By Graham C. Lim
January 4, 2026, 9:10 PM
The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) is mourning the loss of its Executive Vice President and Co-Chair of the Executive Committee, Prof. Robert Milton A. Calo, who passed away on January 1, 2026.
Prof. Calo, a central figure in the growth and international recognition of university sports in the Philippines, was 79.
The FESSAP announced his passing with profound sorrow, crediting his “leadership, dedication, and vision” as instrumental in shaping the landscape of student-athletics across the country.
Prof. Robert Milton A. Calo:
Prof. Calo’s career was defined by his commitment to opening doors for student -athletes. He was a founder of the Philippine Inter-Schools, Colleges, and Universities Athletic Association (PISCUAA) in 1998, an organization he remained passionately dedicated to.
The FESSAP leadership has vowed to continue his mission to revive PISCUAA, ensuring it thrives under the affiliation of FESSAP and Philippine Inter-School Sport Association (PISSA) Inc., as was his wish.
Since the founding of FESSAP in 1999, Prof. Calo was a partner in building the federation.
The partnership was key in expanding FESSAP’s reach, with Prof. Calo bringing in major organizations like PISCUAA, Private Schools Athletic Association, and State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association.
During this time, he served as the Athletic Director of the Technological University of the Philippines, which housed the first FESSAP Secretariat.
Their collaborative efforts established a system that has welcomed over 600 colleges and universities to FESSAP, with one of the most affordable membership fees in the country, prioritizing competition over financial gain.
One of Prof. Calo’s most significant achievements was helping secure FESSAP’s membership in the International University Sports Federation (FISU) in 2007. This milestone was realized after he and this writer traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, to meet with then-FISU president George Killian.
Despite opposition, President Killian’s promise to welcome FESSAP into FISU was fulfilled, bringing Prof. Calo’s vision for Philippine university sports to its full international recognition.
President Prof. Calo later served as FESSAP president and continued to lead as chairman of the Membership Committee and Universiade Monitoring Committee.
He also held key positions as vice president of Orienteering-Philippines, the Korfball Association of the Philippines, and the PISSA—all affiliated with international federations. He was Co-Chair of the FESSAP Executive Committee, a guiding force in the Philippine University Volleyball League, former President of the Asian University Basketball Federation and Vice President of the Asia Pacific University Sports Union, and president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines.