Pin Diego: Negrense fighter is int'l Brazillian Jiu

Oct 21, 2023

Sunny “Pin” Diego, the most decorated Jiu-Jitsu fighter Negros Occidental was named champion in the International Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Phoenix Open 2023 Black Belt Master 4 Medium Heavyweight category and IBJJF Phoenix Open 2023 Black Belt Master 4 absolute bronze medalist recently.

He was born in Bacolod City and went to College at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos but has his roots in the town of Candoni.

He is a John Maxwell Team member and has a PhD in Humanities. He is also the Head Instructor and owner of 2 Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academies in Inland Empire, California.

Pin, as Negros Island calls him, had won multiple Championships in Jiu-Jitsu for years.

He has won each Belt Rank (white, blue, purple, brown and black belts). And surprisingly, he has also managed to win in 6 Divisions (rooster, light-featherweight, featherweight, lightweight, middleweight and medium-heavyweight) throughout his career.

Competing Internationally, he has given Negros Island honour as he represents us and the area in Jiu-Jitsu. Pin has 3 PAN Americans Championships and 2 American Nationals Championships and has 2 Bronze Medals at IBJJF World Masters. He has also competed in Europe (Italy and France), getting Silver and Bronze Medals, respectively. On top of this, he has won multiple awards and medals across the United States of America throughout the years he has been competing,

Pin has always believed that through the art he loves and practices, he will touch a lot of Filipinos and Negrense's life. He believes that he can inspire generations to come through what he has done and accomplished.

We want to make his mother, Dr. Crispina Diego, and his family proud. Pin is also a former councilman of the Municipality of Candoni, and is the nephew of former mayor and now Vice Mayor Celot Diego Borromeo of the same municipality.

His goal someday is to bring high-level Jiu-Jitsu to Negros and also to help our other Negrenses who are practicing. He also wants to help any Negrenses in possibly coming to the United States someday to compete with him or under his leadership and banner.

There is no doubt that this man has been an inspiration to our Island and race. We are proud to have and know that one man put us on the map in Jiu-Jitsu.

Pin also wants to come and do seminars on the island someday. The most decorated Negrense in Jiu-Jitsu in History is Doctor Sunny “Pin” Diego. Proud Pinoy. Proud Negrense. Proud Bacolodnon. Proud Candonian.