Uytengsu PSA exec of the year

MANILA, Philippines – A former member of the Philippine team who went on to become one of the country’s most prominent executives will be honored with a special award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association during its Feb. 13 Annual Awards Night presented by San Miguel and Milo at the One Esplanade.

Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., chief executive officer and president of Alaska, is the recipient of the Executive of the Year award from the country’s oldest media organization for his involvement in the promotion and development of various sports, ranging from basketball, triathlon, to football.

At the same time, the billionaire businessman will also address the local sports community and his fellow awardees, led by Athletes of the Year Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire Jr., and Miguel Tabuena, as guest speaker of the formal rites that honor the best and brightest in sports during the past year.

“It’s with great honor and pride for the PSA to pay tribute to a true sportsman in Mr. Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., by bestowing upon him the Executive of the Year. The country’s sportswriting community couldn’t think of any better person of integrity deserving of the award than him,” said PSA president Riera Mallari of the Manila Standard.

As Executive of the Year, Uytengsu is in great company as past recipients of the award include Manny V. Pangilinan, Hans Sy, Ricky Vargas, Dan Palami, and Chito Salud.

A graduate of University of Southern California with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Uytengsu was a one-time national athlete as part of the Philippine men’s swimming team and competed in several international meets, including the 1981 Southeast Asian Games here in Manila.

At 23 and his stint with the national team over, Uytengsu began working at Alaska Milk Corp., founded by his late father, Wilfred Sr., in 1972. It was also the Uytengsu patriarch who commissioned his son on the feasibility of forming a basketball franchise which went to become one of the most accomplished teams in the 41-year history of the pro league, including winning a rare grand slam in 1996.

Uytengsu was responsible for bringing to the country the highly popular Ironman Triathlon and Ironkids, organized the Alaska Football and Power camps, which gathered thousands of future young stars.