Chiz to grace PSA Awards as main guest

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero will be the guest of honor when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) toasts the best and brightest of 2009 during its Annual Awards Night presented by Coca-Cola.

Escudero has a soft spot for sports, making known his personal views on issues concerning Philippine sports.

But on this special night of March 1 at the Manila Hotel, the 40-year old Escudero will be one in honoring and heaping praise on Filipino athletes who did the country proud in the year just passed.

Since being elected as senator, this marks the first time the son of House of Representative’s Salvador H. Escudero III will be attending the two-hour rite also presented by Smart, Pacific Online System Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission, Harbour Centre, PCSO and Accel.

Heading the honor roll list are boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, named Athlete of the Decade by the country’s oldest media organization, and the all-girls quintet of pool player Rubilen Amit, trackster Marestella Torres and taekwondo jins Cecille Alarilla, Janice Lagman and Rani Ann Ortega, all five of whom are the recipients of the coveted Athlete of the Year award.

Also not to be missed out are women’s boxing champion Annie Albania, billiards greats Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, chess idol Wesley So and basketball star JayJay Helterbrand, who are all recipients of a major award along with 14 others.

Completing the roster of major award are Filipino netters Cecil Mamiit and Francis Casey Alcantara, golfers Chihiro Ikeda and Elmer Salvador, trackster Arniel Ferreira, judoka John Baylon, cyclist Joel Calderon, champion horse Don Enrico, jockey Jesse Guce and boxing titlists Nonito Donaire Jr., Marvin Sonsona, Rodel Mayol, Donnie Nietes and Brian Villoria.

To be feted as well are the 38 gold medal winners in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos, who will all receive a Special Award, while side by side with them is the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) adjudged as the National Sports Association of the Year.

The year’s Tony Siddayao Youth Award, meanwhile, will be conferred on young golfer Carlos Philippe Winsett Palanca and powerlifter Patricia Llena, even as citations will be handed out to 10 entities and personalities, led by the world champion Dragon Boat team.

A special part of the program is the short tribute to be given to a long list of sports greats and officials who passed away last year.