THE members of the Philippine Sportswriters Association are ecstatic over the proposal of guest of honor and speaker Manuel V. Pangilinan, who was hailed as Sports Patron of the Year at the PSA Annual Awards Friday night.

PSA president Aldrin Cardona, who in his two years of leadership strengthened the integrity of the oldest sports association in the country, said PSA members were ecstatic over the P1 million pledged by Pangilinan for the setting up of a much-needed foundation for the benefit of the men and women the sports patron referred to as “a key factor in the promotion of sports.”

Cardona said he was surprised at the amount despite what he termed “the generous nature” of Pangilinan.

He said he studied all options from the most simple to the most complex with Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, who handles PLDT-Smart’s involvement in sports funding and journalist/broadcaster Ed Picson, the newly appointed executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

The PSA president said that when the proposal was made by Pangilinan, he merely expected a donation of around P200,000 to P300,000 and was flabbergasted when the sports patron mentioned P1 million in extemporaneous remarks at the end of his address during the awards ceremonies.

Newly appointed Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping also pledged P500,000, but the biggest roar from the gathering was reserved for Manny Pacquiao who matched the P1 million pledge of Pangilinan.

To the PSA president, Pacquiao’s pledge was the biggest surprise of all and one that sportswriters at the venue truly appreciated.

A smiling Pacquiao said he owed a lot to the sportswriters who had chronicled his exploits and supported him through the years.

“Thank you for all your support and please continue to pray for me in my next fight against Ricky Hatton on May 2,” said Pacquiao.

In his off-the-cuff remarks, Pangilinan, one of the country’s outstanding businessmen-sportsmen, said the foundation would have to adopt the proper governance so that the funds that it raises could be properly and transparently used for the benefit of the sportswriters.

In providing the incentive for the establishment of a foundation, Pangilinan said he has always felt that “the sports we are trying to promote are not quite in the radar screen of the Filipinos” and this is where the help of media is needed. Ronnie Nathanielsz