A pall of gloom descended local sports in the year just passed that saw basketball greats Carlos ‘Caloy’ Loyzaga, coaching icon Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan, and legendary baseball and softball player Filomeno ‘Boy’ Codiñera leave us behind one after the other.
For their immense contribution and as inspiration for this country of 100 million Filipinos, the country’s oldest media organization is honoring them with a posthumous award on Feb. 13 in its traditional gala night also co-presented by CIGNAL/HYPER HD.
Apart from the three celebrated personalities, nine others will also be given the same accolade by the sportswriting fraternity in honor of their memory.
Two-time Olympian Mariano ‘Tom’ Ong, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Cecil Hechanova, veteran broadcaster and columnist Ronnie Nathanielsz, and Blackwater player Gilbert Bulawan are also going to be honored posthumously in the event which has the Philippine Sports Commission, Smart, Phoenix Petroleum, Foton, ICTSI, Globalport, Mighty Sports, and Rain or Shine as major sponsors.
Completing the posthumous list are former Philippine Youth team member and La Salle stalwart Jonas Mariano, University of the Philippines football team member Rogie Maglinas, sports columnist and boxing manager Herminigildo ‘Hermie’ Rivera, pioneer PBA play-by-play anchor Emy Arcilla, and DZSR Sports Radio broadcaster Benjie Castro.