He may be without a world title at the moment, but ring icon Manny Pacquiao remains a towering figure whose impact encompasses not only the world of boxing, but Philippine sports in general.
The 29-year-old Pacquiao underscored that status of his again one morning of October last year when he dominated and destroyed a Mexican boxing legend held in high esteem.
For the second time in four years, Pacquiao beat Marco Antonio Barrera in a one-sided 12-round bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, winning by unanimous decision that further reinforced his billing as one of the hottest and most bankable fighters in the world today.
The victory, coming after Pacquiao disposed Barrera in a sensational 11th round technical knockout in their 2003 meeting, may not involve a championship belt or even a gold medal, but enough to provide his countrymen another proud moment in the world of prizefighting.
The sheer impact of that win and the boundless reasons it gave the Filipinos to rejoice deserve Pacquiao no less than the President’s Award in the San Miguel Corporation-PSA Annual Awards Night next week at the SM Mall of Asia.
Sharing center stage with Pacquiao during the Feb. 16 event are 2007 Athletes of the Year Nonito Donaire Jr. and Miguel Molina.
Pacquiao, named Athlete of the Year in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, had also been nominated for the coveted individual award being handed out by the country’s oldest media organization composed of sportswriters from the various national dailies and tabloids, along with golfer Frankie Miñoza, young Grandmaster Wesley So and billiards player Ronnie Alcano.
Miñoza, So and Alcano, meanwhile, are already automatic major awardees in their respective sports and will be among the personalities and entities to be honored during the two-hour long affair backed by Shakey’s, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Accel, Raymundo’s Trophies and Sculptures (www.raymundosawards.com), Toby’s Sports, Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino, Air21 and broadcast live over DZSR Sports Radio 918.
Others to be given awards are major winners in pro basketball (Mark Caguioa), amateur basketball (Jason Castro) and horseracing – jockey Patti Dilema and champion horse Es Twenty Six.
Recipient of the Tony Siddayao Youth Excellence Awards are jungolfers Mia Legaspi and Marcel Puyat and the Philippine Junior Wushu Team.
On the other hand, the gold-medal winners in the 24th Thailand Southeast Asian Games lead those to be given citations by the PSA.
The daylong affair begins with a photo exhibit that will be open to the public as early as 10 a.m. Fans can also view the various sports memorabilia at the venue, courtesy of sports icons Pacquiao, Eric Buhain and Lydia de Vega-Mercado, among others.
A rock-dance concert and a fashion show featuring Accel’s latest summer collection and swimwear, will be held starting at 12 noon before the actual awards ceremonies begin at 6 p.m.
The concert will be top-billed by reggae group Tropical Depression and Baguio-based band Session Road, with support from all-male dance group Abztract Dancers, and other rock groups Dream Kitchen, Pancake 80 and 52nd Street.
INITIAL LIST OF HONOREES FOR PSA AWARDS NIGHT: ATHLETES OF THE YEAR Nonito Donaire Jr, Miguel Molina; PSA PRESIDENT’S AWARD Manny Pacquiao; MAJOR AWARDS Mark Caguioa (professional basketball), Jason Castro (amateur basketball), Victor Espiritu (cycling), Patti Dilema (horseracing), Es Twenty Six (horseracing); TONY SIDDAYAO AWARDS Marcel Puyat (golf), Mia Legaspi (golf), RP junior wushu team; MOST OUTSTANDING NSA Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA); CITATIONS SEA Games gold medalists, RP men’s tennis team, RP road cycling team, Philippine Cycling Association (PhilCycling), Rubilen Amit, Dottie Ardina, Florante Condes, Gerry Peñalosa, Donnie Nietes, Darwin Laylo, Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Willy Wang, Harry Tañamor, Harbour Centre, University of Santo Tomas, Shakey’s, Tony Aldeguer, Stephano Marcelo, AJ Banal, Kenneth San Andres, Lily Pecante, SM Mall of Asia.