Harold Banario: The Igorot MMA fighter and portrait artist

Photo Courtesy || Harold Banario

Cordillera - Honorio Banario, known for his prowess in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), is making waves in the art world with his remarkable talent as a portrait artist. 

The Benguet native gained widespread recognition in 2017 when his "Beauty and the Beast" masterpiece featuring Emma Watson went viral on social media. 

Inspired by the movie, Banario recently unveiled a new rendition, replacing the "Beast" with a self-portrait.

Expressing his admiration for the characters, particularly Emma Watson as Belle, Banario explained, "I did that portrayal of war and love, inspired by the Beauty and the Beast story." 

Beyond his success in MMA with a record of 4-1, Banario is proving his versatility in the arts. Notably, he spearheaded the "Heroes" mural project at the Baguio Athletic Bowl, celebrating the Cordillera region’s talents who excelled on the international sporting stage. 

Honorio Banario continues to leave an indelible mark both inside and outside the MMA cage, showcasing his multifaceted talents to the world.

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Igorot fighter Harold Banario signs with Brave FC to represent Philippines in Brave 20

Photo Courtesy || Harold Banario

Cordillera - Another mixed martial artist from Cordillera was signed by Bahrain-based MMA promotion Brave Combat Federation to represent the Philippines in a scheduled bout that will be held in India on December 22, 2018. 

Harold Banario has signed with Brave Combat Federation as a replacement to Keith Lee who was pulled out due to an injury. He will be facing Angad Bishit of India who is also making his first Brave FC debut in the bantamweight bout. 

The 24-year old Banario is a native of Mankayan, Benguet and a younger brother of former ONE featherweight champion Honorio Banario. He is training out of the famed Team Lakay stable in Baguio city. 

Banario will be joining the list of  Cordilleran Brave FC fighters under team Lakay. They are Brave FC reigning Bantamweight Champion Stephen "The Sniper" Loman,  Jeremy "The Juggernaut" Pacatiw and Crisanto "The Slugger" Pitpitunge. 


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Banario was part of the Philippine National team who represented the country in Wushu back in 2012. His currently hold a professional record of 4 wins and 1 loss. 

Aside from his MMA carreer, Harold Banario is also a painter. He has painted "Beauty and the Best" which featured Hollywood actress Emma Watson.

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