Villar is SMC-PSA Awards speaker

Senate President Manny Villar Jr. will share his success story to the country’s top sports achievers in the coming San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards (SMC-PSA) Night on Feb. 16 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Sen. Villar, whose rags-to-riches’ tale has inspired many Filipinos from all walks of life, was chosen by the PSA as guest speaker in the awards ceremonies, held annually to pay tribute to the men and women in sports, who made the year truly memorable.

“We are confident that Sen. Villar will inspire our athletes to keep on striving for excellence, especially in the international arena, this being an Olympic year,” said PSA president Aldrin Cardona of the Daily Tribune.

Only recently, the Senator proposed for the holding of a tripartite sports congress of respected figures in Philippine sports, the private sector and the government to map out preparations for the Philippine participation in the Beijing Olympics.

“The state of Philippine sports can be remedied by a collective effort, not by finger-pointing. We must get our act together to address problems plaguing the sports,” Villar said.

World boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and Southeast Asian Games’ best athlete swimmer Miguel Molina lead this year’s PSA awardees as co-Athletes of the Year.

Ring icon Manny Pacquiao, who is currently deep into training for his March 15 rematch with World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, is the recipient of the PSA President’s Award, while his co-nominees for the Athlete of the Year title, namely world 8-ball champion Ronnie Alcano, golfer Frankie Miñoza, and chess grandmaster Wesley So, are major awardees of their respective sports.

Other major honorees in the daylong affair also backed by Shakey’s, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), Accel, Toby’s and Raymundo’s Trophies and Sculptures (www.raymundosawards.com), and broadcast live over DZSR Sports Radio 918, are Mark Caguioa for professional basketball, Jason Castro for amateur basketball, and Patti Dilema and Es Twenty Six for horseracing.

The Toby’s-Tony Siddayao Youth Excellence Awards will be given to jungolfers Mia Legaspi and Marcel Puyat and the Philippines’ Junior Wushu Team, led by Mary Stepanie Agbay (taijisword) and Henson John See (cudgel) led the charge.

Citations will also be handed out to the Filipino gold medalists of the Thailand Southeast Asian Games, world boxing champions Gerry Peñalosa, Donnie Nietes and Florante Condes, the RP men’s tennis and road cycling team, PhilCycling, cue artists Rubilen Amit, golfers Dottie Ardina, Darwin Laylo, Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay, wushu artist Willy Wang, boxers Harry Tañamor and AJ Banal, Harbour Centre, University of Santo Tomas, Shakey’s, Tony Aldeguer, karter Stephano Marcelo, motocross rider Kenneth San Andres, powerlifter Lily Pecante and SM Mall of Asia.

Spicing up the event is a rock and dance concert, a fashion show featuring Accel’s latest summer collection and swimwear, a photo exhibit and a sports memorabilia. The concert will be top-billed by reggae veteran Tropical Depression and Baguio City sensation Session Road, with support from all-male dance group Abztract Dancers, and other rock acts Dream Kitchen, Pancake 80 and 52nd Street.