Remembering Popoy Juico (MBM 1973): A life of integrity and grace

My last conversation with Philip ‘Popoy’ Ella Juico occurred in late August when he called me on behalf of the president of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) advocate and entrepreneur who had established a foundation for supporting promising youth leaders.

Despite undergoing a personal battle with cancer, he found the time to contribute his share to humanitarian causes. Such was emblematic of his La Sallian education that was anchored upon three core pillars, namely: “zeal for service, respect and inclusion, and communion in mission.” This meant being other-centered, or “moving away from self-interest to live out the Gospel through empathy, solidarity, and collaborative action.”

Thus did he build a four-decade career in high-level government service, sports executive leadership, corporate governance and academia.

He earned the Ten Outstanding young Men (TOYM) award for government service in 1987 for his stint as Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at the inception of a comprehensive land reform program.

He also served as Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission where he advocated grassroots sports development programs nationwide.

In the private sector, he was President of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) from 2015 to 2022. A highlight of his incumbency was when he stood his ground in enforcing disciplinary action against pole vault Olympian and Asiad record-holder EJ Obiena.

He helped elevate local volleyball by co-founding and chairing the Philippine Super Liga and serving as CEO of the Shakey’s Super League. Internationally, he served as the Vice President of the Asian Athletics Association.

He served as Director of San Miguel Corporation and Meralco, representing the government during the Cory Aquino presidency. Under President Ramos, he served as a presidential consultant for community development, leading the privatization of the Metro Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC).

An avid sports writer since his college days at De La Salle University, Juico wrote weekly sports and business columns for major broadsheets like the Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, and Business Mirror, and hosted a weekly sports and health radio program.

Most notably as an educator, he served as Dean of the Graduate School of Business at the De La Salle University. Internationally, he was elected chairman of the ASEAN Graduate Business Economics Program.

Some people leave an indelible mark not because they seek the limelight, but because of the quiet dignity with which they live their lives. Philip Ella Juico was one such person. In remembering him, I pay tribute to a man whose integrity, dedication, humility, and abiding sense of equanimity earned him the respect and affection of those privileged to know him.

Philip served with distinction as a member of the Cabinet of President Corazon C. Aquino, bringing to public service a commitment to duty and an unassuming approach to leadership. He subsequently devoted much of his time and energy to Philippine sports, particularly track and field and volleyball. As a leader in these sporting disciplines, he understood that building institutions and developing athletes required more than administrative skill. They demanded perseverance, personal commitment, and an unwavering belief in the potential of Filipinos.

What I particularly admired about Popoy was his quiet strength of character. There were difficult periods when he found himself beleaguered by allegations that were subsequently overturned. Yet he bore these challenges with remarkable composure. He did not allow adversity to define him, nor did he surrender his dignity to the circumstances surrounding him. His equanimity spoke volumes about the kind of person he was. He understood that character is often revealed most clearly when one’s integrity is put to the test.

Beyond his public responsibilities and achievements, Popoy was a devoted father and family man. This dimension of his life reminds us that the measure of a person is not confined to positions held, organizations led, or honors received. It is equally reflected in the love nurtured at home, the values passed on to one’s children, and the relationships sustained through the years. His wife Margie Penson-Juico, was also my co-worker in government during my service to both Presidents Cory and Noynoy. She stood as wedding sponsor to my daughter Anna.

I also cherish our shared bond as fellow alumni of the Asian Institute of Management and recipients of its Alumni Achievement Award. Such recognition celebrates professional accomplishment, but our friendship was anchored on something more enduring: shared values, mutual respect, and an appreciation for the responsibilities that accompany leadership.

I will remember Popoy not simply as an accomplished sports leader, or an esteemed AIM alumnus. He was a true friend and a gentleman.

In a world that often rewards noise over substance and self-promotion over quiet service, his life offers a different example. He demonstrated that one can lead without arrogance, serve without fanfare, and face adversity without bitterness.

May his memory continue to inspire those whose lives he touched. His legacy resides not only in the institutions he served and the sports he helped advance, but also in the enduring example of a life lived with integrity, dedication, humility, and grace.

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