Pool hero gets award, extra P1M from GMA

President Arroyo conferred yesterday the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Champion for Life on newly crowned world pool champion Ronato Alcano and gave him P1 million as cash prize.

The low-profile Alcano showed the check to some reporters, which showed it came from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. He said he was also very happy with the medal he got for the Champion for Life award.

"I never thought I would ever get this," Alcano said.

"I feel like wearing it all the time," he joked, referring to the medal.

Alcano said he was thankful for the money as well and considered it an early Christmas gift from the President.

He said he would deposit the money in a bank for the education of his six children.

Aside from the money and the medal, the chefs of Malacañang also presented an "award" to Alcano – a special cake in the shape of a billiard table, complete with a cue stick and billiard balls.

Chef Jason Natonton, who came up with the innovative confection together with co-chefs Karl del Rio and Lorie Dacillo, said the rectangular cake was made with a foundation of butter cake with chocolate-colored butter crème frosting.

Natonton added that the cue stick and billiard balls were made of fondant.

Alcano was cited for outclassing former titlist Ralf Souquet of Germany, 17-11, in the final match Sunday of the 2006 World Pool Championship at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). He won some P5 million for this feat.

The citation Champion for Life is a direct equivalent of the Order of National Artists, the Order of National Scientists, the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan and other orders of cultural and scientific merit bestowed on individuals of extraordinary achievements in their chosen field of expertise.

The simple conferment and awarding ceremonies were held at Malacañang yesterday morning with Cabinet secretaries and employees of the Office of the President in attendance.

Aside from the recognition, Alcano said he was happy with the respect accorded him by other billiard players and the Filipino people. He also expressed a desire to join the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar beginning Dec. 1.

"But I think it’s too late for me now," he said.

Alcano said he was too shy to tell Mrs. Arroyo about it during their meeting.

The 34-year-old Alcano started playing billiards at the age of 14 because his family used to run such a business.

He said he had already won at least $10,000 from different billiards competitions.

But he said he had yet to claim some $26,000 that he won from a competition organized by the International Pool Tour in the United States recently.

Alcano said the organizers has some problems with their prizes.