BAGUIO CITY — Brave Combat Federation world bantamweight champion Stephen Loman and ex-ONE Championship world lightweight champion Eduard Folayang led the elite core of Cordillera athletes honored by the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB)-Kafagway International Sports Luminary Award (KISLA) on Monday.
“The sports achievements last year by our honorees in several international sports conclave held overseas gave the city and the Cordillera region, the flag, the country, and Philippine sports glory, honor, and prestige,” said former city councilor and newsman Narciso Padilla, who spearheaded the 32-year-old awards program.
Padilla expressed gratitude to the sponsors and several civic-minded personalities for supporting the program.
Loman, a student from the University of the Cordilleras (UC), received the coveted “Super Athlete of the Year” trophy, while Folayang bagged the “NCCB KISLA Sportsmanship Award 2017”, for his “commendable display of sportsmanship” after losing the championship title belt to Martin Nguyen of Australia.
Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan led local officials in the awarding ceremony held at the Silungan Center of the City Social Welfare and Development Office here.
The other athletes honored were youngest car racer Iñigo Anton; boxers Carl Jammes Martin and K.J. Natuplag; wushu players Islay Irika Bomogao, Liane Benito, and Marian Tranyce; senior citizen athlete Erlinda Lavandia; wushu ace Divine Wally; para-olympian Adeline Domapog; chess star Bea Mendoza; and archers Karen Meer Hongitan and Mary Queen Ibanez.
Also awarded were the UC and its athletic director, Danilo Cong-o; trakster Christian Bagsit; sanda ace Jomar Balangui; ultra-marathoner Sandi Menchi Abahan; sports patron Jossie Delinila; and the Baguio-Benguet Educational League.
Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao, who was recently titled No. 2 Mixed Martial Arts coach in the Asian Region, got the “Super Coach of the Year” award.
Mayor Domogan had earlier vowed to sustain the city’s sports development. **PNA
