Bong Coo

Coo married at 17 in 1965 and separated four years later with two sons.

{{cite web |author1=Reuben Terrado |title=How a sad life event led world champ Bong Coo to bowling |url=https://www.spin.ph/bowling/bong-coo-philippine-bowling-legend-spin-sidelines-a795-20200726 |website=spin.ph |access-date=3 October 2021 |date=July 26, 2020}}

Coo was a talented athlete in high school, playing volleyball and softball at St. Scholastica College, but she had never bowled before. She began bowling casually at the age of 21 as a therapeutic sport following her separation.{{cite news |title=With a name like 'Bong Coo', it's hard not to find success |publisher=New Nation |date=17 August 1980 |ref=Microfilm Reel NL10732 |page=28}} In 1969, she was encouraged to try out for the team and was accepted, winning her first gold medal at the 1970 Asian Zone Championships in Singapore. Two years later she won five gold medals out of six at the 1972 Asian Zone Championships in Malaysia.{{cite book |title=Sulong Pilipina! Sulong Pilipinas! A Compilation of Filipino Women Centennial Awardees |year=1999 |publisher=National Centennial Commission |isbn=971-91276-5-1}}

Coo visited Canada in the mid-1970s to see some relatives and stayed in Toronto for six months. She would travel to New York to play match-play pot games against American male bowlers. During this period, her match play skills were sharpened and inspired her to take up the sport more seriously and increased her zeal. When she returned to the Philippines, she hired Madoka Amano, a Japanese coach, to help her train more effectively.

Coo's ascent to the top continued at the Asian Games in 1978, where she won every gold medal but one. Assemblyman Jose Puyat, who owns numerous bowling alleys, offered her $10,000 and a lifetime of free bowling. Pablo Carlos, the team's manager and Toyota dealer, gave her a Corona as a gift.{{cite web | title= 1979 Champion Bong Coo - a female legend of the Philippines | url=https://www.qubicaamf.com/qubicaamf-bowling-world-cup/news/1979-champion-bong-coo-a-female-legend-of-the-philippines}} President Ferdinand Marcos stated she could fly for free on Philippine Airlines for the rest of her life.

From 1981 to 1985, Bong Coo worked as the associate sports director for the Philippine National Bank, a government-owned bank at the time, when she began her career in sport administration. This came after she received her 1981 civil service eligibility for professionals. She took time off of work to train for the 1986 Asian Games From 1988 through 1999, she worked as a sports consultant for SM Prime Holdings Inc. and SM Bowling Centers, as well as a number of private companies and government agencies, including the office of the vice mayor Vicente Sotto III of Quezon City in 1987. Since 1980, she has also had her own line of Bowling-themed clothing.

Coo served as secretary general for the Philippine Bowling Congress Inc. from 2004 to 2011 and the Philippine Bowling Federation Inc. from 2016 to 2022.{{cite web |last1=Andaya |first1=Ed |title=World Bowling Champion Pays It Forward |url=https://www.psc.gov.ph/index.php/digital-library/news-articles/8-blog/266-world-bowling-champion-bong-coo-pays-it-forward |website=Philippine Sports Commission |access-date=1 July 2022}} She has been president of the Philippine Bowling Federation since June 17, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Pedralvez |first1=Manolo |title=Bong Coo unanimously elected Philippine Bowling Federation president |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/19/22/bong-coo-elected-ph-bowling-federation-president |access-date=27 June 2022 |agency=ABS-CBN News |publisher=ABS-CBN News |date=19 June 2022}} Additionally, she has served as the Women in Sports Commission's chairperson for the Philippine Olympic Committee from February 2021.{{cite web | title= Philippine Olympic Committee Appointees| url= https://www.olympic.ph/poc-committees-and-appointees/}} Coo is currently a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission since July 2022 and Officer-in-Charge from August 15–31, 2022. Coo is the first appointment of President Marcos in sports.{{cite news |last1=Andaya |first1=Ed |title=PBBM appoints bowling legend Bong Coo as PSC commissioner |url=https://journalnews.com.ph/pbbm-appoints-bowling-legend-bong-coo-as-psc-commissioner/ |access-date=30 July 2022 |publisher=Journal News online |date=19 July 2022}}

