The new World Muay Thai Council featherweight Asian title holder Philip Delarmino and its coach were stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
He fought in Dubai on June 25, but the Philippine government has a travel ban on those coming from the United Arab Emirates and Oman, so they cannot return home immediately.
Two days after fighting and winning the championship in the UAE, Delarmino and his coach Billy Alumino packed to go home to the Philippines but were stopped when they arrived at the airport.
“Supposedly June 27 uuwi po kami pero naharang kami sa airport. Aantayin lang namin na tatawagan kami para sa request namin\ kung approve for repatriation,” said Philip Delarmino.
Despite the setback, Delarmino’s morale was still high as he was dubbed “El Kapitan” after defeating UAE athlete “Robinhood’ Zakaria El Jamari.
“Masaya po. First time kong nanalo ng belt. Isa itong exposure sa international competition. Excited sana kaming makauwi. Gawa doon sa travel ban kaya hindi kami makauwi kaya nandito pa rin kami sa Dubai,” said Delarmino.
According to Alumino, the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation takes care of them from hotel accommodation to food.
Muay Thai fighter Philip Delarmino and coach stranded in UAE
The two hope to travel on July 15 when the travel ban is lifted, or they will be included in the repatriation of chartered flights.
Despite this, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist rehearsal for the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in November will continue.
“Si Philip kasi napaka-disiplinado sa training. I think that’s the number one criteria kung bakit nakuha niya itong belt na ito,” said Philip Delarmino.
Philip Delarmino is an enlisted Philippine Navy and senior athlete in the national team Bagsik ng Pilipinas.
Meanwhile, the Philippine government has chartered repatriation flights from the UAE for those who want to return home. It is on July 12, 27, and 30, according to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai.
Priority will be given to chartered flights for patients without medical insurance, pregnant women in the third trimester and without insurance, families with children, Filipinos with expired or expiring visas, and without the ability to apply for a temporary visa UAE.
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