3rd Death Anniversary of GM Doming Ferrer (1920-2007) Remembered by: James U. Sy Jr.

July 17, 2010 marked the 3rd year death anniversary of Grandmaster Dominador “Doming” D. Ferrer of Bacolod City (1921-2007). This piece is in memory of his legacy in the world of Arnis.

GM Ferrer was well respected by the martial arts community and the public not just because of his skills but more importantly because of his personality as a compassionate husband, father, friend, and teacher. He exemplified the ideal martial artist. He was a deeply religious man, always humble, respected all arts and practitioners, and always gave credit to his teachers.

Ferrer started his martial arts studies with Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis under its Founder, the late Grandmaster Jose “Joe” L. Viñas (1906-1991) in October 1959 and was awarded his mastership on April 20, 1979, only after 20 years of continuous practice. Master Ferrer was recognized as a Grandmaster by the Negros Occidental Arnis Federation (NOAF) during the 4th National Arnis Tournament and Festival on July 26-27, 1986 at the West Negros College Gym in Bacolod City.

On December 30, 2003, the son of the Founder, 1st Generation Inheritor/Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, conferred to GM Ferrer a 10th Degree Grandmaster ranking in Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, making him the first to be promoted to such high rank by a lineage holder. GM Ferrer’s rank is recognized by the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) of Founder/President Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., and the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) under its President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo. He holds the distinction as the oldest living grandmaster of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System in the world before he dies at age 86.

GM Ferrer may well also be the oldest Instructor of Original Filipino Tapado in the world before he died. He studied under the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono C. Mamar of Taloc, Bago City, in the latter half of the 1980s and was conferred his Junior Instructor rank in Original Filipino Tapado on December 30, 1988 and his Senior Instructor Degree on May 28, 1989 by GM Mamar.

GM Ferrer founded his won school, the Kalantiaw Defense Society (KDS), only after GM Viñas passed away in 1991. GM Ferrer taught Old Style Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, characterized by a left side lead and a general absence of a numbered or named patterns. He taught Arnis publicly but carefully chose his students and made them vow not to use their skills for anything other than for the protection of one’s life and one’s loved ones.

GM Ferrer served as Arnis Training Director for Bantay Bayan under Regional Director Rudy Toledo. At a certain point in time, he had also taught hand to hand defensive tactics to the Philippine Army in Negros. He was a Council of Elders member of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., IFFMAS, and Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Aficionados Association (LVAAA) and was a Board Director for NOBF and Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc.

GM Ferrer was a part of the guerilla movement in Negros under Lt. Liberato Montañes, Lt. Agustin Paraiso, and Lt. Lorenzo Dilag during World War II.