Team Lakay is home to five world champions and one hero
On a rainy Friday afternoon, Team Lakay young gun Igor Sebio Donga-el was laid to rest. He was just 29 years young.
Last December 16, the famed stable out of Baguio City celebrated its annual Christmas party at a beach in San Fernando, La Union.
Late into the celebration, three members of the camp signaled for help as they went into the deep waters. People who saw them raced to save the three, including Donga-el.
Though the other three – including Donga-el’s girlfriend – were able to make it to the shore, Donga-el did not.
“Minutes turned into an hour and everyone were still waiting,” recounted Pearl Alvarez in her Facebook post. “Minutes after the first hour of disappearance, we were witnessing a floating body on the sea, still wearing his blue shirt.
“There goes the body of a hero, tossed by the waters.”
Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao paid tribute to his warrior in a Facebook post.
“I could still see your wide smile, hear your beautiful singing voice. We could, all of us,” read his statement.
“Your brothers and sisters here in Team Lakay, your mamanongs, mamanangs, aaddings cry for you. We are still all weeping for you. We are grieving,” Sangiao, the father of Team Lakay, added.
“I know we will still try to find you in our trainings, in our fights, in events, in birthdays, and in all simple gatherings or meetings we have. We will be looking for our ‘Papa Igor’.”