PSA invites PSC chair as special guest

No less than the country’s top government sports official serves as the special guest speaker of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) when it holds its Annual Awards Night copresented by MILO and San Miguel Corp. four days from now at the 1Esplanade in Pasay City.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richie Garcia will address the local sports community on Feb. 16 as the top achievers of 2014 are honored by the country’s oldest media organization in formal rite.

This marks the first time Garcia will be the keynote speaker in the yearly affair since being named as the head of the country’s government sports agency in 2010.

A former national golfer and PSC commissioner, Garcia also served as the Chef De Mission of the Philippine delegation that competed in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, and whose lone gold medal winner, BMX rider Daniel Caluag, is going to be feted with the prestigious Athlete of the Year honor during the event which has Meralco, Smart, and the MVP Sports Foundation as principal sponsors and the Philippine Sports Commission as major sponsor.

Garcia, now considered as the longest serving PSC chairman, is expected to be at the forefront of honoring the personalities and entities who did their own contributions in further uplifting the state of Philippine sports a year ago.

Besides Caluag, also to be bestowed awards during the event also supported by Globalport, El Jose Catering, PCSO, Rain or Shine, PBA, Maynilad, Accel, ICTSI, PAGCOR, National University, and Air21 are the NU Bulldogs (President’s Award), Hans Sy (Executive of the Year), MVP Sports Foundation Inc. (Sports Patron of the Year), the 1973 Philippine men’s basketball team (Lifetime Achievement Award), Tim Cone (Excellence in Basketball), Mitsubishi (Hall of Fame), Alyssa Valdez (Ms. Volleyball), Jean Pierre Sabido (Mr. Taekwondo), and Princess Superal and Tony Lascuna (Golfers of the Year).

Major Awards will be handed out to Donnie Nietes, San Mig Coffee team, Gabriel Luis Moreno, Michael Christian Martinez, San Beda Red Lions, June Mar Fajardo, Kiefer Ravena, Mark Galedo, Daniella Uy, Mikee Charlene Suede, Jessie Aligaga, Jean Claude Saclag, Philippine dragon boat team, Philippine poomsae team (male under 30), Philippine poomsae team (freestyle), Kid Molave, and Jonathan Hernandez.