Boxers get reprieve from Thai boxing promoter/philanthropist

September 20, 2020 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (15 September) – Professional boxers here who were denied of livelihood the past six months and were unable to get the financial aid the Games and Amusement Board promised it would course from the government’s Social Amelioration Program finally got reprieve from a boxing aficionado, promoter cum philanthropist from a country some 2,000 miles away.
Some 37 professional boxers from the Highland Boxing Gym here received bags of goodies that include five kilos of rice, two dozens of eggs and groceries as assistance from Naris Singwangcha, who is from Bangkok, Thailand.
They were the second batch of Singwnagcha’s beneficiaries, all professional boxers, who could not make a living since the community lockdown last March 17 due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
The 37 Trinidad based fighters were supposed to be included in the list of DSWD’s SAP beneficiaries coursed by GAB to assist prize fighters deprived of work due to the pandemic.
While, the two SAP batches were received by boxers from other areas in the Philippines, those who are based here and shortlisted to be given the cash assistance never received it.
“This will be a very big help for them as they have not been fighting the past months and denied of their livelihood,” said Highland owner Brico Santig, who help facilitate Singwnagcha’s assistance.
“Nagutom todo todo ang mga boxers natin (Our boxers had to starve),” added Santig, who was able to come home middle last month after more than five months getting stucked in Manila.
“Now they have something to weather the pandemic,” added Santig in the vernacular, who tries to remain hopeful despite the stoppage of all boxing promotions due to the pandemic.
“There are no fights yet in the coming months,” Santig told the Philippine News Agency today, Sept. 15.
Pigeon Lobien/PNA