For over three decades, Jean Henri Lhuillier, the President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, has been an unwavering supporter of Philippine sports. With a lifelong passion for sports, it was only natural for him to prioritize sports development as a key advocacy for Cebuana Lhuillier.
Recognized as one of the Philippines’ foremost sports patrons, Jean Henri Lhuillier’s contributions have left a lasting impact across various sports disciplines. However, his exceptional dedication to nurturing grassroots sports and providing comprehensive backing to the country’s national tennis and softball teams stands out prominently.
Passion for Tennis
Jean Henri Lhuillier’s commitment to national sports development traces back to 1998 when he initiated a series of Cebuana Lhuillier Men’s Tennis Open tournaments. Since then, he has remained dedicated to elevating the standard of Philippine Tennis, broadening its reach to the masses for increased nationwide exposure, and nurturing talented players. The Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis program, hosting approximately 2000 tournaments nationwide over the years, has emerged as a premier platform for discovering future national team tennis prospects.
Furthermore, Jean Henri has played a pivotal role in supporting the national tennis teams, serving multiple times as team manager for Team Philippines in prestigious events such as the Davis Cup and South East Asian Games. He has also backed the international endeavors of numerous top Filipino tennis players, from past luminaries like Cecil Mamiit, Eric Tainio, Katharina Lehnert, and Treat Huey, to present-day stars like Ruben Gonzales and Francis Casey Alcantara.
For the past seven years, Jean Henri Lhuillier has assumed the presidency of Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP), actively nurturing promising Filipino junior tennis players as they compete in the Asian junior tennis circuit and WTA Future Stars tournaments. Through the UTP, Jean Henri continues to bolster local junior and open tennis competitions, aiming to inspire more Filipinos to engage in or appreciate the exhilarating sport of tennis.
A Heart for Softball
Having served as the longstanding President of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL), Jean Henri Lhuillier has played a pivotal role in the development of softball in the country. Mirroring his efforts in tennis, Jean Henri has prioritized the establishment and reinforcement of grassroots programs and competitions throughout the Philippines in softball. ASAPHIL organizes the country’s largest and most anticipated annual softball tournaments, including the Summer Grand Slam National Open, Batang Pinoy, Palarong Pambansa, and the Philippine National Games, among others. Moreover, ASAPHIL actively conducts softball clinics aimed at all stakeholders, including players, coaches, and tournament officials.
As the governing body for softball in the Philippines, ASAPHIL, under Jean Henri Lhuillier’s leadership, oversees the needs and requirements of the Philippine National Softball teams, known as the RP Blu Boys and The RP Blu Girls.
Under Jean Henri’s guidance, the national softball teams have achieved remarkable success in international competitions. The RP Blu Girls have secured seven consecutive SEA Games gold medals, claimed silver at the 2017 Asian Women’s Softball Championship, and consistently ranked in the top four in various tournaments. The Blu Girls have notably triumphed over world-ranked teams in World Cup competitions and held the #1 ranking in Asia prior to the pandemic. Currently, they are ranked #4 in Asia and #12 globally. Similarly, the RP Blu Boys have excelled in international campaigns, earning four SEA Games gold medals, five silver medals in the Asian Men’s Softball Championships, and achieving a top-10 finish in the 2022 World Cup. They are presently ranked #4 in Asia and #10 worldwide.
In a significant milestone for Philippine Softball in 2023, four national teams qualified for the World Cup, with the RP Blu Boys securing bronze in the 12th Men’s Softball Asia Cup, the RP Blu Girls finishing fourth in the 18th Women’s Softball Asia Cup, the Under-15 Girls team qualifying for the WBSC World Cup for U-15 Women, and the Co-Ed team earning a spot in the WBSC Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball World Cup.
Jean Henri Lhuillier’s contributions to Philippine tennis and softball are extensive, yet he remains committed to further advancements, stating, “I’m just getting started. I’m incredibly optimistic about the future of Philippine softball and tennis. I firmly believe we have the potential to be world leaders in these sports, and I am committed to making this vision a reality.”
