The Manila Overseas Press Club Golf invitational held at the Manila Golf and Country Club last Dec. 7 was a great success. There were over 60 players taking part in the tourney sponsored by the MVP Group of Companies that include PLDT, Smart, Meralco, Maynilad and Philex Mining.
The ceremonial tee off saw our friends from the diplomatic circle such as US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder, Indian Ambassador LD Ralte and Thai Ambassador Thanatip Upatising all giving it their best swing.
Our friends from various industries as well as media and government engaged in a friendly but nevertheless intense competition to receive top honors and win special prizes, among them the nearest-to-the-pin award won by Costa Rica Consul Fausto Preysler, who also emerged as the second runner-up. Meanwhile, the Longest Drive went to RJ Tabuena, who must have taken a mighty strong swing to make the ball soar for 263 yards.
The first runner-up was Anthony Te, but the overall champion of the 2015 MOPC-MVP Golf Cup was lady golfer Leanna Carmona, who elicited enthusiastic applause and loud cheers when she received her trophy during the awarding ceremonies hosted by Philex SVP for corporate affairs Mike Toledo and Maynilad executive Patricia Bermudez-Hizon. As it was the first time that the MOPC had a female golfer as champion, you could imagine the good-natured ribbing and teasing that the men made against each other, with some even hanging their head in mock shame.
The day of golfing fun was capped by a raffle with a lot of prizes given away such as gift certificates for complimentary hotel stays and the top prize, which was a round-trip ticket for two to Hong Kong courtesy of Philippine Airlines. Since no one went home empty handed, everyone left the party feeling like a winner.
Photos by Ramon Joseph J. Ruiz