"The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” candidate Lara Pearl Alvarez received some major praises from her former coach and Team Lakay head honcho Mark Sangiao.
Before she was one of 16 candidates on the toughest “Apprentice” yet, Alvarez used to train with Sangiao when she was a student at the University of the Cordilleras.
She actually wanted to pursue mixed martial arts, but she put that aside to focus on her day job as an accountant, her small businesses, and eventually, motherhood.
That’s why when Alvarez was announced as one of the 16 candidates, Sangiao was elated.
“We are happy and proud that we have someone from our region and from our country that will represent us on the global stage, especially that we know how tough the screening is, and how tough it is to be qualified for ‘The Apprentice,’” Sangiao said.
“From the application alone, it’s not a simple walk in the park,” he added. “I just remember telling her to stay positive and give her all.”
Having worked with Alvarez in the past, Sangiao prasied his former student’s drive, character, and determination. And he expects her to highlight these traits when the show begins airing on 18 March.
“I was her coach in wushu-sanshou, and I know she’s brimming with self-assurance – and she’s smart,” Sangiao said.
Still, the soft-spoken mentor from the highlands wants to put things in perspective. He knows that competing against 15 others with tons of experience in the boardroom and in business will be no easy feat.
Whatever happens though, Sangiao will always be proud of his former student for all that she has already accomplished in life.
“Let’s not also forget the fact that vying for a slot, and more so, finishing on top of ‘The Apprentice’ will be very demanding,” Sangiao said.
“She’s still young, and naturally that needed wealth in experience comes with age – but let’s hope she does well.”
In the meantime, catch the previously recorded ONE: FISTS OF FURY II this Friday, 5 March, on One Sports and One Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. It will also air on the ONE Super App at the same time.
Also, TV5 will air the show on a next-day delay at 11 p.m. PHT on Saturday, 6 March.