THIS morning, the most anticipated event honouring the most outstanding Filipino International athletes and sportsmen from this cosmopolitan city and other parts of the Cordilleras will be on centerstage of the 31st Kafagway Sports Luminary Awards Rites to be held at the Silunagan Center of the City Social Welfare and Development Officen at Upper Session Road. The bonanza sporting event which will also honor the premiere patron-event hosts of the 43ed anniversary edition of the Silahis ng Pasko sa Baguio held in the locality last December starts at 9:00 o’clock in the morning.
At the helm of the Roll of Honor is ONE World Lightweight Champion and Fighter of the Years’16 Eduard “The landslide” Folayang, Wushus golden warrior Devine Wally and team Philippine senior master athletics ace Erlinda Lavandia. Folayang will receive the NCCB KSLA’ 2016 “Super Athletes of the year” award: Wally gets the “Duper Athlete of the Year” plum in the women’s class while retired PNP Chief Inspector Lavandia was cited as “Super Athlete of the Decade”.
The other prominent awardees are international car racing champion Carlos Anton and his son Inego and chess GM-elect Haridas Pascua and his father-coach Gilbert. Joining them at podium are the retired Baguio Diocese Bishop Carlito Cenzon for his gold tournament for a cause: City mayor Mauricio Domogan as the sports patron ogfthe decade and mark Sangiao of the Team Lakay. Also on centerstages are veteran trackstar Christabel Martes, archer Kareel Meer Hongitan, ultra-marathoner Sandi Menchi Abahan and Marcelo Bautista; jusior chesser Bea Mendoza and trackster Josh Buenaventure; bodybuilder Reynold Domalsin; wrestler Jayson Baucas; golfer Douglas Puckeet and Jover Jordan from boxing.
Sharing the limelight are UC Athletics Director Alan Elegado, UC Athletic Director Danilo Comg-o; BEAL Commissioner Lt. Col. Rayan Celino and mediamen Harley Palangcho of the Baguio Midland Courier, Roderick Osis and Milo Brioso of SunStar Baguio and sportswriter-promoter Pigeon Lobien.
This year’s KSLA program is the co-sponsored by the NCCB, CSWDO with the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of The Northern Luzon Inc., through the generosity and understanding of Executive Director Arnel Cabanisqas.
Mayor Domogan leads the core of award presentation which include Vice mayor Edision Bilog, DARP President-CEO Prof. Federico Balanag and City Councilors Benny Bomogao and Faustino Olowan.
The Silahis ng Pasko sa Baguio ’16 awardees are Philippine Military academy, AFP; DOT-CAR; Baguio City National High School, PHASES Learning Center, U.S Navy veteran Angel Villarvo and family, baguio Balikbayan couple BOnnoe and Jossie DElinila, Baguio General Hospital and Medical center, BCNHS Dr. Lolita Manzano, businessmen Wilbur Tan, Sony del Rosario and Tessa Romero. From the media aggrupation are the Baguio Midland Courier, SunStar Baguio, Baguio Chronicle, Amianan Balota Ngayon and ABS-CBN TV Patrol Northern Luzon. The mediamen homorees are the Romy Gonzales, Tom Pinaca, Zaldy Comanda, Dobie de Guzman, Edong Carta, Mau Victa and Josedph Zembrano, working committee members of SNPB’16 Quest for the Baguio Lucky Foreign Visitors, an international tourism promotion program in the city. The Benguet Company (Beneco), Rose Bowl and tthje Federation of The Baguio Senor Citizens Association headed by Eduta Ibarra, City Tourism Officer Benny Alhama and his staffer Gabby Keith, PIO Officer Aileen Refuerzo, Engineer and Mrs. Romeo Aquino and Crown Legacy Hotel, complete the pool of awardees.
Again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank his Excellency I.S Ambassador to the Philippine for inviting me to his New year 2017 reception held at the Camp John hay last December. The pictures below showcase another significant event in my treasure chest.