Article by Andrew Pirie
ATFS Statistician
On the Left Pablo Somblingo and atop the Podium the Flying Sikh Milka Singh of India
Born 1932
At the age of 21 Somblingo took the National 400m title in a time of 49.9 at the Rizal
Memorial Colisseum in Manila. Defeating and succeeding Ciprinao Nuera as the countries
fastest quarter miler. Nuera who had won the 200m title in 23.3 at the National
Championships had a best time in 1953 of 49.5. The National Record of J. Ravello of 49.3
had stood since 1940.
At the National Championships in 1954, Somblingo defended his title in 49.7 against Nuera
50.3.
Somblingo made the 4x400m at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila with Cipriano Nuera,
Mauricio Paubaya and Ernesto Rodriguez. Somblingo was the first runner and the team took
bronze in 3:21.6. He clocked 49.6 in the 400m.
Somblingo clocked 48.6 at the National Championships in 1955 winning his third straight
national tile over 400m and erasing the national record of J. Ravello set in 1940.
In 1956 its noted a Filipino American by the Name of Carlos Kevin Tan was accredited with
a 47.8 converted 440 yard run. It must be noted that Tan never ran for the Philippines. And
the Philippines Athletics Association never recognised this performance although several
leading statisticians acknowledged it as a Philippine Record. We need to take into account it
was ran on a dirt oval 440 yards which was not ran entirely in lanes.
Regardless Somblingo surpassed his own mark of 48.6 with a 48.5 win at the Intercollegiate
Games, beating David Nepmuceno Jr. (49.9) and Pedro Subido (51.2).
Pablo competed at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. There he competed in the 400m and 400
Hurdles timing 49.4 and 54.5 but failing to advance to the next round.
Somblingo took his 5th national title in 48.7 in 1957 in 400m, he also clocked 53.2 in the 400 Hurdles.
The Highlight of his career was a Silver Medal in 400m in the 1958 Asian Games. He also
joined with Erasma Arellano, Aparicio Mequi and Antonio Suplido as the last runner of the
4×400 that took the bronze in 3.18.2.
Somblingo took his seventh and last national title in the 400m in 1959 with a time of 48.7
and was succeeded by Arsenio Jazmin as the countries premier quarter miler.
Sources:
https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/pablo-somblingo-1.html
