Sunday, August 3, 2008

ARNIS PHILS.-BANEG BRING HOME POF MEDALS By: James U. Sy Jr.

Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter (ArPi BaNeg) under City/Provincial Commissioner Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo “Pope” C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., donned the Negros Occidental banners and brought home 1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 5 bronze medals from the Labanan (Full Contact) event of the Arnis competition during the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival Visayas Qualifying Games hled last July 25, 2008 at the NORSU Cultural Center, Negros Oriental State University, Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros.

The ArPi BaNeg Team was composed of 9 players (5 from Bago and 2 each for Sagay and Bacolod). Bago City, represented by the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) of Grandmaster Jose “Joe” Mancesa, was sponsored by Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres while Sagay City, represented by the Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Escrima Association (GKAKEA), Inc. of P/Supt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra “Baring” E. Lopez, was supported by Hon. Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr. Bacolod City, represented by KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA) of Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” Cardinal, was sponsored by Commissioner Jalandoon of Talisay City.

Junior Men Pinweight: Edgardo Doctora of Bago City/NUFAA (Silver). Featherweight: Romulus Jude Ballentes of Bago City/NUFAA (Bronze).

Senior Men Featherweight: Joselito Clemen of Bacolod/KAA (Bronze). Half Lightweight: Stevie John Doctora of Bago City/NUFAA (Gold). Lightweight: Climaco Lumanog of Bacolod/KAA (Silver). Half Middleweight: Joeffrey Poloy of Sagay/GKAKEA and Raffy Yanong of Bago City/NUFAA (Bronze). Middleweight: Catalino Bauya Jr. of Sagay/GKAKEA (Bronze).

Stevie John Doctora earned the distinction as the first Bagoueño and male Arnis player from Negros Occidental to win a Gold medal at the Philippine Olympic Festival Visayas Qualifying Games. He qualified for a slot in the ArPi BaNeg Team by winning his match at the 1st ArPi BaNeg Goodwill Tournament last May 18, 2008 at the Casino Filipino Hotel, Bacolod City. He was already crowned 2 times Bago City Invitational and Western Visayas Invitational Arnis champion this year.

Senior Women Bantamweight: Vina Mancesa of Bago City/NUFAA (Silver).

Heading the ArPi BaNeg delegation was Commissioner Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo “Pope” C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., with Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” Cardinal as Head Coach and Grandmaster Jose “Joe” Mancesa and Bago City Sports coordinator Eliseo Yanong Sr. as Delegation Officials. Bago City Mayor Hon. Ramon D. Torres was present during the competition to boost the morale of the team.

Officials overseeing the competition were Arnis Philippines National President Raymund S. Velayo, Arnis Philippines National Secretary Aniano “Jon” Lota, and Arnis Philippines Dumaguete City Commissioner Master Ike Xavier S. Villaflores.

President Velayo was happy for ArPi BaNeg being able to send a delegation to the POF and was thankful for the support given by Hon. Mayors Torres and Marañon. The campaign by ArPi BaNeg was its first inter-regional tournament outing since its revival last September 1, 2008 at the Apollo Chinese Restaurant, Cuadra St., Bacolod City. President Velayo formally appointed Atty. GM Jalandoon as Bacolod/Negros Occidental Commissioner just this January 2008.

Arnis Philippines is the National Sport Association (NSA) for Sport Arnis and the sole governing body for the Filipino Martial Art (FMA) of Arnis/Escrima recognized by the Philippine Government, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). It was founded by its current President Raymond S. Velayo and company as the Philippine Arnis Federation on July 11, 1986 at the Sulu Restaurant, Quezon City, Metro Manila and formally recognized as Arnis Philippines Incorporated on August 20, 1986.

2 comments:

greennie said...

Can you please direct me to a supplier of arnis sticks? Thanks

Conceptual Warrior said...

Hi greennie,

you can just visit your local furniture store and ask for rattan (oway). Have it cut based on the length from your armpit to your fingertips (traditional measure), But please remember, rattan sticks are primarily for training purposes. For combat, we use harder sticks.