The Philippine Sports Hall of Fame has officially opened nominations for its fifth batch of inductees. The Philippine Sports Commission is now leading a nationwide call to identify new legends worthy of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

This latest Philippine Sports Hall of Fame search gives individuals and organizations the opportunity to nominate deserving Filipino athletes, coaches and trainers. All Philippine Sports Hall of Fame nominations must be submitted before the March 15 deadline through the PSC’s official platform.

Established in 1999 under Republic Act No. 8757, the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame was created to preserve the country’s sporting greatness. Former President Joseph E. Estrada signed the law to ensure the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame would permanently honor national sports heroes.

Since the first induction ceremony in 2010, the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame has steadily grown in prestige. A total of 47 icons have already been enshrined in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame across four separate batches.

Philippine Sports Hall of Fame continues historic expansion

The Philippine Sports Hall of Fame began its journey in 2010 with a pioneering class of champions. That first Philippine Sports Hall of Fame group included Simeon Toribio, Caloy Loyzaga and Pancho Villa, establishing the standard for excellence.

In 2016, the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame added another wave of distinguished names. Icons such as Eugene Torre and Mona Sulaiman strengthened the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame legacy across multiple disciplines.

Momentum continued in 2018 as the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame inducted more champions. That class featured Lydia de Vega-Mercado and Paeng Nepomuceno, reinforcing the national significance of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

Most recently, the 2021 ceremony expanded the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame roster once again. Inductees included Robert Jaworski and Elma Muros-Posadas, further elevating the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame tradition.

Philippine Sports Hall of Fame selection criteria explained

The Philippine Sports Hall of Fame follows strict eligibility rules outlined in Republic Act 8757. To qualify for the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame, nominees must be Filipino athletes, coaches or trainers who earned a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games, a silver medal in the Asian Games, a bronze medal in the Olympic Games or World Games, or achieved world champion status.

A seven-member committee oversees every Philippine Sports Hall of Fame nomination. The committee includes PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and MVP Sports Foundation president Al Panlilio, along with other respected leaders.

In addition, a review panel of veteran journalists assists in screening Philippine Sports Hall of Fame candidates. Members include Quinito Henson and Jun Lomibao to ensure historical accuracy and transparency.

On Friday, February 13, the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame nomination process was formally confirmed by the PSC. As a result, the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame search now moves forward nationwide with the goal of adding new legends to its historic roll.