JENEL LAUSA NOW SEES THINGS CLEARLY AS HE PINS WHOLE FOCUS ON MMA

Seef District, Bahrain - 28 April 2021

Knowing that he has to get his priorities straight, Filipino hard-hitter Jenel “The Demolition Man” Lausa has made an important career move to hang up his pair of eight-ounce boxing gloves in favor of a total commitment to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Though the 32-year-old Concepcion, Iloilo native admitted that it was a “tough” decision to call, he believes that focusing entirely on MMA will benefit him in the long run—especially that he signed a multi-bout deal with BRAVE Combat Federation this past February.

“I equally love boxing and MMA. It’s tough, to be honest. But I know this decision will be beneficial career-wise. It’s a matter of determining the real priority, and my priority right now is MMA and to perform to the best of my ability as part of BRAVE CF,” Lausa said.

“I have to think long-term. Here in MMA, I can have a regular fix of fights. Boxing events in the Philippines have been hampered by the pandemic. I feel so blessed that BRAVE CF opened the door to welcome me back to MMA and resume my career. That alone is already an indication that I have to prioritize MMA,” he added.

Lausa began his boxing stint in 2014, three years after turning professional in MMA. He has gone undefeated as a pugilist, winning six of his ten bouts by knockout as well as capturing local and regional titles in two different weight classes.

As he started to move up the ranks, “The Demolition Man” had his sights fixed on the rare feat of becoming the first Filipino to ever win a world championship in both MMA and boxing.

Lausa seemed to be unperturbed by the fact that competing in two totally different disciplines could shoulder a heavy burden. But after bowing to Kyrgyz prospect Ryskulbek Ibraimov via unanimous decision in his first promotional appearance at BRAVE CF 47: ASIAN DOMINATION last March, it compelled him to revisit and weigh in on his aspirations.

“My list of goals at the moment consists of what I want to achieve through BRAVE CF, not as a boxer. Not winning my debut is hard to swallow, but it came with a realization that I have to reorganize my goals and priorities,” he stated.

“The loss turned out to be a blessing, not just a lesson. Now, I am living as a true and dedicated Filipino MMA fighter. Here in MMA, you have to think as a mixed martial artist day in and day out. Today, I can say that I see things clear as day,” he continued.

Despite the strict COVID-19 restrictions imposed on the country’s capital, Lausa has found a way to train, working out at XCON Tiger City Gym in Mandaluyong to keep him battle-ready for his next assignment in the Bahrain-based MMA organization.

Now sporting a much clearer vision as to what he wants to accomplish, Lausa cannot wait to get back into action.

“I am ready to fight. Belarus or Bahrain again, I can fight anywhere. I really don’t mind where,” he expressed. “My phone lines are open 24 hours, seven days a week. They can give me a call because I will surely answer.”

Louie Sangalang Shines in The Apprentice, Carries Team Valor in Mental and Boardroom Challenges

CONFIDENCE is one thing. Execution is another.

For Louie Sangalang, though, he didn't just have the former but also aced the latter as he steered Team Valor to another win in the business task and kept them fighting for another day in The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.

From the get-go, the Filipino candidate did not hesitate stepping up to the role of the project manager as the teams were tasked to create a travel advertisement for Everise, a leading customer experience solutions and technology company, with Everise CEO Sudhir Agarwal challenging them to revolutionize customer experiences in the travel industry.

"The travel industry is actually something I'm quite familiar with in my role as the head of procurement. My company actually was in charge of putting in corporate travel," Sangalang testified, which was a no brainer for Team Valor to elect him as the captain of the ship.

But this isn't like any challenge, especially with Agarwal emphasizing how difficult the situation is for the travel industry today and all the more in the post-pandemic world.

"More than 50-percent of our business is actually healthcare in the US. What you can look at is which are the industries that have still not adapted technology and disrupt it," he said. "We will make your customer experience better -- that is the main pitch. You got to bring it out of the box, it should be practical, and most importantly, it should be profitable."

Even Team Valor teammate Monica Millington noted how difficult this task was, saying, "This business challenge is very complex. We're talking about the future of the travel industry, which nobody knows what that is right now."

On top of creating their pitch deck, Sangalang also faced another hurdle: keeping Eugene Chung in check as the 23-year-old digital marketer from the United States seemed to be at a loss many times in the planning stages.

"When it came to concept development, the four of us were on the same page and Eugene was a little bit derailing from our direction," admitted Irina Chadsey inside the Boardroom.

Millington added, "Those disagreements were [Chung] trying to understand the product, I felt like it was a lot of having to explain and manage those conversations instead of just moving forward with our time constraints."

And even Sangalang would profess: "It's been difficult to manage Eugene."

"I think Eugene cannot seem to see the perspective of team effort," he continued. "When you stand down and not really understand the product, I think there is something deliberately wrong there. So what I would have appreciated if he took the time to actually educate himself regarding the subject matter."

