Wednesday, June 30, 2010

GM Guinabo Conducts Arnis & Knife Seminar for Guards by: James U. Sy Jr.







Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo, Founder of the Trese Grabes Piga-Piga System of Arnis and the Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS) club, conducted the Defensive Tactics (DefTac) section for the Refresher Retraining Course of 31 security personnel of the Negros Goldwings Security Services Corporation (NGSSC) last June 21, 2010 in Had. Balatong, La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

The Refresher Retraining Course was organized by the Philippine Arms Training Institute, Inc. under Training Director Rizalia B. San Miguel and Negros Goldwings Security Services Corporation (NGSSC) under General Manager Annieven Andaya.

Other Training Instructors include Area Supervisor Victorio V. Alejo Jr. of NGSSC, Detachment Commander Terry John Aride of ECJ-Farm, and Marketing Officer Jose Bagain of NGSSC.

GM Guinabo conducted a total of 6 hours for the advanced Arnis training, four hours for long impact and edged weapons and another two hours for knife work.

Although security guards have service firearms, they, just like other law enforcement personnel, are expected to postpone drawing them up until a fully escalated situation. In securing and apprehending suspects they must always justify the amount of force that they exert. Drawing and firing a service firearm is considered a last resort. A suspect must be apprehended with the least possible harm as much as possible. It is in this respect that Arnis training becomes indispensable.

Arnis de Mano “Harness of the Hand,” Baston “Cane,” or Eskrima “Fencing” are the traditional generic terms for the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). These terms refer to a wide spectrum of defensive and offensive methods, styles and systems that include impact, edged, and flexible weapons of various shapes and sizes as well as empty handed striking and grappling and fight psychology.

GM Guinabo taught strikes and restrains using the Arnis stick, which is easily translatable to the security guard baton, as well as on how to handle and defend against the knife. Using the baton, a security guard can regulate the force he can inflict on the suspect. Knowing how to fight with sticks and blades also equips the guards with the necessary knowledge on how to deal with such weapons when a suspect has these weapons and the guard has none.

GM Guinabo developed his own style of Arnis, Trese Grabes Piga-Piga System, after studying Arnis for 28 years from 6 professors: Grandmaster Mario Lavista (1982), Grandmaster Hortencio M. Navales (1985), Grandmaster Teotimo Buenaflor (1987), Grandmaster Geronimo Valdes (1990), Grandmaster Bernandino Tanique (1992), and Grandmaster Frank Abalajon (1997). Master Guinabo started teaching under his own school, Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS), in June 1989 in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan, when he instructed the 61st IB of the Philippine Army (PA).

GM Guinabo holds a verifiable Arnis tournament record of 17-2-2. He was crowned champion in the Inter Barangay Open Arnis Tournament (1985) and Negros Open Arnis Championships (1986) and 2nd place in the 5th National Open Arnis Champions (1992). Representing Arnis, GM Guinabo entered and won the bantamweight grand championship of the World Kali Championships organized by the Pekiti Tirsia Global Organization on November 17, 2001 in Iloilo City. GM Guinabo had organized a total of at least 6 Arnis tournaments in 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

GM Guinabo is a member of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) under P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra and Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter under Commissioner Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” Cardinal and has cordial relationships with the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) under grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo and the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association 9OFTLSFA), Inc. under 1st Generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido.

Interested parties may contact GM Guinabo at 0910-983-0853 and 0907-148-3061.

Monday, June 21, 2010

2010 NOBF Officers Appointed By: James U. Sy Jr.

P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, President of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), appointed the officers of the federation for the Calendar Year 2010 during the group's monthly meeting last June 19, 2010, saturday, at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City.

The new NOBF officers are P/Sgt. (Ret.) Founder/Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra of Guarra Style Modern Arnis (President), P/Supt. (Ret.) Founder/Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez of Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Escrima Association (GKAKEA) Inc. (Vice President), Founder/Chairman Abraham "Abe" G. Ganzon Jr. of Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (Secretary), Director/Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” L. Cardinal of the KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA)-Bacolod (Treasurer), and Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. (PIO).

P/Sgt. (Ret.) Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra is Founder/Grandmaster/President of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis (formerly the Gen. Juan A. Araneta School of Arnis).
He has served as Vice President-South Neg. Occ. of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) and the Arnis Philippines (ArPi)-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter during the term of Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelino "Pope" C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., as President and Commissioner of said organizations respectively as well as Vice President-Internal Affairs for the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS).

