Henson, Canlas lead Olympism awardees

Fourteen individuals, organizations and corporations received Olympism Awards Monday night in elaborate ceremonies at the Coconut Palace at the CCP Complex.

The awardees were Dr. Jose Raul Canlas for sports science and medicine; Ramon Vecina and Alberto Garcia (sports photography), Joaquin "Quinito" Henson (sports journalism), Ricardo "Dick" Ildefonso (sports broadcasting, TV), Guillermo "Willie" Hernandez (sports broadcasting, radio) and Gameplan (sports broadcasting, program), Don Jorge Vargas and Don Antonio delas Alas (sports leadership, posthumous), BEST Center and Coke Go-for-Goal (sports development), Philippine Indigenous Games and Sports Savers Association Inc. (sports and culture), Nestle Phils./Milo and San Miguel Corp. (sports support).

National Security Adviser and former boxing association president Roilo Golez and Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon graced the affair and delivered inspirational remarks that stressed the Filipinos’ capacity to excel in sports.

They also praised Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit for his efforts in reviving the Olympism Awards and congratulated him for writing a book titled "The Olympic Movement in the Philippines" which was also launched Monday.

The awarding rites and the book launching capped the country’s 109th anniversary celebration of the Olympic Movement.

Except for Garcia, Manila Times chief photographer who became well-known worldwide for his picture on the Mt. Pinatubo eruption which was picked by Time Magazine as "Best Picture of the Year" in 1999, all individual winners personally received their Olympic Torch glass trophies handcrafted by National Sculptor Ramon Orlina.

The other recipients were Mr. and Mrs. Nicanor Jorge Jr. for BEST Center, Pat Guc-ong for Nestle/Milo, Philippine Football Federation president Rene Adad for Coke Go-for-Goal, former Olympic swimmer Akiko Thomson for Gameplan, Jose Dion Diaz for PIGSSAI, Alia Vargas for Don Jorge Vargas, Ching Montinola and Menchu Concepcion for Don Antonio delas Alas and Olympism Awards chair Ernesto Fajardo for Hernandez.

Former basketball Olympian Rafael Hechanova chaired the board of judges. The other judges were Trade Secretary Mar Roxas, former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez Jr., Ma. Yolanda Ong, former PBA commissioner Emilio Bernardino Jr. and Carlos "Bobong" Velez.