Paeng Nepomuceno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Paeng Nepomuceno

Paeng Nepomuceno in 2008
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Paeng
Born	(1957-01-30) January 30, 1957 (age 68) Quezon City, Philippines
Alma mater	La Salle Green Hills Adamson University
Occupation	Bowling player and coach
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	Saira Puyat
Sport
Country	Philippines
Sport	Bowling
Coached by	Angel Nepomuceno
Achievements and titles
World finals	1976 Bowling World Cup: Champion 1980 Bowling World Cup: Champion 1992 Bowling World Cup: Champion 1996 Bowling World Cup: Champion 1999 World Tenpin Masters: Champion 1984 Worlds Invitational Tournament: Champion
Medal record Representing  Philippines Men's Bowling Event 1st 2nd 3rd World Bowling Championships – 3 1 World Games – – 2 Asian Games 1 1 – Asian Championships 6 – 1 Federal Territory 5 – – Southeast Asian Games 9 5 5 World Tenpin Bowling Championships Silver 1991 Singapore Team Bronze 1991 Singapore Doubles Silver 1987 Helsinki Singles Silver 1983 Caracas Trios World Games Bronze 1997 Lahti Singles Bronze 1993 Hague Singles Asian Games Gold 2002 Busan Doubles Silver 1994 Hiroshima Team of five Asian Championships Gold Taiwan 1998 All Events Bronze Taiwan 1998 Masters Gold Guam 1994 Masters Gold Singapore 1984 All Events Gold Manila 1982 Doubles Gold Manila 1982 All Events Gold Jakarta 1976 Masters Southeast Asian Games Bronze Jakarta 1997 Singles Silver 1993 Singapore Trio Bronze 1993 Singapore Masters Bronze 1993 Singapore All-around Gold 1991 Manila Singles Silver 1991 Manila All-around Gold 1987 Indonesia Singles Gold 1987 Indonesia Doubles Gold 1987 Indonesia All Events Bronze 1987 Indonesia Team Gold 1985 Bangkok Doubles Gold 1985 Bangkok All Events Silver 1983 Singapore Singles Silver 1983 Singapore Team Silver 1983 Singapore All Events Bronze 1983 Singapore Masters Gold 1981 Manila Doubles Gold 1981 Manila Trios Gold 1981 Manila All Events

Rafael "Paeng" Villareal Nepomuceno (born January 30, 1957) is a famous Filipino bowler and coach. He is known as a six-time World bowling champion. Paeng is in the World Bowling Hall of Fame. He is also the first and only bowler to receive the special IOC (International Olympic Committee) President's Trophy.

In 1999, the FIQ (Federation Internationale des Quilleurs) named him the International Bowling Athlete of the Millennium. He was also honored in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Paeng is the first Filipino bowler to have his own commemorative stamp. The Philippine Postal Corporation released it in 2021.

He has won the World Cup of Bowling four times: in 1976, 1980, 1992, and 1996. Paeng also won the World's Invitational Tournament in 1984 and the World Tenpin Masters championship in 1999.

The Guinness World Records has honored him four times. He was recognized as the "Youngest tenpin bowling world champion" in 1976. He also holds records for "most wins of the tenpin bowling world cup" and "most tenpin bowling titles" (133 titles as of 2019).

Paeng is a USBC Gold level coach. He is the only Asian to have this high certification from the United States Bowling Congress. The Philippine Sportswriters Association named him Athlete of the Year in 1999.

Early Life and How He Started

Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno was born on January 30, 1957, in Quezon City, Philippines. His father, Angel, was a bowling coach. His mother, Teresa Villareal, was a former Miss Philippines.

Paeng went to La Salle Green Hills for elementary and high school. He later studied at Adamson University.

He first played golf when he was 10 years old. But he switched to bowling after a rainy day. He and his father found shelter at a bowling center. Paeng then asked his father to sign him up for a junior bowling league.

Paeng's Amazing Bowling Career

Paeng won his first tournament, the Philippine Junior Masters Championship, at age 15. At 17, he became the youngest winner of the Philippine International Masters.

He became a four-time champion of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. He won in 1976, 1980, 1992, and 1996. When he won in 1976, he was only 19 years old. This made him the "youngest tenpin bowling world champion" by Guinness World Records.

Paeng also competed in the Southeast Asian Games. He won three gold medals in the 1981 games held in Manila. In the 1985 Bangkok Games, he won two gold medals. He also earned three gold medals in the 1987 games in Jakarta. In 1991, he won another gold medal in Manila.

He won the 1984 World Invitational Tournament. This competition was held during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Paeng also won two bronze medals at the World Games in 1993 and 1997. In 1999, he won the World Tenpin Masters.

In 2011, at 54 years old, he became the oldest winner of the Philippine International Masters. By 2020, he had won 133 career titles. Six of these were world titles. His 133rd title was in July 2019.

Paeng rolled his 37th perfect 300 game in October 2022. He was 65 years old at the time.

Coaching and Helping Others

In 2007, Paeng joined the United States Bowling Congress as an International Ambassador. He helped promote bowling around the world. He also started training to become a certified coach.

By 2013, he earned the USBC Gold level coaching certification. He is the first and only Asian to achieve this high level of coaching.

In 2016, Paeng was named head coach of the Philippine national bowling team. Under his guidance, Krizziah Tabora became the women's champion of the 2017 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup.

Special Awards and Honors

Awards from World Sports Groups

The International Olympic Committee gave Paeng its highest sports award, the IOC President's Trophy, in 1999. In the same year, the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) named him the "Athlete of the Millennium."

He was the first male bowler to be inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 1993. His seven-foot image is displayed at the entrance of the International Bowling Museum in Arlington, Texas.

Honors from the Philippine Government

Paeng Nepomuceno has been honored by five different Philippine Presidents. He received the Presidential Medal of Merit from Ferdinand Marcos. He also got the Philippine Legion of Honor from Joseph Estrada. From Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he received the Order of Lakandula.

He is the first Filipino athlete to receive both the Presidential Medal of Merit (1984) and the Philippine Legion of Honor (1999). Other presidents who honored Paeng include Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos.

Both the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives have called Paeng the "Greatest Philippine Athlete of All Time." The Philippine Sportswriters Association named him Philippine Athlete of the Century in 1999.

Awards from Sportswriters

The Philippine Sportswriters Association recognized Paeng as the Athlete of the Year five times. They inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1997.

The World Bowling Writers gave him the Mort Luby Jr. Distinguished Service Award. They named him World Bowler of the Year three times. He was also the first person inducted into the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame in 1993.

Other Recognitions

The Philippine Jaycees gave Paeng a Ten Outstanding Young Men Award in 1978. He was inducted into the De La Salle Alumni Association Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He also received the Distinguished Lasallian Award in 2009. He has been part of Adamson University's Hall of Fame since 2012.

He has been honored four times in the Guinness World Records. These include being the "youngest tenpin bowling champion" and having the "most tenpin bowling titles."

Personal Life

Paeng Nepomuceno is married to Saira ("Pinky") Puyat. They have one son and two daughters.

He stays fit by exercising regularly. He runs and lifts weights to help his bowling performance.

Currently, he is a professor and senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines.

Images for kids

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  Paeng Nepomuceno with his Guinness World Records

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  Paeng Nepomuceno honored by five Philippine Presidents

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  Paeng Nepomuceno receiving the IOC President's Trophy

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  Paeng Nepomuceno at the International Bowling Hall of Fame

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  Paeng Nepomuceno's induction to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

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  Paeng Nepomuceno receiving his World Bowling Hall of Fame plaque in 1993.

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  Paeng Nepomuceno honored with a special commemorative stamp.