4 share top SKC honors

FOR the first time in 18 years, four will share the highest honors of this year's So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation Awards set on Sunday at the Grand Regal Hotel -- swimmer Jose Joaquin "Joboy" Gonzalez, judoka Jenilou Mosqueda, chesser Austin Jacob Literatus and triathlete Mary Pauline Fornea.

Gonzalez and Mosqueda are male and female athletes of the year, respectively, for Manila-based Dabawenyo athletes category while Literatus and Fornea are Davao City-based male and female athletes of the year.

Organizing Davao City Sports Council Inc. (DCSCI) president Beethoven Sur said it is fitting to split the categories for the top awards, saying: "There is no contest that elite athletes based in Manila get better and more exposures in competitions here and abroad. The local category will allow our homegrown talents to also become athletes of the year."

Gonzalez, who swept four gold medals and three silvers in the 2012 POC-PSC National Games in Dumaguete City, was thankful for such honor.

"I'm thankful to the committee for selecting me. It is such an honor to be given a prestigious award again. I am very happy that my achievements are recognized," Gonzalez, a University of Hawaii Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship sophomore, said in text messages. He, who copped a gold in the 35th Southeast Asian Age-Group Championship in Vietnam and two bronzes in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last year, is expected to receive his plaque since he is spending his summer break here until August 4.

Mosqueda, who had been named outstanding athlete for judo for the fourth time, will claim the top award for the first time.

The POC-PSC National Games gold medalist and SEA Games bronze winner Mosqueda said in text messages, "I am very happy for such award because they recognize the efforts of the athletes. If only I can receive the award myself."

Mosqueda, a national athlete and enlisted personnel of the Philippine Coastguard, is currently training in Manila. She is waiting for their schedule of training abroad for the 2012 SEA Games set in Myanmar.

Literatus, a Doña Carmen Denia National High School senior, said he didn't expect to be an athlete of the year for the second time. A three-gold, two-silver winner of the 13th Asean+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Hue City, Vietnam, said, "I am very happy and proud. I didn't expect to be given the same award. I just did my best in all of my tournaments."

Fornea, a University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao student, was speechless when hearing the news of her being chosen for the top honor.

"Lahat po ng ginagawa ko, may purpose po at si God po nagbigay ng purpose. Hindi ko po talaga aakalain na mano-nominate po ako as athlete of the year. Marami din po kasing magagaling na mga atleta from different sports. Ako po ay nagsisikap para po sa lungsod, sa bayan, para din po sa aking mga pangarap, at lalo na po para kay God," Fornea said via Facebook.

Fornea went on to thank organizers of the So Kim Cheng Sports Awards for giving her the chance to be an athlete of the year. She also thanked the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP)/National Triathlon Team/Philippines Sports Commission, Tom Carrasco and her coaches especially Arthur Compra who discovered her; Sante Barley Triathlon Team and Sir Joey Marcelo for the sponsorship and UP Min.

She thanked her family, Rodriguez Aquatics Swimming Team under Jun Rodrigues for all of Davao City's swimming coaches, Emcor's Celso Villegas, Merco's Anton Ferrazzini, Joel Dacudao, Kenneth Garcia and Bisikleta Bikeshop for supporting her as well as her friends.

This year's sports leadership awardees are Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. president and CEO Dennis Uy and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas-Mindanao Cluster B director Regino "Boy" Cua for their great leadership and generous and valuable efforts that benefit the local sports community.