THE deadline for submission of entries to the 1st Vic Sai Sports Journalism Awards has been moved to March 18 instead from March 15, which falls on a Sunday.

Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña, president of Davao City Sports Council Inc. (DCSCI), said in a press statement Monday the postponement would give sportswriters busy with Araw ng Dabaw activities more time to hand in entries.

Panagbenga 2009 blog

He said nominations are still open for the best news report, sports news feature, sports column, and sports photos. Entries, according to him, must be an original or photocopy of the publication bearing the name and address of the nominee.

Members of the press who want to join the contest are advised to submit their entries at the councilor's Room 3 office at the City Council building. Laviña said they will accept entries until 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

Laviña, in a conversation with Sun.Star during the DCSCI regular meeting, said they are looking forward to receiving more nominees for best sports page from local high school and college newspapers.

"The awards will not only recognize mainstream media but also school papers with the best sports page," Laviña said.

The awarding ceremonies, the first of its kind in Mindanao and in the country, will be on April 4, five days ahead of veteran sportswriter and former DCSCI president Vic Sai's birth anniversary.

The milestone event is set at Pantawan Hall of Pagcor Casino Davao in Grand Regal Hotel.

"We are thankful for our partners Pagcor Davao, San Miguel Corporation through Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Nestle Philippines through its Davao office, and other sponsors and supporters," Laviña said.

Sai's death anniversary falls on March 16, also the 72nd Araw ng Dabaw founding celebration.

His son, Kenneth, organized a Vic Sai Araw ng Dabaw Run on March 15 in an out-and-back course from Gaisano Mall of Davao to commemorate his death.

Kenneth earlier expressed his gratitude to DCSCI for staging an awards night in memory of his dad. (MLSA)