NO POLITICS, JUST PUNCHES! Pinukpuk Barangay Officials Box for ₱500K Worth of Projects

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PINUKPUK, Kalinga — Combat sports are usually reserved for trained athletes, but barangay officials in Pinukpuk stepped into the boxing ring this week in a unique exhibition match where every punch carried the promise of community development.

Inside the Municipal Gymnasium in Barangay Taga, barangay officials traded punches not for personal glory but for ₱500,000 worth of projects pledged by the municipal government to the winning barangays.

The special boxing exhibition was introduced by Mayor Jimmy B. Dasayon as part of the town’s first-ever Gimpong Festival, drawing excitement from residents and visitors alike.

According to Dasayon, the activity was organized not only to entertain the crowd but also to strengthen camaraderie among barangays and promote sportsmanship during the celebration.

“Ti kayat tayo ket unity, panagmaymaysa dagiti ili tayo, ken tapno maipakita met ti sportsmanship dagiti officials tayo,” Dasayon said before the fights attended by Guru Press Cordillera.

Barangay Limos accepted the challenge first through Captain Sean Awingan, who entered the blue corner. In the red corner was Barangay Bayao, represented by Barangay Kagawad Lagi Dawaton.

As soon as the bell rang, the two exchanged punches in a friendly but energetic contest that immediately fired up the crowd inside the packed gymnasium.

Supporters erupted with cheers after every clean hit and reacted to every missed punch, transforming the venue into a lively festival arena filled with excitement and laughter.

After several rounds, Awingan emerged victorious, securing ₱500,000 worth of projects for Barangay Limos.

Another exhibition bout between Pinukpuk Junction and Mapaco also thrilled the audience, with Pinukpuk Junction claiming victory and the promised development assistance.

Videos of the boxing matches later circulated online after being shared by the Pinukpuk Public Information Office, drawing reactions from netizens.

One social media user humorously compared the boxing challenge to the bidding process for government infrastructure projects, joking that contractors should also settle contracts through boxing matches instead of the usual bidding system.

“Amin kuma nga bidding ti DPWH ket kasta. Pagboksingen da amin nga contractor. No sino mangabak, isu mangala jy contrata,” the netizen commented.

Several others praised Mayor Dasayon for introducing a creative activity that brought entertainment, unity, and active participation among barangays during the festival celebration.