NEGROS Occidental’s Panaad Park and Stadium and Ceres Negros FC were awarded as the Sports Venue of the Year and Sports Association of the Year, respectively, during the recent 3rd Sports Tourism Awards held at the Grand Wing of Resorts World Manila last November 26, 2019.
The recognition was given by the Philippines Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) to the country’s top sports tourism destinations, events, and organizers. Presenting the awards are PSTA founder and chairman Charles Lim, co-presented by Pauland Dumlao, president, and managing director of Primetime, and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr.
Receiving the award for Negros Occidental is Anthony Carlo Agustin, Provincial Sports Coordinator and Executive Assistant to Gov. Eugenio “Bong” Lacson, while Ali Go took the award on behalf of the Ceres Negros FC.
For Agustin, the award is an inspiration for the provincial government to further strengthen its capabilities in promoting more sports undertakings across the province.
Leading the top awardee is Clark Freeport as Destination of the Year for organizing and supporting over 200 sporting events in the free port zone last year alone.
Receiving the award is Noel Manankil, president of Clark Development Corporation.
Other awardees are Sunrise Events, Inc. (Event Organizer of the Year -Private), Dumaguete City (Event Organizer of the Year -Government), Subic Bay (Event of the Year Ironman), Resorts World Manila (Charity Event of the Year), Davao City (Destination Marketing of the Year - Ironman), Sunlife Financial (Event Sponsorship of the Year), Philippine Airlines (Airline of the Year), AA Philippines (MICE Event of the Year), Hotel of the Year (Marco Polo Plaza Cebu), Adventure Event of the Year (Cebu Pacific - Juan For Fun), and Philippine Sports Commission/Philippine National Games (Event of the Year - Domestic).
The PSTA originated from the long-standing Sports Tourism Forum (STF) which originated in Cebu in 2004 but, later made into an educational series on sports tourism event management supported by the Department of Tourism for event organizers, sports associations, hotels, sports clubs, and local sports and tourism offices.