Philippine Sports News and Updates

Villar watched as the 87 awardees, the country’s finest athletes in Year 2007, were honored by members of the PSA, the country’s oldest news organization in formal rites starting at 5:30 p.m.

They included boxing champion Nonito Donaire and swimming sensation Miguel Molina.

Manny Pacquiao, who was bestowed the PSA President’s Award, was not around as he’s in the thick of his training in the United States for a March 15 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Before he took the floor, Villar said he had a brief conversation with Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco.

"It’s a pity. But I told him that there are some people in sports who are not sport. That’s why there are bickerings," said Villar, the first Senate president to grace the annual affair.

Villar said there’s nothing different between the status of sports and the country as a whole.

"They both need funds. They both lack the resources. But we have excellent athletes. And despite the challenges ahead, we continue to strive," he said.

The call for unity from the Senate president comes at a time when the country is preparing its top athletes for the Beijing Olympics in August, and where the Philippines is hoping to finally win the elusive gold.

Donaire, a world champion, was so elated with the award, delivering his own speech which he ended by saying "I’m speechless."

Then the Mall of Asia fireworks began.