By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine women’s national football team and Paralympic swimmer Angel Otom banner the honor roll in the 3rd Women in Sports Awards at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City Friday, March 20.
In line with the celebration of International Women’s Month, the annual event, led by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), gives 83 Filipinas the deserved spotlight — all of whom have made meaningful contributions and lasting impact in their respective fields.
Headlining the awardees are the Filipinas and Otom who were named as this year’s Athletes and Para Athlete of the Year, respectively, after their historic exploits in the past few months.
The Filipinas highlighted their campaign in the past months with the country’s first-ever gold-medal win in the women’s football event at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December. They recently concluded their stint at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Sydney, Australia.
The 22-year-old Otom, on the other hand, stamped her class in the ASEAN Para Games, also on Thai soil, where she captured five gold medals in five individual events and a silver in the 4x50m freestyle relay.
Led by sports commissioner and bowling legend Bong Coo, the event seeks to encourage youth participation, highlight women’s contributions to sports, advance gender-inclusive development and equality, and honor their role in bringing glory to the nation.
“Importante na bigyan ng kahalagahan ‘yong mga efforts ng ating mga Filipina athletes pati na rin ‘yong involve na mga Pinay,” said Coo during Tuesday’s PSA Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
“Siyempre to encourage din ‘yong mga magulang na wag matakot na i-try ng anak nila ang sports, lalo na sa mga batang babae na sumubok, kasi they could be the future of Philippine sports,” she added.
Apart from the Filipinas and Otom, also set to receive major awards are seasoned pentathlete Brenda Ramos-Zinampan (Masters), and maiden Ina ng Atletang Pinoy recipient First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.
Flame awardees are former Athlete of the Year winner, two-time Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio and 21-year-old racer Bianca Bustamante. Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) chief Cynthia Carrion will also be honored.
For the Lifetime Achievement trophy, Inna Palacios (football), Olympian Marestella Torres (athletics), Paralympian Adeline Dumapong (Para powerlifting), and former top bowlers Liza Del Rosario and Rebecca Hizon Watanabe earn the said award.
“This would be a great event… dahil we’re giving recognition sa ating mga kababaihan sa sports, and siyempre mas makilala sila rito sa bansa,” Coo added as the awards night set for a bigger venue after its first two editions were held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Century Park Hotel both in Manila.
