Tingzon feted tonight in PONY anniversary

MANILA, Philippines - Former Congressman Rodolfo “Totoy” Tingzon, regarded as godfather of Philippine youth baseball, will be among officials to be honored tonight in a formal dinner highlighting the 35th Asia PONY anniversary celebrations in Tokyo, Japan.

Baseball leaders from 10 member nations together with officials from PONY International headed by its president, Abraham Key, will be on hand to witness the event.

Also to be feted is Japan’s Shinsuke Ito.

Tingzon and Ito will be honored for their great contributions to the PONY Asia Pacific Organization which counts among its members Japan, Korea, China, Russia, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Tingzon established the Little League organization in the country in the early 60’s and, as concurrent head of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) and the Manila Bay Baseball League (MBBL) in 1975, introduced PONY International in Asia.