Philippines, 10 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Chino Trinidad: Farewell to a Man of Truth and Consequence


PhilBoxing.com




He knew a good story when he saw one, and by golly, he told it well. As a master storyteller, he proudly showcased Philippine heritage through its arts, culture, and history. He had the ability to make mundane topics sound interesting, thanks to his captivating voice, ebullient spirit, and trademark smile.

If you were fortunate enough to have met him, even for just a brief moment, he left you feeling inspired and profoundly Filipino. We will forever remember his compelling narratives, human interest stories, and social commentaries that cut straight to the core.



He never outgrew his wide-eyed curiosity, inherited from his loving parents, Recah Trinidad and Fe Lacsamana, 57 summers ago. His journalistic career in radio, television, and recently the internet, encompassed all the sports Filipinos love—basketball, boxing, bowling, billiards, and everything in between.



From his youthful days in Barangay Vergara in Mandaluyong to his formative years at the prestigious University of the Philippines, Diliman, Manolo embraced both knowledge and the accompanying responsibilities with open arms.



He welcomed healthy competition with both aspiring and seasoned writers, journalists, photographers, and documentarians. By fate or personal design, he became our de facto hero-worshiper and advocate for anything Filipino—our link to the past, present, and future of Philippine sports. His world was replete with athletes, literary giants, and luminaries like Robert Jaworski, Nick Joaquin, and Fernando Poe, Jr., Carlos Edriel Poquiz Yulo (Paris 2024 double gold medalist in men’s gymnastics), Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant, whose transcendent stories inspired his heart and soul.



Through his extensive business network and circle of friends, he was always ready to lend a helping hand. I remember two occasions when his guiding light supported this aspiring writer who shared his passion for Philippine boxing.



First, back in November 2009 in Los Angeles, he convinced me to postpone my trip back home to the San Francisco Bay Area and invited me to tag along as he covered Manny Pacquiao's practice with his band leaders Lito Camo and Madonna Decena at an undisclosed studio. “Bring your family, I got you covered with Manoy (Pacquiao)…and make sure to bring your father, Mom Tina, and sister Christine,” he said.

If I didn't know him better, I would have thought he was just being courteous. But Manolo had a purpose—he wanted my dad and mentor, Hermie Rivera, one of the champ’s doting advisers, to tell Manny to shorten the choir practice and get some precious sleep. At the time, Manny was set to face the great Miguel Cotto in less than five days at the MGM Grand for the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada.



More recently, at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel near the old site of the Olympic Stadium in Santa Cruz, last March, Manolo stoked my attempt at curating the Philippine Boxing Historical Society. The Gala of Champions provided us the privilege to honor him, his father Recah, his mother Fe, and the Greatest Boxers Made in the Philippines, along with the past and present supporters of Philippine boxing.



Manolo Trinidad’s hard-hitting persona gravitated towards boxing, where he covered and befriended fistic heroes, notably Luisito Espinosa and Manny Pacquiao.



Art of Basketball featuring Robert Jaworski (A Gift for Chino from Jun Aquino)



His respect and reverence for past boxing heroes like Francisco Guilledo, known as Pancho Villa—the first Asian and Filipino world boxing champion—warms the soul. Until the end, he quietly collaborated with painter Rodolfo “Jun” Aquino and sculptor Frederic Caedo to restore Villa’s forgotten grave. He got the ball rolling for next year’s centennial “Celebration of Life” for Pancho Villa, a tribute we will strive to honor in their memory.



He was generous with his time, inviting my sister Charina, my son Grant, and I to the famous live stream show, ‘Larong Pilipino’, at Studio DZME. “There are people that light up the room. He was one of them. He could make you feel very special and loved. We lost a good, humble, and the jolliest man ever. Thank you for being the light,” said Charina Rivera.

https://youtu.be/pr8z-4wxKzU?si=Klbi50DPdauqWYkH

For half an hour, Mr. Erel Cabatbat, Manolo, and I discussed how Filipino boxers became giants. The show’s reach opened the gates to our humble Philippine Boxing Historical Society Gala of Champions, a celebration at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel last March 23, 2024.





There will never be another Manolo Lacsamana Trinidad. His legacy of truth, dedication, and love for Filipino culture and sports will forever inspire and guide us. I feel a deep sadness now that he has left our midst, but also gratitude for the chance to express my profound appreciation for him last March 22.



“Manoy Chino, you are an inspiration to many, myself included…Your better half Babs and children Yoye, Duz and Pis, dad (Tito Recah), your mom (Tita Fe), brothers Paolo and Sebastian, I am sure, are proud of you for highlighting the Filipino spirit, just as we all are.

“Mabuhay, salamat…Thank you for the nod and your friendship.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Pitbull” Cruz Battles Skilled Lamont Roach Next!
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Eddie Hearn Warns: Dana White's Push to Amend Ali Act Could Hide Fighter Revenues and Undermine Boxer Protections
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • SEBASTIAN "EL TRUENO" JUAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • WBC No. 2 Cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki reinjured
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • DAVE ALLEN VS ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV SHEFFIELD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • HANOI OPEN DAY TWO: CHUA, GORST, BIADO, SHAW AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64 IN HANOI
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • BOSTAN AND FAWAZ TRADE VERBAL BLOWS IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE FACE-OFF AHEAD OF TITLE REMATCH – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Yoelvis Gomez Set to Face Unbeaten Antraveous Ingram in Title Clash on DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Set to Make Southern California Debut Against Power Puncher Wesley Vanderlinden on October 23 at Fight Club OC
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • 8th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chessfest slated
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • A Filipino and an American Homecoming
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Tragedy Strikes Again: Arturo Gatti Jr., Son of Boxing Legend, Found Dead at 17 in Mexico
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Golden State Making a Bid for NBA Title
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT START IN HANOI | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • RED-HOT CUBAN MIDDLEWEIGHT YOENLI HERNANDEZ: “I’M READY WILLING AND ABSOLUTELY ABLE TO FACE THE BIG NAMES IN MY DIVISION.”
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS ENNIS GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH LIMA AHEAD OF 154LB DEBUT – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV MEET FOR FIRST FACE-OFF IN SHEFFIELD AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Amateur Boxer Tyrone Welch Dies After Match in Saginaw
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • AJ Lim Captures Fourth PCA Men’s Singles Title, Extends Dominance in Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 18: JOE FRAZIER VS. GEORGE FOREMAN FIRST ENCOUNTER - THE SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • 5th Zhengxing Cup Philippine Xiangqi Rapid Open tournament on October 12
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Joey Canoy back in training; preparing to face IBF champ Beaven Sibanda in February
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING ANNOUNCES BROADCAST TEAM AND FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT’S “BOXFEST XVI”
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Tyson Fury back in 2026?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 OCTOBER 2025: Cecilia Braekhaus Retires After Defeating Ema Kozin
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.