She joined the bowling capital equipment and consumer goods markets in the 1990s. She was the first to offer full-service interior design, architecture, and equipment supply.{{cite news |author1=Marlet Salazar |title=Bong Coo scores strikes in the corporate world. |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=December 4, 1998 |page=C6}} She helped build facilities in Cebu, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Quezon City, San Juan, Alabang, Batangas, and Manila, among other cities. The cover article of the June 2001 issue of International Bowling Industry Magazine featured her entitled "Lady of All Trades" .

{{cite news |title=Cover Story: A Flair for the Business: Bong Coo fashions the Philippine industry |publisher=International Bowling Industry |date=June 2001 |page=32 |quote=Meet Ms. Bong Coo-Entrepreneur Dynamo, World-Class Bowler, Visionary}}

She ran a bowling center after retiring from active competition, continued her apparel business, and has been a bowling instructor at the University of the Philippines under the Department of Human Kinetics at the University of the Philippines Diliman since 2001. Her syllabus was approved by the Philippine Department of Education in 2001.

She briefly participated in seniors competitions where she won two Seniors Master Titles in 2008 at age 60{{cite news |title=Coo cops PBC Open senior masters' plum |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2008/06/25/69300/coo-cops-pbc-open-senior-mastersrsquo-plum |access-date=7 July 2022 |publisher=Philstar |date=25 June 2008}}{{cite news |title=Hall of Famer shows old sparks |url=http://www.abf-online.org/results/39thphil-res.htm |access-date=1 July 2022 |publisher=Asian Bowling Federation}} and in 2012 at 64.

Bong Coo is the most decorated Filipino athlete, regardless of gender, in any sport based on Republic Act No. 9064 known as Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001.{{cite web |last1=Andaya |first1=Ed |title=World bowling champion Bong Coo pays it forward |url=https://www.psc.gov.ph/index.php/digital-library/news-articles/8-blog/266-world-bowling-champion-bong-coo-pays-it-forward |website=psc.gov.ph |publisher=Philippine Sports Commission |access-date=6 September 2022}} The law provides cash incentives and retirement benefits for National Athletes who win gold, silver and bronze medals in specific international competitions such as the Olympic Games, Quadrennial World Championships and Asian Games, all three played every fourth year and the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).Multiple sources: *{{cite news | title = Manila Standard Vol. XVI No. 103 Tuesday, May 28, 2002 Front Page - May I present… President Arroyo enjoys bantering with bowler Bong Coo…. Coo received the lion's share.}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.philstar.com/sports/162497/president-hands-out-p30-m-rp-heroes |title=President hands out P30-M to RP heroes|work=Philippine Star}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2001/ra_9064_2001.html|title= Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001 }}

Bong Coo is the first Filipino athlete to be inscribed in the Guinness Book of Records for her two-peat record-breaking efforts at the World Championships for All EventsMultiple sources:

• {{cite news |author1=Brian Miller |title=Bong Coo does it with a bang |publisher=New Nation Microfilm Reel NL10428 |date=7 December 1979 |ref=Microfilm Reel NL10428 |page=19}}
• {{Citation | first = Ian | last = Morisson | author-link = | title = Guinness Encyclopedia of Sports Records & Results 2nd Edition Displayed at Philippine Sports Museum | place = United Kingdom | publisher = Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. | series = | volume = | edition = 2nd expanded | year = 1979 | page =103 | isbn = 978-0806901640 | mr = | zbl = }}
• {{Citation | first = Ian | last = Morisson | title = Guinness Book of Records Edition Displayed at Philippine Sports Museum| place = United Kingdom | publisher = Guinness Superlatives| edition = 26 | year = 1980 | page =92

