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Get to know the ‘other side’ of MMA fighter and “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” star Mammoth Estroso

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Liezel dela Cruz

<p>In front of the cameras and inside the arena, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter Sugar Ray “Mammoth” Estroso is a beast. But, off-cam, the real him is gentle and loving. Get to know his other side in this interview with Bernadette Sembrano. </p><p>In her recent vlog, Bernadette visited Mammoth in the house of his trainer, Badong, and probed into his life story. </p><p>Mammoth was born in Pampanga, with cager Calvin Abueva as one of his childhood friends, until they transferred when he was around 7 years old to Bataan where he continued his primary studies and worked as a fisherman. </p><p>The athlete, who got his nickname from American professional boxer “Sugar” Ray Leonard, was admittedly shaped into a “basagulero” or a child who often gets into fights growing up in the streets. As fate would have it, a boxing trainer would look for the beauty of his extraordinary strength and skills and “basagulero” image. And inside the boxing ring, he found himself. </p><p>He has become an MMA superstar since he started in 2000, raising the Filipino flag in his every fight. With that, he gives credit to his Coach Badong, and the Ilorde family who took him under their wings. These are his support system.</p><p>Mammoth, whose real name is Panchito, never got the chance to meet his biological mother until February this year when he learned that he was adopted, prompting him to trace his roots. “Gusto ko lang po makita ‘yung itsura niya. Gusto ko malaman, ‘Bakit mo ako pinamigay?’ Merong hinanakit.” After unleashing his pent-up emotions, and thanks to his friends and foster family’s influence, he found the courage to forgive. </p><p>Clearly, his discipline inside the arena forged his character, one that is forgiving, humble, and resilient. Mammoth as a kid was “barumbado” while the Mammoth now has high respect for his opponent. He also has to be cautious of his actions, no more amateur fights, otherwise, his license as an MMA fighter might get revoked. </p><p>He showed his belts – his badges of honor, and went on to share his usual training routine that includes a high cardio workout. He also toured Bernadette, who received basic MMA tutorial with Coach Badong, in their training gym in San Roque, Antipolo. </p><p>Who is Mammoth outside this gym? “Palaban,” he answered. He is a fighter in that he always thinks of his family’s survival. He does his best to provide for his loving wife, Marissa, and their three kids, who he’d refer not to follow in his path. “Huwag akong tularan na lumaban. Huwag na mag-boxing. Huwag na mag-MMA. Okay na ako na ako lang ang nakakaranas, eh. Huwag na mga anak ko kasi masakit tamaan ng suntok,” he said. </p><p>Even his wife, Marissa, whom Bernadette was able to talk with via video call, wishes Mammoth would continue his acting career instead, “Kasi diyan hindi siya nasasaktan.” Marissa was at the market selling fish and vegetables that day. </p><p>If he were to be asked, Mammoth would acknowledge that his physical strength is waning, as he’s still recovering from an arm injury from over a year ago. So, Coach Badong made the announcement himself, “Sa MMA career niya, para sa akin, sa ngayon stop na siya,” which Mammoth gracefully accepted. </p><p>“Handa na ho mag-retire si Mammoth. Masakit man pero kailangan tanggapin na retired na si Mammoth... Alam natin na gusto pa rin nila ako lumaban. Pero, ako, matanda na ako, may edad na, hanggang dito na lang ang kakayanan ko. Kaya bibitawan ko na ‘yung dalawang belt na hawwak ko ngayon,” he stated before thanking his supporters. </p><p>The injury might have come as a blessing in disguise, as Coco Martin’s team reached out to him for a role in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank"><u><strong>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</strong></u></a> after watching one of his fights. He found out that Coco has been trying to get in touch with him since <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano" target="_blank"><u><strong>FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</strong></u></a>. </p><style rel="stylesheet">.scroll-wrapper {-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;}.scroll-wrapper iframe {border: none;}</style><div class="scroll-wrapper"><iframe id="MegaControllerIframe-1680653835104" style="width:100%;min-height:480px" src="https://controller.megaphonetv.com?m=c30fv&amp;iswebpoll=true&amp;poll_id=642cbd40f1b2e0000a1375a9"></iframe></div><script type="text/javascript">!function(){class e{constructor(t,s=null){this.type=null,this.fieldName=t,this.fieldValue=s,this.originMessageID=`${(new Date).getTime()}_${Math.random()}`,this.systemID=e.SYSTEM_ID}toPlainObject(){return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this))}}e.GET='GET',e.SET='SET',e.RESPONSE='RESPONSE',e.LOCAL_STORAGE_CHECK='LOCAL_STORAGE_CHECK',e.SYSTEM_ID='MP_FIRST_PARTY_DATA_BRIDGE';class t extends e{constructor(t,s,a=null){super(t,s),this.status=a,this.type=e.RESPONSE}}function s(){try{if('undefined'==typeof localStorage)return!1;try{return localStorage.setItem('testkey','testvalue'),localStorage.removeItem('testkey'),!0}catch(e){return!1}}catch(e){return!1}}if(window&&window.addEventListener){const a=document.getElementById('MegaControllerIframe-1680653835104');new class{constructor(){this.targetOrigin='*',this.bubblingMessages=new Map,this.beginListeningForMessages()}beginListeningForMessages(){window.addEventListener('message',this.messageListener.bind(this),!1)}messageListener(a){if(a.data.systemID!==e.SYSTEM_ID)return;let i=a.data.type,n=a.data.fieldName,r=a.data.fieldValue,g=new t;if(g.originMessageID=a.data.originMessageID,i===e.GET)g.fieldName=n,s()?this.handleGet(n,a.source,g):this.checkForBubble(a.data,a.source,g);else if(i===e.SET)s()?this.handleSet(n,r):this.checkForBubble(a.data,a.source,g);else if(i===e.LOCAL_STORAGE_CHECK)s()?this.handleLocalStorageCheck(a.source,g):this.checkForBubble(a.data,a.source,g);else if(i===e.RESPONSE){const e=this.bubblingMessages.get(a.data.originMessageID);null!=e&&(this.bubblingMessages.delete(a.data.originMessageID),e.source.postMessage(a.data,this.targetOrigin))}}handleGet(e,t,s){s.fieldValue=localStorage.getItem(e),s.status=200,t.postMessage(s.toPlainObject(),this.targetOrigin)}handleSet(e,t){localStorage.setItem(e,t)}handleLocalStorageCheck(e,t){t.status=200,e.postMessage(t.toPlainObject(),this.targetOrigin)}checkForBubble(e,t,s){!function(){try{return window.self!==window.top}catch(e){return!0}}()?(s.status=403,s.fieldValue=null,t.postMessage(s.toPlainObject(),this.targetOrigin)):this.bubbleMessage(e,t)}bubbleMessage(t,s){this.bubblingMessages.set(t.originMessageID,{message:t,source:s}),t.type!==e.GET&&t.type!==e.LOCAL_STORAGE_CHECK||setTimeout(this.handleBubbledMessageTimeout.bind(this),4e3,t,s),window.parent.postMessage(t,this.targetOrigin)}handleBubbledMessageTimeout(t,s){this.bubblingMessages.has(t.originMessageID)&&(this.bubblingMessages.delete(t.originMessageID),t.status=404,t.type=e.RESPONSE,s.postMessage(t,this.targetOrigin))}};window.addEventListener('message',function(e){e.data.hasOwnProperty('height')&&(a.style.height=(parseInt(e.data.height)+1).toString()+'px')},!1)}}();</script>

Sugar Ray “Mammoth” Estroso has an important announcement to make and an inspiring story to tell. 