Pablo Somblingo

Pablo Somblingo, originally from Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, was the top quarter-mile sprinter of the Philippines for most of the 1950s. The Filipino 400 metres champion from 1953-55, Somblingo first set a national record in 1955 with a time of 48.6. He also ran with the 4x400 metres relay team at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, winning a bronze medal alongside Cipriano Nuera, Mauricio Paubaya and Ernesto Rodriguez. Bettering his record by 0.1 seconds at the 1956 Intercollegiate Games, Somblingo was selected to compete for his country at the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia where he ran in the 400 metres and 400 metres hurdles events, but did not advance past the preliminary heats.

Following the Olympics, Somblingo captured three more national titles in the 400 metres from 1957–59. He also added two more Asian Games medals at Tokyo in 1958: a silver in the 400 metres, and bronze with the 4 × 400 metres relay team.

Personal Bests: 400 – 48.5 (1956); 400H – 53.2 (1957).