|isbn = 978-0900424977}}

• {{cite book |title=Guinness Book of Sports Records, Winners & Champions |year=1982 |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company |isbn=0806902345}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=McWhirter |editor1-first=Norris |title=Guinness Book of World Records |date=1980 |publisher=Sterling |isbn=0806901969 |page=524 |edition=19}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=McWhirter |editor1-first=Norris |title=Guinness Book of World Records |date=1983 |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company |isbn=0806902566 |page=496 |edition=illustrated}}
• {{cite book |author1=Norris McWhirter |title=Guinness Book of World Records |year=1986 |publisher=Bantam Books in the Guinness Series |isbn=0553254545 |page=709 |edition=32, revised}}
• {{cite book |author1=Peter Matthews |editor1-last=McWhirter |editor1-first=Norris |title=Guinness Book of Records |edition=30}}
• {{cite book |author1=Alan Russel, David A. Boehm |title=Guinness Book of World Records |date=November 1988 |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, 1987 |isbn=0806965983 |page=480 |edition=illustrated}}
• {{cite book |author1=Norris McWhirter |title=The Guinness Book of World Records 1988 |date=March 1988 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group, 1988 |isbn=0553270664 |page=694 |edition=revised}}
• {{cite book |author1=Guinness, Arthur, Sons and Company |title=Guinness Sports Record Book |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, 1986 |isbn=0806963166 |page=320}} The first for her world record scores at the IX Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) World Championships in Manila in 1979, and the second at the (FIQ) World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela in 1983, where she successfully defended her All Events title. She is still the only athlete to win it twice. She also set the highest six-game record of the tournament in 1979 during the doubles gold medal event with Lita dela Rosa.{{cite news |title=How Angel came up with an ace |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newnation19791203-1.2.77?ST=1&AT=search&k=bong%20coo%209th%20world%20championships%20record&QT=bong,coo,9th,world,championships,record&oref=article |publisher=New Nation |date=3 December 1979 |ref=Microfilm Reel NL10428 |page=22 |quote="Bong Coo shot a world record six-game series"}}

She has 137 tournament victories to her credit, including masters titles in each of twenty-eight (28) consecutive years from 1971 through 1998. She holds the Philippine record in the Asian Games for most gold medals won and the Asian record for most gold medals won in tenpin bowling with five. She also holds the record for most Asian Championship gold medals won, with 14 in 12 straight tournament appearances spanning 28 years.

All Events is the combined scores in 4 events: Singles, Doubles, Trios and 5-Team Event. Events are held over consecutive days and played in varying lane conditions and pace totaling 24 games, and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. This category is regarded as the most prestigious medal in world bowling and named Most Valuable Athlete by the International Bowling Federation in its later editions.{{cite web |title=IBF Super World Championship 2021 |url=https://ibf.websites.mygameday.app/event/ibf-super-world-championship-2021/ |access-date=2021-08-18 |archive-date=2021-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818104604/https://ibf.websites.mygameday.app/event/ibf-super-world-championship-2021/ |url-status=dead }}

An All-Events specialist, she is the only bowling athlete to have won titles and set records in this category in major biennial and quadrennial bowling tournaments at the same time in 1986. Bong Coo was named World Bowling Writers Female "World Bowler of the Year" that year.

• quadrennial World Championships Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs FIQ World Championship now called Bowling World Championships, consecutive in 1979{{cite web | title= World Championships: All Events Champions | url= http://etbf.eu/his-wor-wch-dis-womens-allevent/}} and 1983{{cite web | title= European Tenpin Bowling Federation Championship History World Championships 1979 | url= http://etbf.eu/his-wor-wch-event-1979-c/}}{{cite web | title= European Tenpin Bowling Federation Championship History World Championships 1983 | url= http://etbf.eu/his-wor-wch-event-1983-c/ }}
• quadrennial Asian Games, consecutive in 1978Philippines at the 1978 Asian Games and 1986Philippines at the 1986 Asian Games
• biennial Zone Championships (Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs now Asian Bowling Federation Championship now called Asian Championships), 14 years apart 1972 and 1986
• biennial South East Asian Games, consecutive in 1981 and 1983

