What Kind Of Name Is Sayoc
In a bombastic 2014 deposition, Cesar Sayoc boasted about his past exploits. He said he played professional arena football in Arizona and Charlotte, and worked as a promoter and booking agent for Chippendales-style men’s strip clubs. But his claims of unapologetic self-promotion were met with skepticism by the lawyers who asked him questions. A former college professor, meanwhile, said he had no memory of Sayoc as a student and never taught him. And a Native American tribe has no record of Sayoc ever joining the Seminole.
On his LinkedIn profile, Sayoc painted an elaborate picture of his family history. He claimed his grandfather, Col. Baltazar Zook Sayoc, developed a martial arts system called Sayoc Kali and that it was used by the Philippines liberation army to overthrow the communist party. (Sayoc also claimed to be a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and owns an LLC called Native American Catering & Vending.)
The name Sayoc is a Filipino word meaning “to protect” or “to defend.” As an adolescent, Sayoc lived in the Bronx with his mother and three brothers. Throughout his life, he sought a better future for his family. He believed he could create change in the world, and his idealistic nature drove him to fight for justice. He was also passionate about learning and appreciated knowledge and insight. His legacy lives on through his family and the Sayoc Fighting System.
