The late photojournalist Edgardo Arro will be honored in the 16th So Kim Cheng (SKC) Sports Awards Night on July 22.
Arro, who worked for the Mindanao Times and was a member of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA), died last May 29 of cardiac arrest.
His wife, Rosenda, children Edel Jane, Edison, Eden and Edgardo Jr. Will receive the posthumous award from SKC Foundation chairman So Peng Kee and son Dexter So and Davao City Sports Council Inc. president Peter Lavina.
Arro, 52, covered events for the Times owned Willie “WT” Torres, also a photography enthusiast, and contributed photos to Agence France, AFP and to the GMA TV website edition.
Despite his numerous assignments, Arro included the sports beat in his coverage. He also covered the prestigious Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament, an assignment enjoyed so much.
Meanwhile, nominations have been submitted to the SKC Foundation for the annual gathering to honor outstanding athletes and to remember the late sports philanthropist, So Kim Cheng, former head of the Sports Council and national president of the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (Tatap).
The nominees are swimmer Jose Joaquin Gonzales and judoka Aimie Panes for the athletes of the year award.
Also nominated in the other events are Ulvier Albiso and Maria Strella Sapar for arnis, Jonash Melchor and Ailyn Manero for athletics, Arturo Galendez and Tessa Dianne Galendez (tenpin bowling), Fritz Gerald Barros (duckpin bowling), Gil Ablanque and Jacquline Caragao for table tennis, Jamilo Pacot for judo, May Pauelen Fornea for swimming, Dan Kristian Millan and Reinzee Nicole Pangilinan for taekwondo, Marissa Mae Languido for softball, Rogie Emiliano for baseball, Mohammad Sacar and Elaine Alcordo for chess, Joel Cabusas and Princess Anne Castillo for lawn tennis, Michael Anthony Barriga for boxing, Ryan Ylanan for bodybuilding, Jessa Mae Ramos for karatedo, Steve Grandeza for muay thai.
Team awardees are the Davao City Bowlers Association-Phoenix Team (Ninfa Daclan, Cheche Calida, Even Vecino, Ely Morsua, Norma Plata); the Southern Mindanao Beach Volleyball Team, the Davao Region Athletic Association Football Team and the Holy Child 3-on-3 Basketball Team.
Special awards will be accorded to Manuel Rapiz Nierra (tenpin bowling), Chihiro Ikeda (golf), Lee Van Corteza (billiards), Rey A. Ylanan (bodybuilding), Jose “Boy” Sapar (arnis) and Pedro Manulat (volleyball).
A leadership award will also be given to Pedro “Pete” San Jose, former president of the Private Schools Athletic Association-Southern Mindanao Chapter. [MOSES P. BILLACURA]