In addition to her world All-Events titles, Bong Coo also won the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup (1979),{{cite web | title= 1979 Bowling World Cup | url=http://www.qubicaamf.com/World-Cup-Archives/1979-Bangkok,-Thailand }} quadrennial Asian Games Singles and Masters (1978),Bowling at the Asian Games Bowling at the Asian Games the biennial Asian Championships Masters (twice, 20 years apart 1972 and 1992),{{cite web | title= New Straits Times - Aug 30, 1992, Bong Coo Retires in a Blaze| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19920830&id=BrFUAAAAIBAJ&pg=1697,5490905&hl=en }} the biennial FIQ Zone Championships Singles (twice 1978 and 1984) and the biennial South East Asian Games Masters (1981).1981 South East Asian Games in Manila, Philippines

At the 1979 World Championships in Manila and the 1983 World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela, Bong Coo won back-to-back All-Events titles. She is remains the only athlete to have won it twice in a row.

She and Lita dela Rosa won the doubles gold and the trios silver with Nellie Castillo at the 1979 World Championships in Manila. Bong and Lita won silver with Arianne Cerdeña at the 1983 World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela.

File:BCoo.jpg

File:Bong Coo with medals.jpg

Apart from the Olympic Games, the quadrennial Asian Games is the most prestigious games among Asian governments.

Bong Coo owns the most number of Asian Games gold medals among all Filipino and Asian bowling athletes, winning five gold medals{{cite book |author1=Celso Limjuco Dayrit |title=The Olympic Movement in the Philippines |year=2003 |publisher=Hiyas Press, 2003 |isbn=9715534767 |page=221}} in consecutive participations in 1979 and 1986, minus New Delhi in 1983 where bowling was excluded.{{cite web | title= PSAMedia Philippines in the Asian Games | url= http://www.psamedia.ph/the-philippines-in-the-asian-games/}} In addition to her five gold medals, she won two silver and one bronze medals.

Bong Coo achieved what experts believe to be a historic record by winning all the individual events at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok Thailand, she won the Singles, topped the All-Events, and won the Masters.

After three decades, her total five gold medal record haul was equaled by Lee Na-young when she was part of the Korean 6-women Team Gold medal winner at Palembang, Jakarta in 2018. Lee Na—young won the gold medals in Doubles, Trios, Masters and All Events at the 2014 Games. Bong Coo also won the All-Events title at the 1978 Asian Games, despite the fact that no medals were awarded, she successfully defended her All-Events title in 1986.

Bong Coo won the most gold medals in the biennial Asian Bowling Championships which includes athletes from Australia, New Zealand and the Western Pacific, with 14 gold medals in 12 consecutive tournament participation.{{cite web |author1=International News |title=World champion bowlers make up the third batch of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://wp.talktenpin.net/2018/10/13/world-champion-bowlers-make-up-the-third-batch-of-the-philippine-sports-hall-of-fame/ |website=TalkTenpin.net |date=13 October 2018}} Her Zone Masters titles were acknowledged by the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame Committee equivalent to world medals.{{cite news |author1=Lydia Rypcinski |title=WBW Hall? You've Got to Earn It |publisher=Luby Publishing |date=October 1997 |quote="To even qualify for consideration, a player must be an amateur and accumulate 15 point in any combination of four specifically designated international competitions: the FIQ adult World Championships, the Bowling World Cup, the FIQ adult Zone Masters Championships, and the Olympic Games."}} To this day she still holds the most gold medals won in the FIQ Zone Championships in one celebration with 5 gold medals in 6 events. She also earned eight gold medals from Asian invitational championships in the 5th Asian Bowling Federation championships in Bangkok, 1971 and 1973 FIQ Asian Invitational in San Juan and Singapore respectively.{{cite book |title=Tribute Magazine |date=1986}}

The Southeast Asian Games also known as the SEA Games, is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia.

