Thai philanthropist backs community pantry part 2 for boxers

By Pigeon Lobien

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Even if Naris Singwangcha has ended his monthly financial aid to former world boxing champions, active boxers including their trainers and matchmakers remain his beneficiaries as he is set to help in the second community pantry for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic soon.

The Thai will support the community pantry to be put up by the Philippine Boxing Promoters, Managers, Trainers Association headed by Sir Dante Almario that will benefit more than 300 boxers including their trainers and matchmakers on June 26 at either the Elorde Gym in Sucat, Paranaque or at MP Highland Boxing Gym in Sampaloc, Manila for NCR /Calabarzon based fighters.

The community pantry is expected to go afterward to the Visayas and Mindanao areas as well as here, said Brico Santig of the Highland Boxing Promotions.

“But we still do not have the schedule for the one to be staged here,” said Santig, who added that the La Trinidad pantry was staged in August last year, months after those held in Manila, the Mindanao and Visayas areas.

The community pantry will have rice and groceries for the boxers, most of whom have not fought since the start of the pandemic in March last year.

“I want to help more people,” declared Singwangcha to a private message to Santig, who said his wife received the money from the philanthropist, which he said will be transferred to him. Santig’s wife is based in Bangkok, Thailand with their two children.

Singwangcha actually wants to help more people in need due to the pandemic especially those still active and still fight for their purse, but cannot do so due to the limited fights that are staged now due to health protocols.

The Thai said that he transferred already to his (Santig’s) wife’s account, who in turn “will transfer to your account tomorrow (28/5/21).”

The money is actually good enough to pay the 10 months he assured each fighter will receive, including the eight months of delayed financial aid which actually placed the Games and Amusement Board under fire after one of the boxers – beneficiaries called on Sen. Manny Pacquiao to intervene in the release of their monthly “pension”.

In fact, the money Singwangcha just sent is more than enough to cover the total for the 11 boxers for 10 months each or PhP30,000 each for P330,000.

The money was sent after the GAB filed Resolution 2021-04 to terminate the contract it signed with the Thai in 2018 for him to provide PhP3,000 monthly financial aid to 20 former world boxing champions. However, only 11 of these boxers who are Qualified were able to avail of the monthly benefit.

The termination of the contract was a request of the Thai since he can no longer provide the monthly stipend due to the pandemic which has affected his business and in fact was late in providing for the last eight months.

Santig added that Singwangcha “will continue to help us despite the economic difficulties he experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Despite the pandemic, the last five months saw Singwangcha providing assistance to boxers including a P150,000 aid to 100 pugilists. He also gave 40 leather punching mitts for trainers that they can use for their livelihood like provide boxing lessons.

SENATOR, THAI, PROMOTER. Eight-weight division champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao pose with Thai philanthropist Naris Singwangcha in this photo taken some five years ago. Photo from Brico Santig’s Facebook Page