KUNG HEI PATO!

NAGPUPUGAY ang inyong kakorner sa lahat ng tumanggap ng parangal mula sa pinaka-prestihiyosong samahan ng sportswriters sa bansa sa bonggang seremonya na ginanap sa grandeng bulwagan ng Diamond Hotel sa Maynila kamakalawa.

Sa lahat ng major awardees, napakakinang ng parangal sa pinuno ng Philippine Sports Commission na si PATRICK ‘Pato’ Gregorio at ang kanyang presensiya sa gabi ng gawad ng San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association ay tunay na nagdulot ng paghanga at inspirasyon sa mga naroon sa bulwagan.

For the dynamic work he’s done as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission in such a short time, Gregorio, 58, is the recipient of the Executive of the Year award from the country’s oldest media organization which mounts the traditional gala night.

Si Gregorio kasama ang dalawang namamayagpag na sports figures sa Pilipinas na sina gymnast Carlos Yulo at rising tennis star Alex Eala na ginawaran bilang Male and Female Athletes of the Year, ay taos ang kanyang pasasalamat sa lahat ng nagtitiwala sa kanyang kakayahan bilang sports czar lalo na sa nagnombra sa kanyang si PBBM.

A one-time top hotelier and sports executive under the MVP Group, Gregorio transitioned from the corporate world to public service with ease.

The proud alumnus of the University of the Philippines didn’t lose time and went to work right away.

First order of the day for Gregorio was an across-the-board increase of P5,000 to the monthly allowances of national athletes and coaches.

He also made the novelty move of opening the doors of the track and field ovals at the Rizal Memorial Complex, Philsports, and the Teachers Camp in Baguio to the public in line with the PSC’s program for a healthy citizenry.

Under Gregorio’s leadership, the country also hosted major international tournaments such as the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, and the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, emphasizing that such global sports events can turn the Philippines into a top tourism destination.

With the belief that sports and tourism go hand in hand, the former PBA chairman and president of the Philippine Rowing Association was named head of the National Sports Tourism-Interagency Committee which was responsible for the staging of the first ever WTA 125 tournament in the country via the Philippine Women’s Open, where Eala served as the main attraction in her first major tournament in the country.

Massive renovations at the Rizal Memorial Complex including the tennis center, baseball pitch, media conference room, the Philsports track oval, and training facilities in Baguio were also made under Gregorio’s watch.

As former POC secretary general, the eldest brother of coaches Ryan and Allan Gregorio also made sure of a harmonious working relationship between the government sports agency and the country’s Olympic governing body, identified grassroots talent outside of Metro Manila, and ensure the continuity in sports development initiatives.

Named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 2003 for Tourism Management, Gregorio also once served as the first ever executive director of the then newly-recognized Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, was secretary general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, and executive vice president of the MVP Sports Foundation.

Pakiusap ng buong sports community sa kinauukulan, nakahanap na ng tunay na lider ang PSC, 'diyan na lang siya for life para buhay na buhay ang sports sa bansa at laging nakapag-uuwi ng karangalan ang ating mga atleta mula international competitions at marami pang sasabakang bakbakan ngayong 'year of the horse '26..

KUNG HEI PATO!