PSA to honor outstanding former scribes

The Philippine Sportswriters Association will honor two former sportswriters who gave honor to the sportswriting fraternity with their outstanding performance in journalism and government service.

Alejandro "Andy" del Rosario, who will assume the post as Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Hungary in April, and North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol will receive Plaques of Recognition during the PSA Annual Awards on Jan. 11 at the Holiday Inn Manila.

This will be the first time the PSA will confer a special award on former sportswriters who have demonstrated their special abilities outside the sportswriting profession.

Del Rosario and Pinol will receive their awards along with Philippine and international sports champions, led by Co-Athletes of the Year Efren "Bata" Reyes of billiards and Dorothy Joy Delasin of professional golf.

The Award Night is sponsored by Photokina Marketing and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Airlines and AMF Puyat.

In the 52-year-history of the PSA, Del Rosario was the only non-sports editor to be elected president of the sportswriting organization. The presidency of the country’s oldest news organization, founded in 1949, is usually reserved for sports editors.

He rose from the ranks to become Manila Standard publisher and chief operating officer, a position he assumed until recently when he was appointed Ambassador to Hungary, and in a concurrent capacity, to Poland and Slovakia.

Pinol was a noted boxing columnist and TV commentator before he was elected mayor of M’Lang town and later governor of North Cotabato. He is on his second term as governor of the province which he rules fearlessly despite threats from Muslim rebels.

Pinol has also been instrumental in promoting amateur and professional boxing in the region in partnership with fellow governors.