SPORTS: Family of dead kickboxing trainer gets PSC assistance

By Pigeon Lobien

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Philippine Sports Commission is finally extending its support to a kickboxing trainer who died from a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) complicated stroke last October 1 at the Benguet General Hospital here.

“PSC will be extending financial help to the family of master Manny,” Highland Boxing Promotion’s Brico Santig said this week through private message.

Master Manny is Manuel Sanidad, who trained athletes of the Samahan ng Kickboxing ng Pilipinas to three golds, two silvers and one bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Games in Manila last year died after 11 days of confinement at the BeGH here.

Santig actually wrote the PSC through executive director lawyer Guillermo Iroy, Jr. with the intercession of newsman Chino Trinidad after the family of the late kickboxing mentor called him.

On Sunday, Santig followed up on his letter, and Iroy answered: “It’s approved already, Php30K the NSA (National Sports Association) Affairs office will (be) process(ed) this week.”

Santig said the amount will help the family after the sudden demise of Sanidad, who collapsed from his seat after training boxers last Sept. 21 at the Highland Boxing gym at Kilometer 6 here.

On September 23, he tested positive of Covid that saw Team Lakay head coach and Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas for Northern Luzon director Mark Sangiao getting refused entry to the hospital.

The Team Lakay donation helped pay bills including cremation and other funeral expenses.

Santig took care of all arrangements, took hold of the late martial arts mentor’s urn that contained the ashes which he turned over to the family.

Other donors include the Singwangcha Foundation, boxing promoter Darwin Miller Dep-ay, SEAG bronze medalist Karol Maguide, Malayan Kanfu Directors, spouses Ricky and Susan Inggala, Wilbur Andogan, and the World Kickboxing Association – Philippines.

For exposure before and after testing positive, Santig and Four of his boxers-Trainers, including former champion Rex Wa-o had to be tested for Covid-19 and underwent quarantine until the result arrived which proved negative.

In her Facebook post, Team Lakay member Gina Iniong – Araos bade farewell to Sanidad as she wrote: “You are always loved and never forgotten. May your soul rest and peace! Master.

Iniong-Araos was one of the three gold medalists in kickboxing during the Manila SEAGames last year. Fellow Team Lakay members Jerry Olsim and Jean Claude Saclag also took home golds, while Jomar Balangui and Renz Dacquel finished with silver medals, and Maguide had a bronze to show.