After a 1-1 record in Bangkok, Thailand the other week, father and son Mark and Jhanlo Sangiao and Team Lakay members joined fellow athletes in the second installment of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Konsyerto sa Palasyo (KSP) in Malacañang recently.

The Sangiaos and Carlo Von Bumina-ang joined the more than 300 athletes during Sunday’s concert which was aimed to recognize their efforts to bring pride and honor to the country.

Bumina-ang won his debut fight though Sangiao lost in his fourth outing.

The KSP is a concert series that seeks to showcase the talents of emerging performing artists while recognizing the contributions of different sectors.

Sangiao and Team Lakay was the only non-national team contingent who was personally invited by USec. Franz Imperial and ASec. Karen Alvarez from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) who was given tribute during the program initiated by the Office of the President, PCO and RTVM.

KSP, which started last April, aims to support the pandemic-hit creative industries. The first installment of the concert series was dubbed “Awit ng Magiting” and was dedicated to soldiers.

Since shifting his focus on coaching in 2009, Sangiao has produced sevend world champions in MMA including multi – medalists martial arts fighters in the amateurs.

Among the honored guests were world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, gymnastics sensation Carlos Yulo, former national fencer Richard Gomez and the groundbreaking women’s national football team or Filipinas, which made history in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Sangiao, during an interview, said shifting to full time coaching has been one of the hardest decisions he had to make during that time, as he was still an active fighter.

But his decision to become a full time coach is his biggest achievement, building Team Lakay from the ground and turning it into becoming one of the best MMA gyms in Asia.

“Consitency, being hands on to fighters, kelangan nandyan ka palagi sa gym. Kaya tayo naka pag produce ng world champion dahil ganyan ang mindset natin,” said  Sangiao during the KSP program.

And with the new faces of Team Lakay now making a name for themselves, Sangiao said he is still on the lookout for future world champions. Pigeon Lobien