TEAM Lakay has always lived by the mantra that champions aren't born, but that they are made.
And this mantra extends beyond the cage.
The Benguet-based stable has made sure to pay it forward to their community, from donation drives and medical missions to coming to their aid in the event of calamities and disasters through its Team Lakay Foundation.
"We want to give back to the community," said Mary Jude Pili. "Gusto namin na yung nakukuha ng fighters namin through their success is maibalik namin in a way na makakatulong kami sa community namin. Like what we say, our hearts, our service."
Pili, the partner of Team Lakay founder Mark Sangiao, serves as the foundation's secretary as the famed gym, and always makes it a point that the organization gives back to the community it calls the home.
Sangiao himself is the foundation's chairman, with former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang as its president and ex-ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio as its vice president.
Team Lakay Foundation wants to help out Benguet however it can
But Pili said that the formation of the foundation back in 2020 only solidified the social responsibility duties that the group has been doing for years.
"Ginagawa na namin yung mga donation drive even before. Tumutulong na kami sa mga municipalities sa Benguet whenever they're in need," she said.
From typhoons and landslides to other accidents, the Team Lakay Foundation has always made it a point to be there whenever they can for the locals, never forgetting those who have been supportive to them since day one.
"Very important yun sa amin kasi alam natin na yung team, karamihan sa fighters namin is nanggaling sa wala," she said. "Alam nila yung hirap, so kung anong meron kami, we want to share what we have."
The members themselves are active in the community service department, especially if it involves the environment.
As the case with many foundations, resources remain scarce for Team Lakay Foundation. In fact, they've had to begrudgingly turn away pleas for help in favor of those they felt were more need.
Pili said that she hopes that won't be the case in the long run.
"Gusto namin lumaki talaga yung foundation, na may sarili kaming office at matulungan lahat ng lumalapit sa amin," she said, speaking from the Team lakay Central Gym in La Trinidad, which is also the foundation's main base.
"Financially, hindi pa namin kaya na matulungan lahat ng lumalapit sa amin. Pero sana in 10 years, maibigay namin yung kailangan ng lahat ng may kailangan ng tulong. Marami tayong batang athlete na wala silang capacity to train at gusto namin tulungan namin sila through scholarships."
Their charity work continues to inspire the team.
"Ang laking bagay talaga sa amin na nakikita namin sa mukha ng mga natutulungan namin na nai-inspire sila, so mas namo-motivate kami makatulong sa mas maraming tao," said Pili.
"It's really about service and giving hope na makatulong sa iba. Kung ano yung narating ng Team Lakay ngayon, dahil na rin yun sa tulong na galing din sa mga tao so we want to give back through this."
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