Rey Fortaleza
Encyclopedia
Reynaldo "Rey" Fortaleza is a former Olympic
boxer
who represented the Philippines
in the 1976 Montreal Olympics
before immigrating permanently to Canada
in 1990 where he became a community leader and media pioneer.
, and one of four boxing brothers, Reynaldo was born December 26, 1957 in the Philippines. In all, there were ten children - eight brothers and two sisters. His brothers included fellow Olympians Rene and Ric
and boxer Roger. "They were the phenomenal 'boxing brothers' of the country, using boxing as their ticket to a good education and consequently, a better life." He "at age 16 captured the flyweight title in the National Youth Amateur Boxing bouts in Bacolod City," in the Philippines. He then went on to win "six golds, one silver and two bronzes in 11 international boxing competitions."
, he reached the quarterfinals of the Montreal Olympics. He was 119 lbs (54 kg), and 5'5" (164 cm).
, Canada
.
TV Patrol World
, a news program which is available through a local Vancouver cable channel.
Through his newspaper he has fostered and supported four years of the Metro Vancouver-area singing contest, the PNT Singing Idol
competition.
for his 1976 Olympic and current Canadian contributions. He was previously honoured by the Multicultural Sports Development Society for his role in "outstanding sports achievements and contributions to Philippine Sports." He has been recognized for his role in bringing Filipino entertainment and sports figures to entertain Vancouver Filipino audiences and was named by an international Filipino association, Binibining Pilipinas
of the World, as one of the "ten most outstanding Filipino Canadians."
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who represented the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in the 1976 Montreal Olympics
before immigrating permanently to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1990 where he became a community leader and media pioneer.
Early life
The youngest of three brothers who excelled in Olympic boxingBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, and one of four boxing brothers, Reynaldo was born December 26, 1957 in the Philippines. In all, there were ten children - eight brothers and two sisters. His brothers included fellow Olympians Rene and Ric
Ricardo Fortaleza
Ricardo Mendoza Fortaleza is a Filipino-Australian retired Olympic amateur boxer/amateur boxing coach and boxing instructor. He now resides in Blacktown, Sydney, Australia.-Early career:...
and boxer Roger. "They were the phenomenal 'boxing brothers' of the country, using boxing as their ticket to a good education and consequently, a better life." He "at age 16 captured the flyweight title in the National Youth Amateur Boxing bouts in Bacolod City," in the Philippines. He then went on to win "six golds, one silver and two bronzes in 11 international boxing competitions."
Olympics
As an 18 year old bantamweight in the 1976 Filipino Olympic teamPhilippines at the 1976 Summer Olympics
The Philippines competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. The Asian nation sent only eleven athletes to Montreal, its smallest delegation since 1932, to compete in track and field, boxing, shooting, swimming and weightlifting.-Athletics:...
, he reached the quarterfinals of the Montreal Olympics. He was 119 lbs (54 kg), and 5'5" (164 cm).
Family
He is married to the former Araceli "Cely" Angeles, who is also business manager of their family enterprises. They have three children. They reside in Metro Vancouver, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Canada
Fortaleza moved to Canada in 1990 where he first worked at a silkscreening job for minimum wage and then trained and worked as a hospital janitor and maintenance person. He owned and ran a boxing gym briefly before entering newspaper publishing. He is publisher of the Philippine Asian News Today and of Living Today magazine through the Reyfort Media Group. He also holds a franchise in the Philippines-based ABS-CBNABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
TV Patrol World
TV Patrol World
TV Patrol is the flagship national network news broadcast of ABS-CBN in the Philippines. It is aired Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m....
, a news program which is available through a local Vancouver cable channel.
Through his newspaper he has fostered and supported four years of the Metro Vancouver-area singing contest, the PNT Singing Idol
PNT Singing Idol
"The Filipino Canadian community’s biggest talent contest in B.C. is the PNT Singing Idol." It is a Filipino-Canadian Metro Vancouver-area singing competition which grants prizes to the most successful amateur singers in three age categories. The top annual prize is a round trip air fare from...
competition.
Recognition
On 18 February 2010 Fortaleza was honoured by Vancouver mayor Gregor RobertsonGregor Robertson
Gregor Aedan Robertson is a Scottish footballer who plays for Chesterfield. His favoured position is left-back but he can also play on the left side of midfield and more recently has enjoyed a successful spell at centre back....
for his 1976 Olympic and current Canadian contributions. He was previously honoured by the Multicultural Sports Development Society for his role in "outstanding sports achievements and contributions to Philippine Sports." He has been recognized for his role in bringing Filipino entertainment and sports figures to entertain Vancouver Filipino audiences and was named by an international Filipino association, Binibining Pilipinas
Binibining Pilipinas
Binibining Pilipinas is the organization responsible for sponsoring the annual national beauty pageant which selects representatives of the Philippines to Miss Universe and Miss International, among others.-History:...
of the World, as one of the "ten most outstanding Filipino Canadians."