President Arroyo confers awards on billiards greats Reyes, Bustamante
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
10/02/2006
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred on Monday the Order of Lakandula with the rank Champion for Life on billiards wizard Efren “Bata” Reyes and the Presidential Medal of Merit on Francisco “Django” Bustamante for their achievements in the sport.
During the awarding ceremonies in Malacañang, Arroyo also congratulated Dennis Orcullo for winning a recent tournament in Warsaw, Poland.
She praised the Filipino billiard greats for reaching outstanding heights “from the beer halls to the halls of the world.”
Arroyo was all smiles when she pocketed the 9-ball on a pool table set up in the Palace, saying Reyes and Bustamante had just taught her the game Monday morning.
The two billiards champions said they will be facing the Prince of Brunei in a friendly competition in Manila this November.
At first, they said Arroyo would be joining them on the team but she later said only the two billiards greats would be playing.
Reyes' most recent victories include the San Miguel 9-ball tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia and the International Pool Tour-2006 World Open 8-ball championship in the US, which gave him the biggest cash prize of his sport and his career.
Bustamante, in September, won an international tournament in Bali, Indonesia.
Puyat Sports, the Philippine billiards team, and local officials of Pampanga presented to Arroyo the championship table especially made for the first Philippine Challenge Billiards Tournament held April 28 to 30, 1994, the first local billiards event to be aired on international television.
The Philippine won the event against the USA team then.
The names of the players -- Reyes, Bustamante, Rodolfo "Boy" Luat, Leanardo "Dodong" Andam, and Jose "Amang" Parica -- were etched on a plaque on the side of the table.
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
10/02/2006
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred on Monday the Order of Lakandula with the rank Champion for Life on billiards wizard Efren “Bata” Reyes and the Presidential Medal of Merit on Francisco “Django” Bustamante for their achievements in the sport.
During the awarding ceremonies in Malacañang, Arroyo also congratulated Dennis Orcullo for winning a recent tournament in Warsaw, Poland.
She praised the Filipino billiard greats for reaching outstanding heights “from the beer halls to the halls of the world.”
Arroyo was all smiles when she pocketed the 9-ball on a pool table set up in the Palace, saying Reyes and Bustamante had just taught her the game Monday morning.
The two billiards champions said they will be facing the Prince of Brunei in a friendly competition in Manila this November.
At first, they said Arroyo would be joining them on the team but she later said only the two billiards greats would be playing.
Reyes' most recent victories include the San Miguel 9-ball tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia and the International Pool Tour-2006 World Open 8-ball championship in the US, which gave him the biggest cash prize of his sport and his career.
Bustamante, in September, won an international tournament in Bali, Indonesia.
Puyat Sports, the Philippine billiards team, and local officials of Pampanga presented to Arroyo the championship table especially made for the first Philippine Challenge Billiards Tournament held April 28 to 30, 1994, the first local billiards event to be aired on international television.
The Philippine won the event against the USA team then.
The names of the players -- Reyes, Bustamante, Rodolfo "Boy" Luat, Leanardo "Dodong" Andam, and Jose "Amang" Parica -- were etched on a plaque on the side of the table.
or she could be really young and haven't been to a poolhall in her life!
