Thursday, January 15, 2009 Vic Sai Awards set By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez committed to donate P50,000 to the Davao City Sports Council Inc. (DSCCI) which is organizing the Vic Sai Sports Journalism Awards set on April 9.
April 9 is the birth anniversary of Victorio Sai, the late DCSCI president and Davao City sports journalist.
Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña, president of the DCSCI, bared this during their regular meeting at the Dencia's Restaurant Tuesday evening.
Laviña said they will have to raise P200,000 to fund the dinner party, souvenir program and cash prizes for the winners of four categories, namely: best news story, best news feature, best photograph and best sports column article.
"San Miguel Corporation also made a commitment while we are still awaiting feedback from Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation). Solicitations are available starting next week," Laviña said.
"Every DCSCI member who has solicited will receive a corresponding commission. Let's all give our best efforts to this project in memory of our late president and in honor of our friends from the sports media who also worked with Vic Sai," he added.
The councilor from the first district said committees have already been formed for the awards night, the first of its kind in Mindanao and even in the entire country.
Aside from honoring those in mainstream sports media, the awarding rites will also give citation to the best high school and college school papers with a sports page.
"We are limiting categories for print media within Davao City. We might consider extending the scope to the Davao region, Mindanao or Philippines in the future," Laviña said.
He said published stories from January 1 to December 31, 2008 will be accepted.
DCSCI members present during the meeting were baseball/softball's Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia, chess's Ronnie Tabudlong, swimming's Deedee Gonzalez, track and field's Belen Kempis Taala, badminont's Rizza Quicoy, sepak takraw's Nilda Sebellino, bodybuilding's Ben Sur, arnis's Mario Palazuelo, karatedo's Rommel Tan and tenpin bowling's Billy Magdale.