The situation, as calm as Team Valor was in their war room, even left ONE Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy Niharika Singh with her own set of reservations.

"Louie seems to be pretty much in control, but the proof of the pudding is in the execution. And a lot transpires during the night, when people are under those stressful conditions," she said.

Still, Sangalang found a way to maximize Chung to the benefit of the rest of the team, tapping on his technological strengths in Team Valor's travel insurance proposal Xpedition.

"I think he did well. He kept the team organized," Chadsey said of Sangalang.

It turned out to be a stroke of genius as the pitch garnered praises from the judges, with Sangalang's effective dissection of the numbers in costing and pricing earning adulation from ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong himself.

"One thing that I was very impressed with the whole team worked very cohesively, how you married granular numbers down to the detail, every assumption and applying the value proposition, you nailed it," he said.

Sangalang also earned fans in his own team, with Millington quipping, "I'm really seeing Louie come to light. He's proven himself invaluable. He has such a strong understanding of the numbers and the sales could break down and how to price such a complicated business model."

Team Valor's Xpedition pitch truly knocked the ball out of the park that Agarwal was considering on truly utilizing it for Everise.

"I must say it was a really good job done with a lot of clarity of thought. I asked you to think out of the box and come up with a practical innovative solution, and I think you have done that," he said. "If I put myself in the shoes of a customer, I will definitely evaluate this product."

So strong was Team Valor's pitch deck Xpedition that Agarwal eventually did.

"Sudhir wants to take your pitch to travel companies and insurance companies. He said, 'I didn't expect it, but I'm going to use their pitch as I go out.' So great job, Team Valor," Sityodtong shared, which was another feather to the cap of Sangalang.

As the project manager, the 43-year-old Filipino is now 2-0 when taking the lead in the business tasks, quite a feat especially in this high-stakes game of business competitions and physical challenges -- all for the prize of a US$250,000 job offer as Sityodtong's protégé, chief of staff, and head of a business development unit at the ONE Championship Global Headquarters in Singapore for a year.

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is showing across Asia on AXN, the show’s official Asian broadcast partner, with markets to include Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The first season of “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” consists of 13 episodes and will be seen in the Philippines on Thursdays, 8:50 pm on AXN cable network and on Mondays at 9 p.m. on One Sport.

Reminders on How to Stay Healthy During Lockdown

With the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in different parts of the country, many cities and municipalities have already re-imposed stricter community quarantines that may last for a few weeks or longer.

We’ve been in a lockdown for more than a year so we essentially know how to keep ourselves mentally and physically healthy while staying at home, but a few reminders won’t hurt. To help you stay safe and protected during these times, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, shares these important tips on how to stay healthy at home.

Eat healthy. As you stay safe at home, you can strengthen your body’s immune system by adopting a healthier diet. Be sure to consume more vegetables and fruits for a good dose of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Aside from COVID-19 prevention, this will also do wonders for your body as it can improve digestive health and lower your blood pressure, among many other health benefits.

Exercise at home. With more spare time on your hands, you can take an hour or two every day to do some workouts at home. For starters, you can check out YouTube and just follow simple fitness tutorial videos for beginners. Once you get used to it, this may also be the start of a new active lifestyle – lockdown or no lockdown.

Stock up on essentials. With the increase in COVID-19 cases, it’s best to stay away from crowded places. If you can, get everything you need in one trip when you visit your local supermarket, pharmacy, or convenience store. Better yet, have them delivered to your home. Don’t forget essential items to maintain your overall well-being, such as food, medicine, and hygiene and self-care products.

Wash and sanitize. Ever since the outbreak, medical experts have advised that the proper washing of hands is still the best way to prevent getting COVID-19. So, remember to do so whenever necessary. Also, carry a hand sanitizer or alcohol with you at all times in case there’s limited access to running water while you’re out for necessary commutes. It’s also best to sanitize items that you have delivered or taken home from the outside and other high touch point surfaces in your house, such as doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, and faucets and taps.

Take a social media detox. Nowadays, social media can be a source not only of valuable COVID information, but also of negative content such as bad or fake news, chaotic rants, humble brags, and other things that may cause loneliness, anxiety, and low self-esteem. This is mentally unhealthy, especially during isolation. Give yourself a bit of inner peace by taking a break. Channel your time and energy toward activities that may be a better use of your time, such as reading books, journaling, taking online classes, or doing short meditations.

Aside from these tips, AXA Philippines also strives to help you stay healthy and protected all year round with its extensive portfolio of health solutions. For example, with AXA Health Start, you and your family can prepare for health setbacks and get coverage for top critical illnesses namely heart attack, stroke, and cancer. The affordable policy covers your family in one plan with built-in coverage for child of insured against child critical conditions, and it covers two lives in the plan: the policyholder and a spouse, parent, or sibling. The plan also has life insurance coverage and flexible payment terms payable in 10 or 20 years.

For more information, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/healthstart and follow @AXA.Philippines on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.