All-Cebu Sports Awards

The officers of the Central Command held a fun shoot last Thursday at the Centcom Firing Range inside Camp Lapu-Lapu.

The event was part of the many activities lined up to promote camaraderie among the men of the command under Lt. Gen. Victor ‘Bong’ Ibrado and also to celebrate his third star and his birthday this Monday.

It was also a good time to be with my Centcom-based mistahs like Maj. Samuel Sagun, Maj. Mike Santos, and Lt. Cdr. Ed Sumergido and my fellow members of the Cebu Squad like Lt. Col. Bob Capulong, Capt. John Gabun, and Lt. SG Bruce Mundo.

Although I am a regular visitor at the Centcom, it was great to have bonded in a different activity.

* * *

There are two major sporting activities tonight and I am trying to figure out how I can be in both events.

There is the SAC-SMC All-Cebu Sports Awards at the Laguna Garden Café at 7 pm.  At the same time, the Hall of Fame Induction of Doce Pares will also be held at the Holiday Plaza Hotel.

My long-time buddy and fellow judoka Atty. Vic Fernandez II also faces the same dilemma as his sons are awardees in the sports awards and he has committed to martial arts living legend Ciriaco ‘Noy Cacoy’ Cañete to be among those to hand awards in the Doce Pares Hall of Fame.

I’d like to congratulate all winners in the annual awards ceremony of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu, which is bankrolled by San Miguel Corporation.

San Miguel’s support to the activity has been very vital and the SAC, which I am a proud member of, is very thankful for the all-out backing.

Among the awardees tonight will be German Manfred Schuwerk, who is one of those people who have been doing much to promote football in this part of the world.

Manfred will be receiving the Orlacsan award, which is named after Orlando C. Sanchez, a legendary sportswriter and editor. This was first given in 1996.

This award was conceptualized to honor individuals, who have show exemplary dedication and have done something different in their chosen sport or for many sports disciplines.

Among the previous awardees are former Promdi Partylist Rep. Joy Augustus Young, former Madridejos mayor and now Vice Mayor Doroteo Salazar, Cebu tabletennis workhorse Jessica Jawad-Honoridez, and schoolboy Rudy Moorhouse.

Other former Orlacsan awardees are boxing patron Tony Aldeguer and the late golf and basketball patron Albino D. Gothong.

Manfred is truly deserving of this honor and I wish that there would be more people as dedicated as him not only for football, but also for other sports.