Photo Courtesy || PSC
Cordillera - Ariel Lampacan, a native of Itogon, Benguet, has captured the hearts of many as he transformed from a young Igorot miner into one of the world's best Muay Thai fighters. Born on April 5, 1998, Lampacan's life story is a testament to the power of determination and dreams.
At the tender age of 12, Lampacan found himself in the depths of a gold mine alongside his parents, who were small-scale miners. He recalled the grueling process, saying, "We would go to the mountains, and we'd dig. There's a lot of process to extract the gold. It will take about 3 or 4 months before you can see the gold." Despite the harsh conditions, Lampacan knew there was something more waiting for him.
His turning point came when he witnessed his older brother passionately pursuing Muay Thai. The fire inside him ignited, and at 14, he made the pivotal decision to swap his mining tools for boxing gloves. "I saw him train. I was 14 then. I told myself, instead of mining for the rest of my life, I will join my brother in training," he said.
Lampacan's dedication paid off when he clinched the title of Muay Best Boxer at the 2013 Batang Pinoy competition. His talent didn't go unnoticed, as Coach Billy Alumno of the Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) spotted his potential. Ariel Lampacan became a vital member of the national team, making waves in the world of martial arts.
Today, Ariel Lampacan serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide, proving that with unwavering determination and a burning passion, one can overcome adversity and ascend to greatness. His remarkable journey from the depths of the mines to the pinnacle of Muay Thai is a story that will be celebrated for generations to come.