During opening ceremonies of 30th edition of South East Asian Games held in Manila in 2019, she was honored as one of the "Greatest of All Time" athlete flag bearers of the South East Asian Games Federation flag, with legendary sprinter Lydia de Vega, Swimmers Akiko Thompson and Eric Buhain, Basketball star Alvin Patrimonio,

fellow champion bowler Paeng Nepomuceno, billiards great Efren "Bata"Reyes and Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco.{{cite web| title= Sports legends carry SEA Games Federation flag| url= https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/11/30/LOOK--Sports-legends-carry-SEA-Games-Federation-flag.html/}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The Philippines hosted the Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 1981.{{cite web | title=Greatest Filipino athletes in SEA Games: Bong Coo wins four golds in '81

| url=https://www.spin.ph/multisport/sea-games/philippines-sea-games-legend-bong-coo-southeast-asian-games-a795-20191101 }} Bong Coo emerged as its most successful Filipino campaigner. She won six medals in six events, four of which were gold medals where she set six individual game records. Bong won the gold in Ladies Doubles with Lita de la Rosa and averaged 221 in Trios en route to an Individual All Events gold medal and became the South East Asian Games Masters champion.

She became one of the first ever inductees when the International Bowling Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1993. The other inductees were compatriot Paeng Nepomuceno and Sweden's Annete Hagre.Multiple sources: *{{cite book |title=World Bowling Hall of Fame The History Makers Three global stars are the first enshrinees into the WBW's new Hall of Fame |date=September 1993 |publisher=Luby Publishing}}*{{cite web | title= International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum | url= https://www.bowlingmuseum.com/Honorees/Hall-of-Famers/IBMA }} The International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Arlington, Texas.

She was among the third batch of inductees to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame with fellow bowlers Paeng Nepomuceno and Lita Dela Rosa on November 22, 2018.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/23/18/lydia-de-vega-paeng-nepomuceno-bong-coo-enter-ph-sports-hall-of-fame/ |title=Lydia de Vega, Paeng Nepomuceno, Bong Coo enter PH sports hall of fame }}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1775583/|title=Lydia, Paeng, Bong Coo inducted to Hall of Fame|website=SunStar|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227120829/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1775583/|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=https://wwwtv5.espn.com/story/_/id/25360622/de-vega-nepomuceno-coo-inducted-philippine-sports-hall-fame/|title=De Vega, Nepomuceno, Coo inducted into Philippine Sports Hall of Fame}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  *{{cite web|url=http://www.manilastandard.net/sports/sports-plus/281240/lydia-paeng-coo-inducted-to-hall-of-fame.html/|title=Lydia, Paeng, Coo inducted to Hall of Fame|website=Manila Standard|date=23 November 2018 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2018/11/23/lydia-paeng-bong-coo-inducted-hall-fame-50197/ |title=Lydia de Vega, Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo inducted into Philippine Sports Hall of Fame }}
• {{cite web |url=https://sports.abs-cbn.com/amp/generalsports/news/2018/11/23/lydia-paeng-bong-coo-inducted-hall-fame-50197/ |title=Lydia de Vega, Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo inducted into Philippine Sports Hall of Fame }}
• {{cite web |url=https://sports.mb.com.ph/2018/11/23/diay-paeng-bong-greats-get-enshrined/ |title=Diay, Paeng, Bong, greats get enshrined |access-date=2019-02-27 |archive-date=2018-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073842/https://sports.mb.com.ph/2018/11/23/diay-paeng-bong-greats-get-enshrined/ |url-status=dead }}

Coo was honored by the Philippine Postal Corporation with a commemorative stamp bearing her image on February 22, 2022. It marks the 75th anniversary of the first postal stamp and part of the “Salamat-Pagpupugay sa mga Alamat series” (tribute to legend series).

File:MVP Bong Coo Bowling Ball.jpg

Brunswick released the Bong Coo MVP Solid reactive ball in 2001 and the Bong Coo MVP Pearl in 2003. Both bowling balls are approved by the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) and International Bowling Federation for use in international competitions.{{cite web |title=USBC Approved Bowling Balls |url=http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/approved_balllist.pdf |website=bowl.com |publisher=United States Bowling Congress |access-date=2015-04-24 |archive-date=2009-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915223622/http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/approved_balllist.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title= United States Bowling Congress Approved Bowling Ball List | url= http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/approved_balllist.pdf | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090915223622/http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/approved_balllist.pdf | url-status= live | archive-date= 2009-09-15 }} In 2003, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) bowlers honored her through the Filipino bowlers of UAE in the "Bong Coo MVP Cup"{{cite web | title=Bong Coo MVP Cup, Philippine Star | website=The Philippine STAR | url=http://www.philstar.com/sports/233173/bong-coo-mvp-cup-draws-ofw-bowlers-10-countriesl }}

{{cite web | title= OFWs see action in Bong Coo tilt Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 28, 2003| url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20031228&id=3URaAAAAIBAJ&pg=907,35430543&hl=en}} participated in by OFW's from Brunei, Malaysia, Guam, California, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore. She provides free bowling training to youth bowlers from OFW families.

