Apart from investing on standard professional Boxing and MMA facilities, what TGLBG is most proud of is in its scholarship program. TGLBG is labelled as a “Pro-Poor gym” that provides free training sponsorship to deserving out of school youth.
Here's an exclusive Q&A with The Goat Locker Boxing Gym’s, Mr. Ferdie Munsayac, the H.M.F.I.C. (that’s US Navy Slang, which in other words means “The Boss”), as he gives us insights about his gym, its scholarship program, their organizing of Amateur events and more.
RZ: We learned that you are a retired US Navy chief; can you tell us why you decided to put up a gym? What inspired you to put up a gym in the Philippines/Marikina?
HMFIC: I came from a middle class family & started a family really early with NOTHING. I know the feeling when you need help and you have no one to turn to. The poor people were always dear to my heart, growing up in this country. That's why i wanted to give something back to the community now that I am retired US military personnel. Marikina is the gym's location because this is where i grew up.
RZ: Can you talk a little bit about your martial arts background, or did you have experience coaching prior to opening up a gym?
HMFIC: Martial arts was a passion for me growing up. Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali were my heroes. I was a Red belt in the ATA (American Taekwondo Association) & my special military tactics & training for 20 years just made things better. Boxing & Muay Thai are what I got into for the past 5 years after retiring here.
RZ: The gym is called “The GOAT Locker Boxing Gym” but aside from Boxing, your list of services offered includes Muay Thai, MMA and Arnis. Why these disciplines in particular?
HMFIC: Muay Thai, MMA and Arnis were added to what we specialize in, which is boxing, because MMA is the fastest growing sport today. Muay Thai & Boxing would augment the MMA skills. Arnis on the other hand was included because it’s a Filipino Martial Arts.
RZ: TGLBG provides 100% sponsorship to children of ages 11-18 years old. Can you give some details about the sponsorship? Aside from providing a long-term sponsorship for future competition, what other benefits do you provide to these children?
HMFIC: These kids are given a better future with our program. Since it's a long term program, it will mould them into the great PRO fighter they ought to be. Aside from everything we already provide, all scholars get to keep their prize money. They are taken off the streets to focus on a NEW beginning. No more vices, gang incidents. We can't feed all of these poor kids. That's why we TEACH THEM HOW TO FISH so that they can feed themselves in the future!
We also have English programs and business programs for them. That way, they can manage their earnings once they make it to the International level. We have 5 fighters now who signed up for OneFC. (Mr. Munsayac advised not to specify who these fighters are, as it is “too early” to announce their names at this point in time)
2 year contract for each one of them, and, the gym also has a 3 year contract with OneFC. This is not a business of making money but a business of making PEOPLE out of the poor, hungry & needy. They will be self-made men, under the TGLBG program!
HMFIC: We advertise through social media, Facebook, Sulit.Com, the internet. As for the criteria, they must be poor, below the poverty line and have a dream! This is why we are called as “Gym ng mahirap na may pangarap”. Basically, word of mouth is our biggest advertisement.
Ferdie also added that they don’t normally hold specific events for try-outs, normally; the youth who dream of becoming Professional fighters would show up at the gym and subsequently the TGLBG crew would initiate an interview, an audition and medical screening. If the applicant pass all the screening process he/she will be put under the scholarship program, and will undergo rigorous sports training.
One other thing that’s very commendable about this is that, TGLBG does all these programs without backing from any sponsors. All training expenses are paid for by TGLBG, in the name of charity work.
RZ: How many of these sponsored children do you have at Goat Locker gym now?
HMFIC: 28 and still growing
RZ: Are the scholars in TGLBG training full time (Full time athletes) or, are they considered as "athletic/sports scholars"?
HMFIC: Full time athletic scholars
RZ: Your facilities include a boxing ring and, even more notably, a Standard MMA/UFC size octagon, why did you invest in an Octagon?
HMFIC: Everything we have in our gym is PRO Standard Size. It was made that way because of how i got trained in the US Military. We always train as close to reality. It doesn’t get any better than training and fighting inside a real twenty-two by twenty-two Pro-Boxing ring, and a 32 feet MMA standard sized Octagon cage.
HMFIC: UGB is open to ALL aspiring athletes and fighters. TGLBG's way of sharing the blessings. We’ve seen enough of getting exploited by promoters, managers & unscrupulous businessmen. UGB will get them all out of poverty. Our advocacy is called “Beating up poverty”.
RZ: Finally, Underground Battle 2 is an upcoming event which will be held in an Octagon set-up inside one of the more popular malls in Metro Manila Area, again, why is it done inside a Shopping Mall? Is this the first time you are doing this?
HMFIC: TGLBG's owner likes to innovate and not imitate. That's why we are at a mall right now and with this “Detachable Octagon” set-up, it will be making mall tours and Road Tours Up North and way down south too! This is the reason why we have the 1st “Detachable MMA Standard size Octagon Cage” (holding caged Amateur MMA Tournament around the country). We always want to be the 1st in everything. In charity works, doing all these for the poor fighters, having the 1st Professional sized Boxing ring in Marikina, and the 1st of its kind, Detachable Octagon cage, without a single bolt & nut!
With that, I congratulated him for what he has done and plans to do, and wished him well for The Goat Locker Boxing Gym’s future endeavours.
RZ: Thank you very much for your time sir. Mabuhay and more power to you and TGLBG!
HMFIC: Thanks for the support!