EJ Obiena inspires young athletes at Siklab Youth Sports Awards

Young Heroes Awardees during the 3rd Siklab Youth Sports Awards. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–For most, if not all, of the awardees, the 3rd Siklab Youth Sports Awards held at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City on Monday evening was a night to remember.

Projected as bright prospects in their respective sport, majority of the 60 awardees basked in the limelight where established sports idol EJ Obiena of pole vault equipped them with several game-changing pointers in their journey to greatness.

Listening intently to these words of wisdom were Go For Gold Young Heroes Awardees Gennah Malapit of athletics (javelin throw), fencers Andrea Sayson, Alexa Larrazabal, Rex Dela Cruz, gymnast Ancilla “Charlie” Manzano, all of them medalists in the Southeast Asian Games.

World Games champion Alyssa Kylie Mallari of muay, kickboxer Fitzchel Martine Fermato, jiu-jitsu’s Santino Luzuriaga, golfer Rianne Malixi and gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo joined them on stage in the event also supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Smart/PLDT, CEL Logistics, JC, NLEX, Pacquiao 3-in-1 Coffee and Giligan’s with Market! Market! and Ayala Malls as venue partners.

Eldrew Yulo at the Siklab Awards.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The third edition of the award-giving ceremony for the nation’s top junior and youth athletes across all sports likewise presented a special citation to the Youth Football League and the Davao Aguilas Football Club of grassroots sports benefactors Mike Atayde and Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde.

Young para athletes Ariel Alegarbes and Angel Mae Otom of para swimming were likewise recognized in the gala attended by Commissioners Olivia “Bong’’ Coo and Edward Hayco, Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general Atty. Wharton Chan and Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo and PPC secretary general Goody Custodio.

Bowler Artegal Barrientos and his team of four teammates—Zach Ramin, Stephen Luke Diwa and Marc Dylan Custodio—were present for winning two gold medals in the Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships.

Recognizing the importance of the country’s campaign in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, sports godfather of the year Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he would help seek additional funding to aid Olympiad-bound athletes in their preparation.

The senator authored and co-sponsored Republic Act 11470, which established the National Academy of Sports (NAS), and has been an ardent supporter of Philippine sports. This has led Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Sports to be recognized in the gala awards organized by the PSC-POC Media Group.

Burlington Super Kids awardees Sebastien Neil Mañalac, ice hockey’s Kimberly Athena Sze, Joseph Anthony Godbout of modern pentathlon, muay’s Jan Brix Ramiscal, Hussein Loraña of athletics, Trisha Mae Del Rosario (obstacle sports) and volleyball’s Khylem Progella were likewise honored.

Joining them were Lucho Aguilar (wrestling/grappling), jiu-jitsu’s Ella Olaso and Ellise Xoe Malilay, wushu’s Alexander Gabriel Delos Reyes and gymnast Jasmine Althea Ramilo.

Aielle Aguilar, a two-time jiu-jitsu world champion at six years old, brightened up the mood during the award rites along with fellow Blue Hydra Rising Stars Ayona Huerto of rowing, fencer Jodie Danielle Tan, jiu-jitsu’s Princess Reuma, cycling’s Maritanya Krog and chessers Mark Jay Bacojo, Christian Gian Karlo Arca and Zhaoyu Capilitan, among others.