Owing to their contribution in the field of sports, particularly in mixed martial arts, members of Team Lakay joined other Filipino athletes during the second installment of the Konsyerto sa Palasyo (KSP) in Malacañang.
Coach Mark Sangiao, his son Jhanlo, Carlo Von Bumina-ang, fresh from their ONE Championship stint in Thailand, with some of Team Lakay fighters together with more than 300 athletes were part of the audience on Sunday, in recognition of their efforts to bring pride and honor to the country.
The KSP is a concert series that seeks to showcase the talents of emerging performing artists while recognizing the contributions of different sectors. Sangiao and Team Lakay was the only non-national team contingent who was personally invited by USec. Franz Imperial and ASec. Karen Alvarez from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) who was given tribute during the program initiated by the Office of the President, PCO and RTVM. KSP, which started last April, aims to support the pandemic-hit creative industries. The first installment of the concert series was dubbed “Awit ng Magiting” and was dedicated to soldiers. Since shifting his focus on coaching in 2009, Sangiao has produced sevend world champions in MMA including multi – medalists martial arts fighters in the amateurs. Among the honored guests were world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, gymnastics sensation Carlos Yulo, former national fencer Richard Gomez and the groundbreaking women’s national football team or Filipinas, which made history in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sangiao, during an interview, said shifting to full time coaching has been one of the hardest decisions he has to make during that time, as he was still an active fighter. But his decision to become a full time coach is his biggest achievement, building Team Lakay from the ground and turning it into becoming one of the best MMA gyms in Asia.
“Consitency, being hands on to fighters, kelangan nandyan ka palagi sa gym. Kaya tayo naka pag produce ng world champion dahil ganyan ang mindset natin,” said Sangiao during the KSP program.
And with the new faces of Team Lakay now making a name for themselves, Sangiao said he is still on the lookout for future world champions.
-PR
