Former PSC chairman Philip "Popoy" Juico dies at 78
Philip “Popoy” Juico, the former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, has died at 78.
Juico passed away on the evening of Oct. 31, his son Vincent Juico confirmed in a Facebook post on Nov. 1.
"It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of my father, Philip “Popoy” Juico, who passed away yesterday evening at 8:18 p.m. at the Makati Medical Center," Vincent wrote. "We kindly ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he rests in peace."
His son Joseph Juico, a Quezon City councilor, said the former sports official had been battling cancer since 2022. In a Facebook post, he said his father passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Before taking on prominent roles in Philippine sports, Juico served as secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform from 1987 to 1989 under former President Corazon Aquino.
He later became the fourth chairman of the PSC, serving from 1996 to 1998 during the administration of former President Fidel V. Ramos. The government agency oversees programs and support for Filipino athletes and national sports development.
Juico returned to sports administration in 2015 as president of PATAFA, the national governing body for athletics, until 2022.
He also served as vice president of the Asian Athletics Association and chaired its School and Youth Commission. In volleyball, he was among the founders of the Philippine Super Liga in 2013 and the Shakey’s Super League in 2022.
A De La Salle University alumnus, Juico was inducted into the university’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 in recognition of his contributions to Philippine sports.
Juico is survived by his wife, Margarita Penson Juico, and their four children.
His cremation is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Chapels. Wake and memorial services will be held on Nov. 4 and 5 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Capilla del Señor, Santuario de San Antonio, on McKinley Road in Forbes Park, Makati City at 6 p.m.
His inurnment is set for Nov. 6, with a 10 a.m. inurnment Mass at Santuario de San Antonio and an 11 a.m. service at Holy Cross Memorial Park in Novaliches, Quezon City.