Ifugao honors mixed martial arts champ

BANAUE, Ifugao -- As a show of pride and adulation for his recent feat, folks and officials of this province held  a motorcade in five municipalities of the province to honor Ifugao sports  warrior Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon recently.

The motorcade started early morning at Banaue Hotel passing through the towns of Hingyon, Lagawe, Lamut and ended up in Kiangan where Belingon hails, to the cheering crowds gathered to congratulate and see him personally.

 A short program was held at the Kiangan municipal hall followed by a public lunch called “hamul”.

Belingon represented the Philippines under Team Lakay during the thrilling five round match held in Manila last July 25 and won via a unanimous decision.

The 30-year old mixed martial art expert defeated Australian-Vietnamese fighter Martin “Situ-Asian” Nguyen, a two-division title holder champion of the One Fighting Championship group and wrestled the vacant Interim Bantamweight Division title belt for his first championship.

Nguyen previously defeated One Fighting Lightweight Champion Eduardo Folayang via a knockout for his second title belt before he succumbed to “The Silencer” Belingon who incidentally belongs to the same team as Folayang.

 “This belt is not mine but our championship belt because of your prayers and support,” Belingon said during the program.

His mother Lydia, a supervisor at the Ifugao Schools Division Office, added that “Kevin’s victory is God’s affirmation in all of us.” -- PIA Ifugao