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The Next Round for Chinggay Andrada
By Bill Velasco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Nov 2007
In a ten-year career, she had it all. She was a TV sports host, a radio DJ, boxing instructor and professional model. She was on the cover of FHM Philippines twice, and had her own billboard on South Superhighway. She became a magazine editor, and was in great demand as an events host.
Almost a year and a half ago, Chinggay Andrada suddenly disappeared, uprooting back to the United States, with no warning,
leaving friends and fans alike in the dark.
The reason? Chinggay finally met the perfect guy.
"True love? Naks," Chinggay laughs. "Actually, an opportunity to be closer to my family kasi taga-Seattle sila. And this great guy who swept me off my feet. Not to mention we have so much in common."
That "great guy" is Apollo Sebastian, a Kapampangan who moved the the US, and was responsible for building muay thai into a wildly popular sport in Las Vegas, where he runs the growing Fasi Sports gym, home of many of the best UFC fighters and mixed martial artists.
It was this mutual love for boxing and martial arts that brough Apollo and Chinggay closer together.
Although Fasi means "kick butt" in Samoan, what really sets it apart is its decidedly Filipino attitude, which the pair purposely cultivate.
"No. 1, it's Filipino owned. No. 2 we make it a point na lahat ng staff namin, Filipino," Chinggay explains. "The culture is
different, there are so many things we share, and there are all these different stories."
Because of this, over 300 of the gym's members are Filipino, as are most of their trainers. In fact, Apollo plans to open up two more gyms next year, and import UFc to the Philippines, after their wedding.
Chinggay says that, even though she left a lot of unfinished business in the Philippines, she's never forgotten her home.
"It was just amazing," she adds."Finding someone who loves the same things I do, and believes in the same things. I love that we both want to do so much for the sport of boxing, together."
So Chinggay left home, but home never left her, even in the deserts of Nevada.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Bill Velasco.
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