PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS (PEP)

BRIEF HISTORY OF BOWLING – PART II

World Tenpin Bowling Association, FIQ, World Bowling, and IBF

The International Bowling Association (IBA) organized four world championships between 1923
and 1936. Since 1954 the championships have been organized by the Federation Internationale des
Quilleurs (FIQ) World Tenpin Bowling Association. The FIQ and WTBA merge into one entity in
December, 2015, and became World Bowling, in the last congresses of the FIQ and WTBA, in Abu
Dhabi. In November 2, 2020 at the organization’s Extraordinary Congress, held online due to the
Covid-19 pandemic, officially changed its name to the International Bowling Federation. The
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognizes the IBF as the international sport federation for
Para-Bowling. The International Olympic Committee recognizes the IBF as the world governing
Dec body for the sport of Bowling – Ninepin and Tenpin. The IBF has member federations located in all
2015 - five Olympic Zones divided into geographical zones – Asian, American, European, Oceania, and
FIQ- WTB African, that holds its own Zone Amateur Championships.
merge
Asian Bowling Federation (ABF/ IBF-Asian Zone)
1965 -
Start in Asian Bowling Federation (formerly known as FIQ-WTBA Asian Zone) was formed to promote
Philippines and foster interest in amateur tenpin bowling tournaments and competitions, especially in Asia and
other zones of the WTBA. ABF has member federations located in 28 countries throughout western
2016 - PBF Asia, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah, President of ABF was also
recently elected President of IBF unopposed in the FIQ/WTBA Congresses in Abu Dhabi.
Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF)
In 1965, a group of people led by then Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) president
Philip Monserrat formed the Philippine Bowling Association. One year later, in 1966, the bowling
body gained legal status and became known as the Philippine Bowling Congress (PBC) when
industrialist-sportsman Eugenio “Gene” Puyat, registered its Articles of Incorporation with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Steve Hontiveros, who once headed the PBC, served as
FIQ president from 2002 to 2006. The PBC served as the national sports association of bowling in
the country before it was replaced by Philippine Bowling Federation. The late Ernesto “Toti” Lopa
originally established the PBF before co-founding the PBC. In, 2016, Philippine bowling has
officially adopted the Philippine Bowling Federation, as the national sports association for the sport
of Tenpin Bowling and is duly recognized by IBF, ABF, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the
Philippine Sports Commission.

Philippine Individual World Champions

The Philippines has produced three 4-time world champions in Lita de la Rosa, Olivia “Bong”
Coo and Paeng Nepomuceno. Lita earned her 4th world title at the 1979 quadrennial World
Championships in Manila, Philippines. Olivia “Bong” Coo earned her 4th world title at the 1983
quadrennial World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. Paeng Nepomuceno earned his 4th world
title at the 1996 World Cup in Belfast, Ireland. Bong Coo and Paeng Nepomuceno were inducted as
inaugural members to the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum in 1993. Lita de la Rosa
was posthumously inducted in 2001. The IBHFM, formerly in St. Louis, Missouri, is now in
Arlington, Texas and was inaugurated in 2010. Bong and Paeng also made it to the Guinness Book of
World Records. Paeng Nepomuceno, Lita de la Rosa, and Olivia “Bong” Coo were inducted in the
Philippine Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. We also have six other individual world champions in Oliver
Ongtawco – 1979 World FIQ Singles Gold medalist, Arianne Cerdena – 1988 Olympic Games Gold
medalist (Bowling as Exhibition Sport) in Seoul, Korea, CJ Suarez – 2003 World Cup champion in
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Biboy Rivera – Masters Champion in the 2006 World Mens’s Championship
in Busan, Korea, Chester King – All-Events Gold medalist in the 2008 FIQ Asian Zone
Championship held in Hong Kong, China, and the latest is Krizziah Tabora – 2017 World Cup
champion in Hermosillo, Mexico.