President Arroyo has graciously accepted at the last minute the invitation to be the special guest in the simple but fitting two-hour rites feteing the best and brightest in local sports who did their share in making the year just passed a truly memorable one.

This marks the second time since she became President in 2001 that Mrs. Arroyo will be attending the awards night of the country’s oldest media organization composed of sportswriters from national broadsheets and tabloids.

Together with guest of honor and speaker Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, President Arroyo will personally hand the elegant Athlete of the Year trophy to Team Philippines, recipient of the highest award being given by the 100-member, 56-year- old association.

"The presence of no less than President Arroyo makes the affair a truly special night for our athletes," said PSA President Jimmy Cantor of Malaya.

Team Philippines was bestowed the Athlete of the Year award by virtue of its historic triumph in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games which saw the country bagged the overall title for the first time since joining the meet in 1977.

Diver Sheila Mae Perez, one of four Filipino three gold medal winners in the biennial meet, banners the 22 other athletes who will be the recipient of the major awards during the program sponsored by Red Bull, supported by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and to be telecast on a delayed basis by NBN 4.

Sharing the spotlight with them will be the rest of the Filipino SEA Games gold medallists and other athletes who shone in their respective sports, among them are pro boxer Manny Pacquiao, golfer Jennifer Rosales and basketball star Eric Menk.

Meanwhile, 17 personalities and entities led by San Miguel Corp. are among those to be given citations during the affair.

To be handed out the Antonio M. Siddayao award given to young outstanding talents are golfers Wolen Superal and Miguel Tabuena.

For scoring a six-gold medal romp in the SEA Games, the Philippine Dragon Boat was unanimously voted as the most outstanding national sports association.

Special citation will be received by the Para Games RP contingent for bagging a record 22 gold medals in the 3rd ASEAN Para Games and Joseph Dumuk for his role in making the overall medal tally in the last SEA Games as accurate as possible as part of the RP secretariat.

Amateur basketball stalwart Alex Compton and lovely sports broadcaster Patricia Bermudez-Hizon will be hosting the awards night.