Prologo Sensei’s Birthday Celebrated by: James U. Sy Jr.

Members of the Shinsei Aikido Society (SAS) during the birthday celebration of the late Aikido teacher Patricio P. Prologo Sensei last August 15, 2010 at the Prologo Residence, Bangga Riles, Prk. Maanyag 2, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS Photo).

The family of Engr. Patricio “Pat” Pan Prologo Sensei (1936-2010), led by his widow, Ma. Losie Hontiveros-Prologo, and their children Ma. Sophie Prologo, Patricio H. Prologo Jr., Gunji H. Prologo, Ma. Kristine Prologo, and Naomi Prologo-Braza, celebrated the birthday of the late Aikido teacher last August 15, 2010 at the Prologo Residence, Bangga Riles, Prk. Maanyag 2, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City.

The simple get together was held in memory of Prologo Sensei, who passed away peacefully in his sleep last July 2, 2010. His remains were laid to rest on July 14, 2010 at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park.

Prologo Sensei was a pioneer of Judo and Aikido in Bacolod City. He founded the Caltex (Bacolod) Judo Club in 1960, the same year he started training in Judo. He started teaching Judo the following year and in 1965, earned his Shodan “1st Dan Black Belt” from Japanese teachers Hiroshi and Ozawa at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. Prologo Sensei’s group later evolved into the Shinsei Judo Club (SJC) and gave birth to the Shinsei Aikido Society (SAS) in 1995.

Prologo learned his Aikido from Crecinciano “Anong” Javellana of Bago City, another judoka who learned Aikido in Guam. It’s not clear in what year Prologo Sensei started teaching Aikido but it can be placed at 1985 the earliest based on testimonies by his earliest students, albeit it was under the banner of Shinsei Judo Club (SJC).

Among his children, Prologo Sensei taught his Philippine Dynamic Arnis to both his youngest daughters, Ma. Kristine Prologo and Naomi Prologo-Braza, but it was only Naomi who also studied Aikido and Judo under him.

During the early to mid 2000’s, Prologo Sensei issued a number of Black Belt club recognitions under Shinsei Aikido Society (SAS) to later generations of SAS practitioners. When Prologo Sensei finally retired from teaching in 2008, four of his black belts took over the teaching functions of the club. These individuals were Jhun Montemayor, Roger Rey Lucena, Bernie Belen, and Jonald "Jojo" Palomar.

Prologo Sensei was first brought to the public attention when Negros’ premier martial arts historian/writer James U. Sy Jr. featured him as a Bacolod Aikido pioneer in his documentary article “What is Aikido?” which was published in a February 1998 issue of Sun Star Bacolod. He was also featured in the documentary “Stickfighters of Buenos Aires” by W.G. Productions and Art Vision which aired over at Negros Progress Channel 17, through the help of Fr. Gerson Balitor. There he demonstrated his interpretation of the Aikido jo “short staff” and the basic strikes of his Philippine Dynamic Arnis System.

SAS Charter President Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, wrote a piece about Prologo Sensei entitled “Sensei Pat Prologo: Surmounting the Odds with Aikido” in the Vol. 11 No. 1 issue of the Rapid Journal, the one and only martial arts magazine in the Philippines, based in Binondo, Manila.

At the time of his death, Prologo Sensei held a 2nd Dan Black Belt in both Judo and Karate. He has been recognized as the Founder/Grandmaster of Prologo Style Traditional Philippine Dynamic Arnis System by the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Masters James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, both 4th Degree Black Belt, through the authority of the group’s Council of Elders represented by Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido of Bago City, 1st Generation Inheritor of Original Filipino Tapado, and Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of Bacolod City, 8th Dan Red Belt Tang Soo Do, Founder of Filipino Tang Soo Do.

SAS members in attendance during the birthday celebration were Bernie Belen, Jacqueline Doromal, P/Sgt. Vic Dueñas, Rey Eata, Eddie, Edgar Esteves, Roger Rey Lucena, Jhun Montemayor, Jonald “Jojo” Palomar, Winston Que, James U. Sy Jr., Jun Torres, Rufino Torres, Kahil Ybesate, and and Karlo Ybesate.