He coached the Xavier University Grade School Basketball Team from the late 70’s up to 2006. Fr. Jorge Hofileña,SJ must have been CDO’s longest running and winningest Coach ever.
In 2007, Fr. Jorge, was transferred to the Jesuit Infirmary in Ateneo d
e Manila as he was already suffering from Alzheimer’s. Even before his transfer, he had a difficulty in remembering people and faces.
I was able to visit him in 2007 together with the other Coaches of Xavier University and it was really a sad sight at that time that he could not remember things. He doesn’t even watch basketball; all he watches is the cartoon “Tom and Jerry”.
Fr. Jorge has always been a regular figure in local basketball. As Coach of XUGS, he was strict and he had his own ways of teaching his players. Most of his players will not forget about the 5 on 5 scrimmages where dribbling was not allowed. He refereed most of the Intramural Games too and who can argue with the Head Coach, who is a Jesuit and is the School Principal if he makes a wrong call?
The basketball community in Cagayan de Oro was saddened at the news of his transfer to Manila. It is more saddened at the news of his death.
Everyone who has studied in XUGS would know and remember Fr. Jorge because of his kindness and his different way of teaching students how to learn.
Fr. Jorge has touched a lot of lives, whether as a basketball coach, a priest, a principal, a teacher or a friend.
He will always be remembered on his motorcycle riding around the campus, or perhaps the blue jeep. He is the animal lover as he filled the grade school campus with dogs, a monkey, turkeys and at one point a turtle.
He will always be remembered as the school photographer who took pictures for the yearbook.
He will always be remembered as the Basketball Coach who has touched and changed lives of many.
Rest in Peace Coach Jorge, SJ.
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