For the first time in their lives, siblings Denice and Drex Zamboanga won’t be with their parents this Christmas.
This as the two have been stranded in Thailand since the coronavirus broke out last March.
“Sobrang namimiss talaga namin yung Pilipinas kasi almost isang taon na kami dito na nagtre-training. Tapos ayun, first time namin mag-Pasko dito na hindi namin kasama yung family,” Drex, 31, told The Hit List, presented by SMART Sports.
“Gusto ko pong umuwi eh. Pero sobrang hirap ng situation sa Philippines saka mas gusto namin mag stay dito kasi mas magiging prepared kami,” added Denice, 23.
The two could actually come back home but it will be hard for them to come back to Thailand.
“Actually pag umuwi kami… Kaya namin umuwi kaso yung pagbalik namin sobrang daming process na hinihingi ng Thailand Embassy. Tapos ang laki ng gagastusin kasi i-quaquarantine ka ng fourteen days,” shared Drex.
The Zamboangas though are just glad to have found a family with their new team Marrok Force.
But what led to Denice moving to Marrok from Fairtex? Well, it was nothing personal, according to her.
“Yun nga! Sobrang daming nagtataka kasi nakikita nila ako happy ako doon. Pero kasi parang I found na sa new gym ko, parang mas magi-improve ako sa MMA and better opportunities,” said the youthful Denice, who is 8-0 in her career.
Unlike Denice who has been based in Thailand for so long, Drex’s stay there was actually accidental.
“Actually nung nandito ako sa Thailand, hindi ko talaga ineexpect na magste-stay ako nang matagal dito kasi ang napagusapan lang namin nila mama at papa noon parang one month lang ako tapos uuwi na ako,” recalled Drex, who is a Toughguys International standout.
“So ayun nalockdown kasi kaya hindi ako nakatuloy pero nakausap ko naman yung mga teammates ko, mga instructor ko, coaches ko na magste-stay muna ako dito para sa career ko.”
It was a good accident as Denice found company in her brother.
And for that, she is grateful — a Christmas wish that came true.
“Wala nga siyang pakialam kahit hindi na siya maka-training basta ma-training niya ako. Ganon siya kabait.”