Guarra studied Arnis under 20 professors, starting with his father Grandmaster Cornelio “Kune” T. Guarra. As an arnisador in search of the truth, he went around testing his skills against other hangkilans during his younger years. He served with the Bago City Integrated National Police (INP) for 32 years and was a multi-decorated cop. He had served as a training staff of the Bago City Police Station, teaching Arnis to more than 10,000 barangay tanods, police officers, security guards, and civilians by the time he retired.

P/Supt. (Ret.) Ibarra E. Lopez is Founder/Grandmaster/Chairman of Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Escrima Association (GKAKEA) Inc. He had served as Vice President of the Negros Occidental Arnis Federation (NOAF), Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), and Union of Martial Artist Organization of Negros and Bacolod (UMA-ONEBA ).

Lopez started studying Arnis from his 7 grandparents at the age of 9. He was a competitor in his younger days, having been crowned as Provincial champion (1982) and National NARAPHIL heavyweight champion (1986) among others. He has served as Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Division of the Bacolod City Police Office and was the Arnis Chief Instructor of the Bacolod Police Station Training Academy, Bacolod City Tanod Brigades, and Navales Arnis Club. He is an accredited Self Defense Instructor for Security Guards in Negros Occidental by the Civil Security Group / PADPAO Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Abraham "Abe" G. Ganzon Jr., MBA, is the Founder/Chairman of Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA) and the Chairman of the Universal Care Center of Excellence (UCCE). He is Treasurer of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) under Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo and is the latest member of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF).

He started martial training with Karate and later Kimdo Taekwondo and Aikido. By the time he joined IFFMAS, he further trained in Chi Kung under GM Montoyo and Arnis under Grandmaster Hortencio M. Navales, Master James U. Sy Jr., Grandmaster Danilo "Danny" Cardinal, and Grandmaster Jose "Joe" B. Mancesa. He holds the distinction as the first Bacoleño to be certified as an Instructor (Level 1-2, 2008-2009) in Commando Krav Maga under its Chief instructor Moni Aizik after undergoing the Instructors' Course in Singapore. He holds a Lakan Isa in KaliSilat under GM Cardinal and is working for his instructorship in Conceptual Martial Arts.

Danilo “Danny” L. Cardinal is the Director of the KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA)-Bacolod and Founder/Chief Instructor of Traditional Shotokan Karate Arts (TSKA). He is the Bacolod City/Negros Occidental Commissioner for Arnis Philippines and is a certified national level Referee/Judge under the Arnis Referee Judges Association of Arnis Philippines.

He is recognized as a Grandmaster by Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., under the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) and holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. GM cardinal was the 1987 All Filipino Karate Invitational black belt lightweight kumite champion and 5th RTKF Karate Invitational black belt kata champion (1989). He was formerly Chief Instructor of the Ras Tanura Karate Federation (RTKF) in Saudi Arabia and the Midway Shotokan Karate-do and Director of Midway Kali-Silat in Honolulu, Hawaii.

James U. Sy Jr. is Founder/Master/President of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., Secretary General of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., and PIO of Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Neg. Occ. Chapter He traveled the Visayas and to some extent, the NCR researching, documenting, and studying the various indigenous Arnis systems, as well as other Asian martial arts, and in the process studying under not less than 30 professors of Arnis.

Sy is graded Master in 6 Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) systems by the Founder or his inheritor (Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Original Filipino Tapado, Wild Judo, Filipino Tang Soo Do, Philippine Dynamic Arnis, and Arnis Combinado) as well as Instructor in Togle Style Modern Arnis and Yasay Sable. He also holds Black Belt Degrees or Instructor equivalents in 7 other Asian martial arts. He is a prolific martial arts writer having written hundreds of articles since 1998. He is the Western Visayas Correspondent for the Binondo-based Rapid Journal. Sy introduced less known local Arnis masters, particularly in Negros, through his body of works in the print and broadcast media and cyberspace

Monday, June 14, 2010

Franklin KOs Liddel, Cro Cop Wins By Submission By James U. Sy Jr.


Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Jay Franklin (B: 1974) KOed returning hall of famer and former UFC light heavyweight champion Charles David "Chuck" Liddell (B: 1969) at 4:55 of the first round of their main event bout at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 115 last June 12, 2010 at General Motors Place, Vancouver, BC.

Franklin replaced former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz (B: 1975) after the latter withdrew from his fight with Liddel.

