MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay lends prestige to the PSA Annual Awards Night as he serves as guest of honor and speaker in the March 3 affair to be held at the Manila Hotel.

A noted sportsman and current president of the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA), Binay is gracing the special event for the very first time since being elected as the country’s second highest official in 2010.

“We are deeply honored for the kind gesture of Vice-President Binay in accepting our invitation to be the keynote speaker when the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) pays homage to the best of 2011 during its Annual Awards Night,” said PSA president Rey Bancod, sports editor of Tempo.

Binay, who also served as Makati City mayor from 1986-1998 and 2001-2010, leads the sportswriting community in toasting boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and billiards king Dennis Orcollo as co-winners of the prestigious Athlete of the Year honor.

Both Donaire and Orcollo are now two-time winners of the highest accolade being bestowed yearly by the country’s oldest media organization, composed of editors and sportswriters of the different national broadsheets and tabloids.

Donaire was Athlete of the Year in 2007 along with swimmer Miguel Molina, while Orcollo shared the award in 2010 with fellow pool great Francisco ‘Django’ Bustamante, bowling champion Biboy Rivera, and Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar.