Through the years, ONE Championship have been producing MMA matches that has left us amazed, impressed and craving for more.
This year, ONE is starting the year with a whole new way to entertain us by bringing the unquestionably the toughest version of “The Apprentice” ever created.
The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is said to be the toughest version of the international show as it will not only feature high-stakes business challenges but physical challenges as well.
16 candidates will be competing for the US$250,000 job offer to work directly under ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong for a year as his protege in Singapore.
And out of those 16 candidates, two former pinoy mixed martial artists will be competing for the prestigious opportunity.
Lara Pearl Alvarez and Louie Sangalang are two pinoys that are looking to greatness in this new reality show.
Both candidates have an athletic and MMA background.
Alvarez is a former taekwondo and wushu varsity player during her college days. She also trained under the legendary MMA team, Team Lakay in Baguio City, where she also worked as an accountant before joining the show.
At 22-years-old, the Baguio City native got pregnant by his boyfriend but was left with her unborn child.
Not only did she leave her job in the Philippines but she also left her 10-month-old son to have a chance to change her and his life by becoming the apprentice to Sityodtong.
On the other hand, Sangalang is looking to achieve another amazing feat to his already great journey in life.
The now 43-year-old Sangalang was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer over two decades ago. Despite his sickness, it didn’t stop him from conquering it and eventually becoming a professional MMA fighter.
During his days as a fighter, he went undefeated and became the URCC (Universal Reality Combat Championship) Featherweight Champion from 2003 to 2005.
In 2018, at the age of 40-years-old, Sangalang became first Filipino cancer survivor to conquer the FWD North Pole Marathon. In the same year, he also finished the Ironman Philippines and he also received his BJJ purple belt under Pedro Sauer BJJ Association.
Both Pinoy candidates have their own reason as to why they want to win the prestigious reality TV Show.
“For me it was about finding a true warrior who can join the team who can do big things with ONE Championship and our mission to unleash real life superheroes to unite the world with hope, strength, duty, and inspiration, and so we wanted to find our hero or heroine amongst the 16 candidates and that was very, very important that his or her story would also inspire the world,” under ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said during the media day of the show.
The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition will premiere today on AXN and will also air on TV5 on March 20, Saturday. And starting Monday, it will also air on ONE Sports and One Sports+.
Do you think one of these two Pinoy candidates will win the new reality show? Sound off the below in the comment section.
