By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
of time.”
In the world of combat sports, Team Lakay had become a byword in the Cordilleras, especially in the Baguio-Benguet area. In fact, it had started flapping its wings in the international arena.
The team itself is a pride of the Cordillera, and many of its individual members have gained fame and recognition as national and international champions in their weight divisions. This is all primarily because of somebody they call “The Machine”, Mr. Marquez Sangiao.
The Machine is all of about 36 summers yet, he is already the head coach of Team Lakay. He started the Team and registered it with SEC in 2006, three years after graduating his B.S. Criminology course from the University of the Cordilleras.
Mark, as he is called by his friends, has a winsome and ready smile contrary to the calculating, combative mien of martial artists. Its a no brainer why he was earlier nicknamed Pretty Boy. Although you know that he is a champion martial artist, you will feel comfortable around him because of this.
He had been a conscientious student, ably combining sports and his studies. He believes that students should go into sports but never to abandon their studies. He knows where he speaks and students should listen to him.
In his relatively young career, he had already tucked achievements that most people can’t even approximate in a lifetime. He started in kickboxing in 1995 while a high schooler at BSU. He shifted to taekwondo when he became a UC varsity. Some years before graduation, he was already national Taekwondo and Wushu champion, among others. To top it all, he won a gold medal during the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
After graduation, Mark was hired to teach in his alma mater, UC and also turned pro. He became champion in the 2007 and 2008 Fearless Fighting Championships. During his stint at the Universal Reality Combat Championship, he had a creditable record. He still holds the national record of the fastest time by submission, all of 12 seconds, to win a URCC bout.
Sangiao is not only a champion martial artist as he is now also an accredited international wushu judge since 2004. He had already officiated several international wushu tournaments. Some six years ago, he became the official coach of the Philippine wushu team together with Mr. Tong Candelaria, the Cordillera Wushu Federation head.
His achievements did not escape the prying eyes of the movie people. He was brought in to choreograph fight scenes in films and television programs such as Super Inday, Palos, Panday and Kung Iibigin Kita. As if that is not enough, he had already organized several fighting championship events in various parts of the country.
Two years ago, Mark was featured in an episode of Magpakailanman program of GMA in a story entitled Kwento ng Dalawang Makabagong Mandirigma. He was featured together with Eduard Folayang, one of his former students. The title itself is a recognition of the superb achievements of the two Cordillera gladiators not only for the combat sports but also for the region and the tribes that they proudly represent.
The above achievements were more than sufficient reasons why Mark was invited to the university intramurals of BSU held last week.
He shared that his goal is to make successful and inspire others by example. He is certainly hitting the nail at the head by what he had accomplished. To this, coach Mark could be proud to say that several of his students have already proven themselves nationally and internationally. Among such achiever students are Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Mark Eddiva, Rey Docyogen, Honorio Banario, Geje Eustaquio and Crisanto Pitpitunge. All of them have distinguished themselves as champions. They are now popular, especially among sports enthusiasts. Some still unknown Team Lakay fighters are about to burst into the national combat sports consciousness. It’s a matter of time.
The success of Team Lakay is certainly appreciated abroad. Proof is that fighters from Switzerland, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and Italy, among others, have had trained with the Team. According to Mark, the fighters are coming from advanced countries but they had adjusted beautifully to the local conditions and regimen of the team. What is interesting according to him is that they proffer some suggestions on how to improve further while they themselves are benefiiting from local expertise. The Team is kept abreast with new techniques from the visiting warriors as well as through internet search. “That’s the way for us to maintain or improve our level of competitiveness”, Mark asserted.
Asked what obstacles or pains he had to go through to become a champion, he answered philosophically, “It’s like swimming from the Philippines to China”. Which means a lot. He is actually saying that a high level of discipline made him what he is now.
His advice to student athletes: “If you have that dream to be great, go for it. Train hard but do not forget to finish your studies first. Being an athlete is a perfect way of enhancing educational values. Physical and mental toughness are important considerations. Champions are not born, they are made”**