She was awarded an Achievement Diploma by the International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch in recognition of her outstanding contribution in promoting the development and participation of women and girls in sports, she was 17-years earlier awarded the Philippine Olympic Medal of Honor.

She was honored by the Philippine Sports Association (PSA) a Lifetime Achievement award on February 26, 2019,

Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/sports-greats-olivia-e2-80-98bong-e2-80-99-coo-paquito-rivas-to-receive-lifetime-award/ar-BBT39MG/ |title=Sports greats Olivia 'Bong' Coo, Paquito Rivas to receive Lifetime Award |website=MSN }}
• {{cite web |url=//tv5.espn.com/story/_/id/25898132/bowling-legend-coo-cycling-great-rivas-top-psa-awardees |title=Bowling legend Bong Coo, cycling great Paquito Rivas to be honored by PSA }}
• {{cite web |url=https://journal.com.ph/sports/other-sports/philippine-sportswriters-association-fete-cycling-bowling-greats/ |title=Philippine Sportswriters Association to fete cycling, bowling greats |website=People's Journal |date=6 August 2020 }}
• {{cite web|url=https://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2019/02/01/coo-rivas-receive-psa-lifetime-achievement-honors-52864/|title=Coo, Rivas to receive PSA Lifetime Achievement honors}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.spin.ph/multisport/two-retired-sports-greats-lifetime-achievement-honor-psa-awards-a1373-20190201/ |title=Bong Coo, Rivas to be honored with PSA Lifetime Achievement awards }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060764/ |title=Coo, Rivas to receive PSA lifetime achievement awards |website=Philippine News Agency }}
• {{cite web |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/02/02/coo-rivas-honored// |title=Coo, Rivas Honored |website=BusinessMirror |date=2 February 2019 }}
• {{cite web |url=http://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/02/01/coo-rivas-to-receive-lifetime-awards// |title=Coo, Rivas to receive lifetime awards |website=Daily Tribune }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{cite web |url=http://tempo.com.ph/2019/02/01/coo-rivas-are-psa-lifetime-achievers// |title=Coo, Rivas are PSA Lifetime Achievers |website=Tempo |date=February 2019 }} where she was a four time Athlete of the Year awardee and a member of its Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Bong Coo, Rivas to be honored with PSA Lifetime Achievement awards |url=https://www.spin.ph/multisport/two-retired-sports-greats-lifetime-achievement-honor-psa-awards-a1373-20190201 |website=spin.ph |access-date=20 September 2021}}

File:2019 SEA Games opening SEAG Fed flag.jpg

In 2000, Bong Coo was voted one of the Philippines Athlete of the Millennium with Paeng Nepomuceno, boxing legends Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Pancho Villa, amateur boxers and Olympic silver medal winners Anthony Villanueva at the 1964 Tokyo games and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco at the 1996 Atlanta Games; Asia's first chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre, basketball phenom Carlos Loyzaga, swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, tennis’ Ampon and sprinter De Vega.{{cite web |title=All set for PSA Awards, the 'Oscars' of PH sports |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/35093/all-set-for-psa-awards-the-%E2%80%98oscars%E2%80%99-of-ph-sports |website=inquirer.net |date=17 February 2012 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer February 17, 2012 |access-date=20 September 2021}}

She was also named one of the Ten Outstanding Women for the Nations Service (TOWNS) in 1986. The TOWNS award is conferred every three years by the TOWNS Foundation on Filipino women who have rendered outstanding service to the nation.

