Pedal
for HIV and UGB MMA fighter management in cooperation with the Local Government
Unit of the Municipality of Taytay, under the leadership of Mayor JoricGacula
are working together to organize a different kind of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
event. Just in time for the annual HAMAKA Festival of the municipality,
“SALPUKAN sa HAMAKA” is an MMA tournament for a cause.
According
to the United Nations AIDS Society (UNAIDS), the Philippines has registered the
fastest-growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Asia-Pacific in the past six years
with a 140-percent increase in the number of new infections. Health Secretary
Francisco Duque III said that the number of HIV infected Filipinos has reached
to 46,985 as of August 2017-33 years since the first infection was detected in
the country in 1984.
“Pedal for HIV is a campaign to promote HIV awareness through cycling
and other sport-related activities. It aims to promote healthy lifestyle
amongst PLHIV’s (People living with HIV), help end stigma and discrimination,
encourage people to get tested regularly and to promote safe sex to prevent
transmission.” states the founder of Pedal for HIV, Faustine “Paji” Angeles Jr.
Paji has been living with HIV since 2010.
The HAMAKA Festival is the biggest
celebration in Taytay, Rizal. The municipality has over 300,000 in population
according to the 2015 census. The festival title comes from three words, “HA”
meaning Hamba or woodworks, “MA” meaning makina (sewing machines, and “KA”
which means “kasuotan” (clothing). It is celebrated every third week of
February and so SALPUKAN SA HAMAKA is scheduled on February 17, 2018 at 7:00 PM
at the Kalayaan Park.
Sixteen (16) heart-stopping MMA bouts
await watchers with fighters Mikuni Munsayac and John Lloyd Libuit from UGB MMA
GYM, will fight in the main and co-main event. Munsayac is an international
kickboxer who has recently transitioned as an MMA fighter while young Libuit,
at the age of 18, has exceptional wrestling skills. In the same fight card,
Reginaldo “The Mailman” Cruz and Mark Perez will finally settle their grudge in
a special bout. Amateur rules apply in most of the bouts and protective gear
will be provided.
“Our
fighter management has always had a heart for charity work. We took in
underprivileged yet deserving fighters who has no means to pay for MMA
training. We groom them and now some have already competed internationally in
big MMA platforms. With our plans to create an LGBT-based fight league, “Queen
of the Cage”, we want it to do it for a relevant cause.” Said Mr.
FerdieMunsayac, UGB Fighters manager.The event is free admission to the general
public, however, to defray some of the cost, we need to find sponsors. For
P5,000.00, a sponsor gets one VVIP ticket which gives them ring-side access and
a shirt which proceeds also goes for the benefit of the World YawYawn Martial
Arts Federation (WYMAF) who recently lost their founder and legend, Supreme
Grandmaster Napoleon A. Fernandez. A portion of the sponsorship for SALPUKAN SA
HAMAKA will go to PEDAL FOR HIV through their founder, Paji, to be put into
good use for the advocacy.
“Currently, we have an
AIDS-stricken patient newly admitted in San Lazaro Hospital alongside others
similarly situated as him. Truly, this can help our patients make ends meet for
their daily needs. The
first thing we have to do is to forgive ourselves for the wrong things we have
done. We are the author of our life story so we can’t blame anyone for whatever
bad things that may arise. Forgiving ourselves is not easy but we have to be
realistic. HIV is not a death sentence with proper treatment and changing to a
healthier lifestyle.” -PAJI
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