They solicited donations
by singing Christmas carols in December 1958 for the selected poor residents of Pandacan as beneficiaries. In the ‘70’s, the club initiated the cleaning of the Balagtas Plaza through the request of
Mrs. Lucina Alday, former secretary of SWA. Numerous projects followed: Alay Lakad, through the efforts of Atty. Toribio Ilao, Jr., now a judge, former presidents
Robert Ortega and Roberto Dionisio; Blood Letting and Operation Tule, in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross
and Hon. Elizabeth Rivera, then Councilor of 6th District; Pamaskong Handog sa Pandacan, a gift-giving project
for the benefit of the indigent residents of Pandacan; Buling-Buling Dance Festival, now on its 13th year; Pabasa,
also on its 13th year; and of course, the perennial projects of the club - continuous sports tournaments such as
basketball, volleyball, table tennis, darts and the latest addition – badminton.
To date, the PHCI has more than a thousand
members under the leadership of Mrs. Priscila ‘Syl’ Carpio-Ilao, elected in 1997 and is the first woman president
of the club.
Trivia:
1. Carding Bregaudit –
donated the first basketball timer of PHCI
2. Rolando Santos –
improvised the first basketball timer by putting a horn.
3. Mark Jimenez – donated
the first electronic timer of the club.
4. Hon. Rosenda Ann Ocampo
– helped in converting the Central Basketball court into a whole court.
