‘Bokodian Warrior’ gives back to his Benguet roots

By Randy Caluag

NATIONAL kickboxing athlete Jerry Olsim may have failed to win a medal in the recent Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, but that doesn’t stop him from giving back to his roots through his free martial arts training for poor kids in his hometown in Bokod, Benguet.

After winning a kickboxing gold medal in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games in 2019, Olsim used some of his savings from his incentives, plus some earnings from his small buy-andsell business to start constructing a small martial arts gym during the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

Olsim, who once fought in the ONE

Valley Golf South back in PGT loop

NINE years after it last staged the Philippine Golf Tour, the Valley Golf South is back as host of the country’s premier circuit, ready to provide a stern test to the men of the tour in the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge beginning June 6 in Antipolo, Rizal.

Tony Lascuña dominated the field in the 2014 Tour edition, beating Jhonnel Ababa by seven but the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has not made any stop at Valley since before it held the first Ladies PGT tournament, which top amateur Rianne Malixi dominated, last year.

The rolling Valley Golf South layout actually served as the Tour’s first venue during its four-leg inaugurals in 2009 with Jay Bayron emerging on top of the ICTSI-backed championship.

The upcoming P2 million tournament will be the sixth leg of this year’s circuit following a two-leg Visayan swing in Bacolod and Iloilo, the Caliraya Springs leg in Cavinti, Laguna, the Luisita Championship in Tarlac and the ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters at Villamor last week.

Ababa ended a long title spell with a come-from-behind victory over Joenard Rates and Dutch Guido van der Valk in a fierce PH Masters battle that went all the way to the final hole with the same unpredictable finish expected at Valley, kept in championship form all-season long, which features narrow, rolling terrains, winding streams and sleek putting surface.

A down-to-the-wire battle is also seen in the LPGT side of the tournament with Harmie Constantino targeting a third straight victory after pulling off a pair of explosive rallies at Luisita and Villamor.

Championship with the moniker “Bokodian Warrior”, went semi-retired and failed to defend his crown in the Vietnam edition of the biennial games in 2022. But the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas did not give up on him, reactivated his status in the national pool and sent him to Cambodia SEA

Games. But luck was not on his side again as he lost a very close decision to a Thai opponent.

Skills-wise, he knew he could defeat the Thai, who went on to become the gold medalist in their 69kg Kick Light category.

“Sayang talaga, hindi agad ako nakamove on, kasi alam ko kaya ko kalaban ko. Nagka-misunderstanding lang talaga kami ng strategy sa corner ko nu’ng final seconds kasi akala ko lamang ako.

‘Yun pala lamang ang kalaban, sana pala umatake ako ng umate nu’ng huli,” he said.

But he got encouraging words from SKP secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan, who assured him that he will still be part of the national team.

“Move on lang. Marami pa tayong lalabanang tournaments,” Chan told him.

Olsim went back to Bokod and with the help of his sister, Jenelyn, who is also a ONE Championship campaigner, they made the gym almost complete. Most of the gear like gloves and pads came from their old supplies, while others were donated by friends.

They started with a few kids and the number is growing by the day.

“Masaya akong makapag-contribute sa aking mga kababayan, especially sa mga bata na gustong matuto ng martial arts para maka-discover din ng future national athletes,” said Olsim, who will soon prepare for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Thailand.