DISTINGUISHED athletes from the Summer Capital were honored during the annual Kafagway International Sports Luminary Achievers Awards held at the City Social Welfare Development Office-Silungan Center Social Hall February 20.
More than 30 individuals, private agencies, and sport organizations were acknowledged during the 30th anniversary edition presented by the National Correspondents Club of Baguio.
Led by World Wushu Champion Divine Wally, who received the Athlete of the Year award, a total of 34 awardees were cited in the formal rites backed by the City Government of Baguio.
Wally was chosen to top the local award ceremony, the second of its kind in the entire country following the Annual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards, after her golden performance in the biennial 13th World Wushu Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia last year.
Alongside Wally was renowned golfer Fred Pucket, who received the athlete of the decade cited after leading Baguio’s charge in the yearly Fil-Am International Golf Tournament held November up to December.
Asian Games gold medalist Daniel Parantac (wushu), was bestowed the coach of the year title, while former National Athletics Team member Arturo Alimbuyao of Baguio City National High School was given the coach of the decade honors.
International Master Haridas Pascua was cited as the most promising athlete of the year after nearly completing his target to be the next Filipino, the first Baguio-based, Grandmaster in history.
The Wushu Federation of the Philippines Cordillera Chapter headed by its president Tony Candelaria was named sports organization of the decade, Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao was given the sports promoter for excellence award, alongside DepEd-Baguio Supervisor for MAPEH Fernando Eleponga who took the sportsman of the decade plum.
Kafagway Sports Awards committee chairman Nars Padilla asserted the award giving committee exists mainly for recognizing people who deserve to be valued, specifically the local sports men who always bring Baguio to the world map with their respective achievements.
Padilla added the annual recognition is emphasized on giving moral support to each of the individuals who dedicate themselves to sports development.
Other awardees are husband and wife Reynold and Leigh Domalsin, who were cited as the male and female bodybuilders of the year, Kareel Meer Hongitan and Loren Chloe Balaoing who were both awarded the archers of the year, Katherine Khay Santos as the trackster of the year, while MMA fighters of the year were Kevin Belingon, Crisanto Pitpitunge, and Gina Iñiong, while Jujeath Nagaowa was the boxer of the year.
Ken Alieson Omengan, Spencer Bahud, and Thornton Lou Sayan were cited as wushu warriors of the year, Carlos Anton as car racer for the year, together with Agustin Kitan, Jaime Mangiga, and Agustina Bantiloc who were recognized as PWD Olympian awardees.
Sandi Menchi Abahan and Marcelo Bautista were also included in the list for being the ultra-marathon aces for men and women.
University of Baguio’s athletic director Ed Laureano, NIIT Administrator-BOD Vladimir Cayabas, La Trinidad Mayor Edna Tabanda, and Highland Boxing Gym owner Brico Santig were also cited for their support for the promotion of sports in Baguio and the Province of Benguet.
Apart from the sport individuals different local media outfits were also recognized for their invaluable support to sports and the sporting community including Sun.Star Baguio as an outstanding sport promoter for print together with OIC-Editor-in-Chief Roderick Osis.