Tuesday, October 03, 2006 Arroyo confers awards on Filipino billiard champs
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday gave presidential medals to Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco "Django" Bustamante for their world-class achievements in the field of billiards.
Bustamante was awarded the presidential medal of merit for being the First World Cup Pool champion. He was given a citation and a medal.
Reyes was given the Order of Lakandula award, with the rank of champion for life. The award was recently created for Filipino individuals and groups who have attained "extraordinary achievements in sports, academics and other fields of competition that foster national pride and inspiration toward excellence and bring honor and prestige to the country."
The "champion for life" medal is made up of 95 percent silver and five percent copper with a 24-karat gold plated finish. It weighs 150 grams and was handcrafted by the Bangko Sentral's Mint and Refinery Operations Department.
Arroyo also cited Dennis Orcollo who won in the World Pool League in Warsaw, Poland. "Today is a pool day for us the Philippines," she said.
Arroyo presented Reyes and Bustamante with cakes shaped like a billiard table complete with billard balls and cue sticks. The medium-sized rectangular cake conceptualized by executive chef Aurora Austria was made up of pound cake covered with butter cream frosting.
Reyes and Bustamante gifted Arroyo with the championship table, especially made for the Philippine Challenge Billiards Tournament held in April 28 to 30, 1994. It was in that tournament that the team of Reyes, Bustamante, Rodolfo Boy Luat, Amang Parica, and Dodong Andam emerged victorious over the US team.
The two players and Arroyo then took turns playing trick shots on the pool table, with Arroyo making the break although the cue ball was the one that fell into one of the pockets. Later on, the President pocketed more shots while it took Reyes and Bustamante several attempts before becoming successful in their shots.
Other Palace officials who tried their luck at the pool table were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Management Staff head Arthur Yap.
Reyes later admitted that he and Bustamante coached Arroyo for about 30 minutes before the photo opportunity.
Bustamante said they will continue to do their best in future competitions.
Reyes said he, Bustamante and Arroyo might play Brunei Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, a billiard and snooker enthusiast, when he comes to the Philippines for the World Pool Championship on November 4 to 12.
Both players said they have played with the Prince before and that he is "very good". Reyes said he almost lost to the Prince. The two players asked Arroyo to watch the games at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Arroyo said she will not play and will just observe the games. (JMR/Sunnex)
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