EX-PH WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONS TO GET MONTHLY ALLOWANCE

GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra and Naris Singwangcha of Thailand signing the MOA while behind them is international promoter-matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotions. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)

FORMER Filipino world boxing champions will now be receiving a monthly allowance of P3,000 from the Singwangcha Foundation through the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
This was formally made during the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the foundation represented by boxing patron Naris Singwangcha of Thailand and GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra of the Philippines during the 55th OPBF Annual Convention held last March 10 at the Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

“The foundation undertakes to provide a monthly allowance to all Filipino boxers who held world championship titles in the amount of P3,000 per month,” said Mitra, also president of the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF).

The GAB shall identify all major world professional boxing associations and shall furnish the foundation the list of the same, including the list of Filipino world champions who are eligible to receive the monthly allowance.

“The grant of monthly allowance will commence after one year from the time the former world boxing champion retires,” the MOA stated.

They will soon announce the start of the distribution of allowance.
The Singwangcha Foundation is a non-profit organization operating and recognized under the existing laws of the Philippines.

Among the present retired world champions are ex-WBC World featherweight champion Luisito “Golden Boy” Espinosa, ex-WBC world super featherweight champion Rolando “Bad Boy from Dadiangas” Navarette, ex-IBF world flyweight champion Dodie Boy Penalosa, former WBC world super flyweight and WBO world bantamweight champion Gerry “Fearless” Penalosa, ex-WBC world light flyweight champion Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol, ex-WBC World light flyweight champion Rolando Pascua and ex-WBC world super featherweight title-holder Rene Barrientos of Cagayan de Oro.

“The sport of professional boxing has always been one of the sources of pride for the Philippines,” said Mitra.

Mitra said that the “GAB recognizes the sacrifices and hardships of the Filipino professional boxers have to endure in order to improve their standard of living with the hope of becoming boxing champions in the future and bring pride and glory to the Philippines, and therefore encourages the participation of private and public sectors in improving the lives of our Filipino professional boxers”.

“The foundation expresses its willingness to contribute to this GAB undertaking by giving due recognition to all Filipino boxers who brought honor for the Philippines by winning in world championship or title fights, sanctioned by recognized boxing organizations,” said Singwancha.

The MOA signing was made on top of the boxing ring at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum and was witnessed by more than 1,000 boxing fans and ring officials.
Among them were WBC Asia Pacific Boxing Council Executive Secretary Col. Damrong Simakajornboon of Thailand, GAB Commissioners Eduard Trinidad and Mar Masanguid, international matchmaker-promoter Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotions, Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) president Lope “Jun” Sarreal Jr. and Mindanao Professional Boxing Association (MinProBA) president Engr. Jilson Basang.

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