Dejaño, Hayco to be honored at SAC Awards

CEBU, Philippines — A selfless sports doctor and a dedicated public servant who have served Cebu and Philippine sports for decades will be recognized for their contribution to the community in the highly anticipated 38th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Beer (SAC-SMB) Cebu Sports Awards at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 26, at The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.

Dr. Rhoel Dejaño, an experienced sports doctor who is never shy to share his expertise pro bono, will be honored with the “Sportsman of the Year” award, which has been renamed to Rico Navarro Trophy in honor of the late SAC president who passed away in September 2020.

Interestingly, the two are good friends having worked together at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu where Navarro was the athletic director and Dejaño the team doctor.

But it is not his work with Ateneo that Dejaño will be feted but his little-known advocacy where he offers his services to injured Cebuano athletes for free, making sure that  they are nursed back to health with the proper rehabilitation and treatment.

A Cebu City Sports Commissioner, Dejaño also served as a volunteer at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.

On the other hand, Edward Hayco is this year’s Presidential awardee. He spearheaded the massive and world record-setting grassroots program of the Cebu City Sports Commission during his time as CCSC chairman for over a decade.

The acknowledged “Father of Cebu dancesport”, Hayco is now a Philippine Sports Commissioner, bringing his advocacy for grassroots sports to the national level.

As the lead commissioner for the PSC’s grassroots initiative, Hayco has taken the Cebu model to at some areas in the country, conducting sports summits to boost the country’s sports initiatives. (Pooled Report)