Paeng hits Turkey bowling tilt by storm, raises ‘modest sum’ for Ondoy victims

Legendary Filipino bowler Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno proved to be a big hit at a diplomats' bowling tournament in Turkey last weekend, helping raise a "modest sum" for victims of recent typhoons back home. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Nepomuceno was the center of attraction in two bowling tilts last December 5 and 6, highlight of the celebration of six decades of RP-Turkey ties.

“While the two special bowling tournaments form part of our joint commemoration with the Republic of Turkey of our 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the sports events were also able to raise a modest sum for the victims of Ondoy and of the extensive floods that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people and also displaced two million Filipinos," Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Pedro Chan said. However, he did not specify how much Nepomuceno helped raise for the typhoon victims. The four-time Bowling World Cup champion attracted 50 foreign diplomats and Filipino and Turkish bowling participants to his “Paeng Nepomuceno Cup" last Dec. 5. The following day, he flew to Istanbul for another tournament participated in mainly by Filipino migrant workers based there. Nepomuceno is well respected not only in the sports world but in the international community as well, having been hailed by the International Bowling Federation (FIQ) as the “International Bowler of the Millennium," inducted in the American Bowling Hall of Fame, and designated by the U.N. as a Goodwill Ambassador. The multi-titled kegler said he was pleased to have taken part in the Ankara and Isranbul tournaments and be able to contribute in efforts to support victims of Ondoy. Nepomuceno recalled how he and his recently deceased father, Angel, were adversely affected by the recent floods that hit his father’s house in Metro Manila. “Almost everybody has been directly or indirectly affected by the typhoons. I thank the Philippine Embassy for organizing this bowling event and allowing me to make a direct contribution," he said. For his part, Henri Blin, General Manager of the 7-Star Cirahan Palace Kempinski hotel that hosted Nepomuceno and his wife Pinky in Istanbul, was glad to have been a part of the fund-raising drive. “It gives us the opportunity to contribute in a small way to support the unfortunate victims of recent calamities that devastated the archipelago," said Blin, who is married to a Filipina. – GMANews.TV