PSA to honor PSC, Coke, three oil firms

The Philippine Sports Commission, which kept in motion a nationwide grassroots development program, and three oil giants and a softdrink company which have given Philippine sports a shot in the arm will receive special citations from the Philippine Sportswriters Association during the PSA Annual Awards Jan. 11 at the Holiday Inn.

Despite the financial crunch that slowed down sports, the PSC launched its major projects on the grassroots level, beginning with the Batang Pinoy in January, Palaro Para sa Batang Lansangan in June, the first Minandao Games in November and again the Batang Pinoy in December.

The PSC also embarked on a special program for indigenous communities like the National Special Olympics in Baguio in March.

In line with efforts to develop the next generation of sports heroes, the PSC staged the third Summer Youth Training Camp where over 200 medalists and outstanding performers of the Batang Pinoy and Millennium Palarong Pambansa underwent intensive training, sports leadership, values education and psychomotor skills development.

Three giant oil firms which gave major sports a big boost with their year-long sponsorship are Caltex Philippines, Petron Corporation and Pilipinas Shell.

They join co-athletes of the year Dorothy Joy Delasin of professional golf and Efren "Bata" Reyes of billiards, eight major awardees and 38 outstanding sportsmen in various sports disciplines in the Awards Night which will be attended by sports leaders, members of sports media and select members of the corporate community.

The Awards Night is sponsored by Photokina Marketing with support from the PSC, Philippine Airlines, Hermie Esguerra and AMF Puyat.

Caltex Philippines bankrolled the preparation and foreign participation of the national pool of boxing in various international tournaments as part of a three-year agreement with the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines to develop Filipino boxers into champions in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games or Olympics.

Petron Corporation was behind the intensive training and foreign exposure of the Philippine taekwondo team which won two gold medals in the last Southeast Asian Games.

Pilipinas Shell, through sportsman Rey Gamboa, organized the nationwide Shell Active Chess which drew over 20,000 young schoolers from 14 regions as part of its social commitment to develop young aspirants into strong national chess players.

The annual grassroots chess program of Shell has produced national masters and champions in national junior and age group chess tournaments as well as international competitions.

The Philippine Football Federation continued to sustain an aggressive program designed to generate widespread interest in football among the youth and provide avenues, such as age-group tournaments and clinics, to develop their skills.

The Coke Go-For-Goal is a mass-based program that has been staged successfully in the provinces, with city and provincial tournaments culminating in regional and eventually the national championships.

PSA president Lito A. Tacujan said invitations will be sent to all awardees, presidents of national sports associations, sports leaders in government and the Philippine Olympic Committee and members of sports media this week Those who may not receive their invitation on time may claim them at the PSA reception during the rites.