EMELIO “CHIEFFY” ASADA CALIGDONG

Emilio “Chieffy” Asada Caligdon, born on September 28, 1982, is a celebrated football coach and former left winger who served as the captain of the Philippine National Team. Hailing from Barotac Nuevo, he began his football career in 2002 with Union Manila FC, and in 2004, he became a member of the Philippine Air Force Football Club. In the same year, he participated in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup and notably scored two goals against Timor Leste. In the 2011 Long Teng Cup, he scored a top score of four goals in the competition which earned him the Golden Boot Trophy. His contributions to football were further recognized in 2012 when he received the “The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines” award. He was then appointed as the Sports Ambassador for Globe Telecom and was named Mr. Football by the Philippine Sportswriters Association for years 2011 and 2012. After retiring in 2014, Caligdong founded the Chieffy Caligdong Football Academy “SIPA Pinoy” to nurture young talent. Relocating to Canada in 2018, he served as an assistant Under-13 coach for the North Mississauga Soccer Club in Ontario, later the head coach for the Ontario Development League Boys Under-15 team. In 2023, he was honored with the “Dungganon nga Barotacnon” award, further highlighting his significant contributions and commitment to sports and community development in Barotac Nuevo.