Manny Pacquiao

The men and women who did us proud in the world of sports a year ago get their well-deserved dues Monday night when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) pay homage to them through its Annual Awards Night presented by Coca-Cola at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

The universally recognized pound-for-pound fighter in boxing Monday Manny Pacquiao and the all-female quintet of pool player Rubilen Amit, long jumper Marestella Torres and taekwondo jins Camille Alarilla, Janice Lagman and Rani Ann Ortega head the more than 70 personalities and entities to be toasted during the two-hour rite emceed by Formula Three driver turned model Gabby dela Merced and popular sportscaster and columnist Quinito Henson.

Pacquiao is the year’s recipient of the Athlete of the Decade honor for his consistent brilliancy in the ring, while Amit, Torres, Alarilla, Lagman and Ortega are the recipients of the prestigious Athlete of the Year award following their major triumphs in the international front in 2009.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero will deliver an inspirational message as special guest of honor during the event also presented by Smart, PLDT, Pacific Online System Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Harbour Centre, Accel and the PCSO, with DZSR Sports Radio 918 airing the affair live.

Joining Escudero and the country’s sportswriting fraternity in paying respect to Filipino athletes are top sports officials led by International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and PSC chairman Harry Angping.

A list that includes women’s boxing champion Annie Albania, ring titlists Nonito Donaire Jr., Rodel Mayol, Brian Viloria, Donnie Nietes and Marvin Sonsona, pool legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, chess whiz Wesley So, netters Cecil Mamiit and Francis Casey Alcantara, golfers Chihiro Ikeda and Elmer Salvador, trackster Arniel Ferreira, judoka John Baylon, cyclist Joel Calderon, jockey Jesse B. Guce, champion horse Don Enrico and basketball MVP JayJay Helterbrand will be recognized with a major award for their respective achievements in 2009.

Not to be missed out are the gold medal winners in the 25th Southeast Asian Games who are going to be feted with a special award for leading the country to a fighting fifth in the biennial meet Vientiane, Laos hosted for the first time.

Two promising athletes in Patricia Llena and Carlos Philippe Winsett Palanca on the other hand, are receiving the Tony Siddayao Youth award, while the National Sports Association of the Year will be bestowed to the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa).

There will be 10 honorees who are accepting citations from the country’s oldest media organization composed of sportswriters and editors from the major broadsheets and tabloids, led by back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball champion Ateneo and the world titlist dragon boat team.

Also part of the program that will have Viva recording artist Triz Reyes serenading all awardees is the tribute to be given to sports greats and officials who passed away last year.

The complete list of awardees:

ATHLETE OF THE DECADE: Manny Pacquiao

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: Rubilyn Amit, Marestella Torres, Rani Ann Ortega, Janice Lagman, and Camille Alarilla

MAJOR AWARDEES: Arniel Ferreira (athletics), Jayjay Helterbrand (basketball), Rodel Mayol (pro boxing), Donnie Nietes (pro boxing), Brian Viloria (pro boxing), Nonito Donaire Jr. (pro boxing), Marvin Sonsona (pro boxing), Annie Albania (amateur boxing), Efren “Bata” Reyes (billiards), Francisco “Django” Bustamante (billiards),Wesley So (chess), Joel Calderon (cycling), Elmer Salvador (men’s golf), Chihiro Ikeda (women’s golf), John Baylon (judo), Cecil Mamiit (tennis), Francis Casey Alcantara (tennis), Jesse B. Guce (Jockey of the Year), Don Enrico (Horse of the Year).

SPECIAL AWARDS: Gold medalists in 2009 Laos SEA Games

N.S.A. OF THE YEAR: Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa)
TONY SIDDAYAO AWARD: Patricia Llena, Carlos Philippe Winsett Palanca

CITATIONS: Ajay Pathak, Dragon boat team,Ateneo Blue Eagles, Lily Picante,Hong Sung Chon, Philippine Olympic Festival, Josephine Medina, Ernie Gawilan, Enzo Pastor, Jonathan Tiu