WITHOUT a doubt, 2024 Paris Olympics women’s boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will be feted at the 2nd Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) All Women Sports Awards this Saturday at the Century Park Hotel.
The PSC will organize its own awarding event to honor women who have contributed pride and glory through sports, similar to National Women’s Month, when the country and the world commemorate their lives and stories.
The two female boxers will receive this year’s flagship award, Female Athlete of the Year, following their remarkable bronze medal performance at the 33rd Summer Games in Paris last year.
Women On Top
On Tuesday, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Executive Director Paulo Tatad revealed in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex conference hall that these Olympians would be honored.
“We will actually honor our Olympic bronze medalists Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. Sila yung ating Female Athletes of the Year,” Tatad said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
The event was organized in collaboration with the PSC to recognize exceptional Filipino women in sports for their achievements and contributions to the Philippine sports environment.
Meanwhile, Rachel Dumuk, the head of the PSC All-Women Sports Award secretariat, stated that the commission will present several more honors to these athletes.
This class comprises the Lifetime Achievement Award, Major Awards, Outstanding Female Coaches of the Year, Flame Awards, Special Citations, Female Executive Awards, and Posthumous Awards.
The Awardees
On top of these individual honors, Hangzhou Asian Games jiu-jitsu gold medalist Meggie Ochoa, who recently retired from competition, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Bata pa itong Lifetime Awardee natin si Meggie Ochoa, given what she has contributed to the sport so far,” Tatad said, explaining why Ochoa is deserving for the said recognition.
“She just retired as an athlete, but at the same time she’s taking up coaching as she wants to impact the next generation of jiu-jitsu athletes,” she went on to explain.
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, wushu star Agatha Wong, and 77-year-old ultramarathoner Erlinda Ogsimer will get the Flame Awards, which honor female sports stars who are the symbols of their respective sports.
Special Recognition
Several Para athletes, notably Agustina Bantiloc (para archer), Cendy Asusano (para javelin throw), and Citadel Mendoza (para chess), will be recognized as well.
Along with Andrea Estrella (para obstacle course), Edilyn De Asis (para dancesport), Marydol Pamati-an (para powerlifting), Achelle ‘Jinky’ Guion (para powerlifting), and Angel Otom (para swimming).
The PSC, led by Chairman Richard Bachmann, will cite a total 136 awardees and present them with citation plaques and commemorative rings.
The selection committee included Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, Olympian Akiko Thompson, Judith Staples from the National Masters and Seniors Athletics Association of the Philippines.
They will be joined by the Nestle Philippines executive Veronica Cruz, and a representative from the PSC-POC Media Group.
