The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has pledged to help the family of the late kickboxing trainer, who died from a Covid-19 complicated stroke in Benguet last month.
Highland Boxing Promotion chair Brico Santig said the PSC has pledged P30,000 as financial assistance for the family of Manuel Sanidad, one of the key trainers of the Samahan ng Kickboxing ng Pilipinas.
Sanidad died on Oct. 1, after 11 days of confinement at the Benguet General Hospital. He suffered a stroke on Sept. 21 then tested positive for Covid-19.
Earlier, Santig wrote to the PSC through executive director Guillermo Iroy, Jr., with the intercession of newsman Chino Trinidad, after the family of the late kickboxing trainer called him.
Iroy has informed Santig recently the financial assistance is being processed through the National Sports Association Affairs Office.
The boxing promoter said the amount would help the family of the deceased trainer.
Sanidad was partly instrumental in the success of the national kickboxing athletes during the Southeast Asian Games hosted by Manila last year.
Team Lakay athletes Gina Iniong-Araos, Jerry Olsim, and Jean Claude Saclag won gold medals; Jomar Balangui and Renz Dacquel won silver, while Karol Maguide won a bronze.
“Together with Team Lakay chair Mark Sangiao, master Manny trained the national athletes for two months here in La Trinidad, Benguet and Manila in preparation for the SEA Games last year,” Santig said.
Santig said Sanidad had a high level of discipline, a perfectionist, and a strict coach but was also concerned for his fighters.
When Sanidad died, Santig took care of all arrangements and took hold of the late martial arts mentor’s urn, which he turned over to the family.
Team Lakay helped pay the bills, including the cremation and other funeral expenses.
Other donors include the Singwangcha Foundation, boxing promoter Darwin Miller Dep-ay, Maguide, Malayan Kanfu, spouses Ricky and Susan Inggala, and the World Kickboxing Association – Philippines. – Ofelia C. Empian