• First Filipino Athlete listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
• Inaugural member to the World Bowling Writers International Bowling Hall of Fame (1993) at the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA with compatriot Paeng Nepomuceno (in 2010 the Hall of Fame Museum moved to Arlington, Texas)
• One of the "Greatest International Bowlers of All-Time" by the Bowlers Journal International Bowling Lists 100 Year Celebration, Nov. 2013
• Selected to the "Top 24 International Bowlers of All-Time" by the Bowlers Journal International edition, Sept. 2004
• Most bemedalled Filipino athlete per Republic Act 9064 "Athletes Incentives Act of 2001"
• Most gold medals won by a Filipino athlete in the quadrennial Asian Games with five
• Most bemedalled Filipino athlete in the Asian Games in one celebration 1978 held in Bangkok, Thailand
• Most Gold Medal in the biennial FIQ Zone Championships with 14 in 12 consecutive participation in 28 years
• Most Gold Medal won in FIQ Zone Championships in one celebration 5 gold medals in 6 events
• Most successful Filipino campaigner in the 1981 South East Asian Games Held in Manila with 4 gold and 2 silver medals in 6 events
• Total of 137 bowling tournament titles
• Named "Athlete of the Millennium" by the Philippine Sportswriters Association in 2000
• Awarded an Achievement Diploma by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2000 in recognition of her outstanding contribution in promoting the development and participation of women and girls in sports
• World Bowling Writers World Bowler of the year in 1986, the WBW has a membership of over 300 bowling writers worldwide
• Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs Woman Bowler of Year for 1992–1993
• Voted Asia's Most Durable Bowler in 1992{{cite web | title= Awards for Bong, Paulo Manila Standard Aug 22, 1992 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19920822&id=N0VIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1714,3990601&hl=en }}
• Voted World Bowler of the Year in 1986
• Held the All Events games records in the national, regional level, and world level championships in biennial and quadrennial games simultaneously in 1986
• Named " Athlete of the Year" Philippine Sportswriters Association in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986{{cite web | title= Philippines Sportswriters Association Awardees | date= 12 February 2013| url= https://www.rappler.com/sports/21549-donaire-wins-athlete-of-the-year-award-with-gabuco,-manila-softbelles-and-blue-eagles}}
• 13-time Philippine Sportswriters Association Bowler of the Year
• Awarded the Philippine Olympic Medal of Honor in 1983 and Bowler of the Decade
• Named Asia's Bowling Queen in 1972
• Set three world records in consecutive World Championships in 1979 and 1983, one world record in the 1979 World Cup, seven Asian records in the Zone Championships in 1986 and 1992, five Asian records in consecutive Asian Games in 1978 and 1986 and six South East Asian Games records at the SEAG in 1981
• One of the 100 Filipinas featured in Filipina Firsts: A Salute to 100 Women Pioneers 1898-1998
• Only athlete included in the Philippines 100 Women of the Century in 2000
• Chosen one the country's "Inspiring Mothers" by the Family Today Magazine in 2000
• Awarded "Kababaihang Makasaysayan" by the National Centennial Commission- Women Sector – ensured women's visibility in history and nation building through Global Movement for Herstories, 1999
• Honored in the first ICHPER-SD Asia Conference Sport Covenant for Women - for uplifting the status of women in sports, 1998
• All Filipino Sports Awards Athlete of the Year for Bowling, 1973 and 1975
• Named one of the Ten Outstanding Women for the Nations Service (TOWNS) in 1986. The TOWNS Award is conferred every three years by the TOWNS Foundation on Filipino women who have rendered outstanding service to the nation; The TOWNS Foundation is dynamic group of empowered Filipino women leaders who have contributed positively to shaping the nation's future and serving as a catalyst for economic and social development by providing their time, talent and resources to government organizations
• Received citations from both houses of Congress in 1993
• Philippine Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame member
• 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All-Time{{cite web |author1=Joaquin M. Henson |title=SPORTING CHANCE - All about national pride |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/01/21/1986559/all-about-national-pride |website=Philippine Star |access-date=18 August 2021}}

