PANABO CITY, Davao del Norte, Aug. 02 (PIA): The major benefactors of Philippine boxing Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga are reaping fruits of a youth development program focused on sports.
Barriga defeated Wednesday Italian Manuel Cappai in the light flyweight category of London Olympics. He beat Cappai in a 17-7 score.
The lone Philippine boxing contender to the London Olympics rose from the grassroots sports initiative of former Davao del Norte 2nd District representative Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo who started rolling out the Barangay Una Boxing Program in 2003.
In a statement, Floirendo sends hope for Barriga to become an inspiration for “other athletes to strive for excellence at all times.”
“Mark, you are a shining example of determination and valor,” Floirendo said.
He also looks at Barriga’s initial win in London Olympics as a message to “exhort sports leaders to focus on their sport of choice as their contribution to the development of our youth and national pride.”
Before Barriga’s stint in this year’s Olympics, the Barangay Una Boxing Program had sent home-trained boxers to national and international boxing bouts.
Rey Saludar became the 2010 Guangzhou, China Asian Games gold medalist, while Victorio Saludar reaped bronze medal in the same year Asian Games boxing competition.
Barangay Una Boxing Progam also provided grassroots training for Charly Suarez who grabbed gold medal during the Southeast Asian Games in 2011.
"I had envisioned the Barangay UNA boxing Program to produce world champions, from the grassroots particularly from Mindanao, who will compete in the international arena most especially the Olympics. In less than 10 years my vision has borne fruit,” Floirendo said.
Meanwhile, Barangay Una Boxing Team manager GeneRose Tecson looks at Barriga as “the embodiment of dreams and hopes for Mindanao athletes,” to carry the Philippine flag in the Olympics.
Tecson testified the arduous and dedicated training Barriga exerted to sharpen his boxing prowess under the support of his coaches, mentors and teammates of Barangay Una Boxing Program.
Born on June 11, 1993, Barriga is a resident of Barangay San Vicente, Panabo City where he started his boxing training in 2003 during his elementary years.
He finished his elementary education at Salvacion Elementary School Panabo City as scholar of Barangay Una Boxing Program which was initially aimed at keeping youths from drug influence.
He went and finished his high school education at Panabo National High School, keeping his scholarship grants from the boxing program.
The Barangay Una Boxing Team had seen Barriga’s exceptional skills “in boxing and ring generalship,” reaping wins in inter-barangay tournaments, district meets, regional and Palarong Pambansa competitions.
The Barangay Una Boxing Team then endorsed Barriga to the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) for him to join the national training pool.
Barriga has established a track record of boxing triumphs in ABAP National Open Tournament, in Palarong Pambansa and in international tournaments. (Jeanevive Duron-Abangan, PIA-11)
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