Coo ran for senate in 2004 under Aksyon Demokratiko,{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |date=February 11, 2004 |title=Roco prays for blessings |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/02/11/238465/roco-prays-blessings |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Philstar.com}} but lost.{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |date=May 3, 2004 |title='Bong' votes should go to Coo, not Revilla' |url=https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2004/05/03/248548/145bong146-votes-should-go-coo-not-revilla146 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Philstar.com}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://theslickmastersfiles.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-scene-around-gabi-ng-pagpupugay.html Gabi ng Pagpupugay]
• [http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/biztimes19841106-1.2.24.1?ST=1&AT=search&k=bong%20coo&P=3&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=bong,coo&oref=article Bong bowls them over to take the first gold]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140702095255/http://www.spin.ph/sports/multimedia/gallery/great-gathering/13 Great Gathering]
• [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19870527&id=y6EVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZwsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4638,1988577&hl=en Bong Coo, A living legend in her time, Raffy Japa, Manila Standard, May 27, 1987]
• [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19920904&id=k5UVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4goEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1521,645983&hl/=en Bong Coo Planning to Retire, Manila Standard - Sep 4, 1992 p. 28]
• [http://www.bowlersjournal.com/1979-world-cup-champion-bong-coo-the-career-that-almost-didnt-happen/ 1979 World Cup Champion Bong Coo: The Career That Almost Didn’t Happen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922231012/http://www.bowlersjournal.com/1979-world-cup-champion-bong-coo-the-career-that-almost-didnt-happen/ |date=2016-09-22 }}
• Filipina Firsts: A Salute to 100 Women Pioneers 1898-1998" by the Philippine American Foundation
• Sulong Pilipina! Sulong Pilipinas! A Compilation of Filipino Women Centennial Awardees" {{ISBN|971-91276-5-1}} by the National Centennial Commission
• 100 Women of the Philippines''. Joy Buensalido & Abe Florendo. {{oclc|43403823}}
• The Olympic Movement in the Philippines" {{ISBN|971-553-476-7}} by Celso Limjuco Dayrit
• [http://americaninquirer.net/2017/01/30/all-time-great-filipino-bowlers-phl-institute-of-sports-to-improve-athlete-skills-mental-toughness/ All-time great Filipino bowlers: PHL Institute of Sports to improve athlete skills, mental toughness, Primo P. Agatep, Philippine News Agency on January 30, 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213011317/http://americaninquirer.net/2017/01/30/all-time-great-filipino-bowlers-phl-institute-of-sports-to-improve-athlete-skills-mental-toughness/ |date=February 13, 2019 }}
• [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/03/08/bowling-hall-famer-helps-ofw-kids Bowling Hall of Famer helps OFW kids abs-cbnNEWS.com By JULIE JAVELLANA-SANTOS]*
• 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All-Time by the Philippine Yearbook Written and co-edited by The STAR's Joaquin Henson and Bill Velasco
• [https://www.rappler.com/sports/all-time-best-philippines-female-athletes The all-time best Filipina athletes MAR 19, 2021 ARIEL IAN CLARITO]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coo, Bong}}

Category:1948 births

Category:Aksyon Demokratiko politicians

Category:Asian Games medalists in bowling

Category:Filipino ten-pin bowling players

Category:Living people

Category:Bowlers at the 1978 Asian Games

Category:Bowlers at the 1986 Asian Games

Category:Bowlers at the 1998 Asian Games

Category:Asian Games gold medalists for the Philippines

Category:Asian Games silver medalists for the Philippines

Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for the Philippines

Category:Medalists at the 1978 Asian Games

Category:Medalists at the 1986 Asian Games

Category:Philippine Sports Hall of Fame inductees

Category:SEA Games medalists in bowling

Category:SEA Games gold medalists for the Philippines

Category:SEA Games silver medalists for the Philippines

Category:SEA Games bronze medalists for the Philippines

Category:World Games bronze medalists

Category:World Games medalists in bowling

Category:Filipino sports executives and administrators

Category:Filipino sportsperson-politicians

Category:World Games medalists for the Philippines

Category:Medalists at the 1985 World Games

Category:Bongbong Marcos administration personnel