Early on Franklin threw low kicks to Liddell's leg to affect his base and by extension, the push off in his punches. Liddell answered with his own kicks, even one to the head, something that UFC fans have not seen him do in his previous fights. One of the kicks of Liddell broke the left arm of Franklin yet he never quit.

Liddell took the fight to the mat just before the midway point, another thing that fans don't see Liddel doing often. When the two men got back up, there was a cut between Liddell's eyes. The two men continued with an exchange. Liddell staggered Franklin briefly with a right hand. During the exchange Liddell walked into a right hand that dropped him to the mat. Franklin followed up with some more shots to the head of the fallen Liddell before referee Herb Dean stopped the bout at 4:55 of the first round.

Franklin improved to 28-5 1 NC, 8 KO while Liddell fell to 21-8 13 KO. It was Liddell's third straight loss by KO.

In the co-main event, heavyweight Pat Barry knocked down his idol Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović of croatia (B: 1974) twice early on in the first round. There was a swelling in the left side of Cro Cop’s face. It both cases, Barry didn't rush in to finish Cro Cop. The crowd roared when both fighters hugged in respect during the round.

Cro Cop threw his trademark kicks and a flurry of punches in the second round.
Both men clinched to the fence where Cro Cop threw knee strikes. After a restart, both men traded leg kicks. The fight went down and Cro Cop ended in the top position and briefly got the mount and tried to apply a choke.

In the third round, a high kick by Crop Cop was countered by Barry with a low kick, sending the Croatian to the mat. Barry also scored with a looping left hand. Cro Cop pressed forward with punches which sent Barry to the mat. Cro Cop capitalized and pummeled him with fast short punches then shifted into a rear naked choke which resulted to Barry tapping out at 4:30 of the 3rd round. It was Cro Cop's fourth submission victory during his 9 year MMA career. Cro Cop improved to 27-7-2, 1 NC 20 KO while Barry fell to 5-2.

Jovit Baldivino: Real Life Fairy Tale


The end of Season 1 of Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) signaled the start of a new chapter in the life of Jovit Baldivino, one which he only dreamed of before.

16 year old student Jovit Baldivino of Batangas was from a poor family. His father is a bread vendor. He has five siblings and his mother has tubercolosis. Inorder to continue his studies, Baldevino had to sell siomai in the market.

His life was destined to change the very moment he joined Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT), a nationwide talent-reality search by ABS-CBN, based on the British TV format Got Talent franchise, conceived and owned by Simon Cowell's SYCO company. Pilipinas Got Talent started airing last February 20, 2010.

The ABS-CBN-Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) crew went to different parts of the Philippines, among them Batangas, Cebu, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Manila, from November to December 2009 for the auditions. From the thousands who auditioned, 220 acts were chosen. The figure was further narrowed down to 36 semi-finalists by Judges Ai-Ai de las Alas, Kris Aquino, and Freddie M. Garcia (FMG).

The 36 semi-finalists were divided into 6 batches, each with 6 entries and had to perform live on TV over a 6 week period. In every batch 2 finalists were chosen each week.

Baldivino performed Journey's Faithfully during the Batangas Auditions last February 27, 2010 and was qualified for the next round.

Baldivino, an early favorite, was among those in the first batch of semi-finalists. He got the highest text votes in his batch at 80%, which was still the highest when compared to the highest of all of the other batches.

Baldivino may not have the good looks of fellow finalist Norwegian-Filipino Markki Stroem or the body and abs that Ai-Ai and Kris are always known to appreciate but he captured the souls of the crowd with his hair-raising voice. The judges commented that they were amazed for a small person like Jovit to have a very big voice.

During the finals on June 12, 2010 at the full packed Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City, the fans of the 12 finalists were in full force but the Jovinatics were in dominating the cheering. The finalists gave their best in the performance of their lives.

Magician Allan de Paz AKA Alakim of Novaliches, Quezon City, a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IMB), was the first finalist to perform. He wowed the audience with his disappearing act, covering himself in a large piece of cloth and then reappearing amidst the crowd.

Breakdancers Velasco Brothers of Batangas again mesmerized the audience with their gravity-defying acrobatics, flips, jumps, and stunts. Their talent landed them in the top 3 spot.

Ventriloquist Ruther Urquia of Las Piñas, a good friend of Alakim, did his act with puppets Titoy and Lolo and rapped a piece which invoked nationalism in the Filipinos in celebration of the 112th Independence Day of the Philippines.

Baguio Metamorphosis did a repeat of their custome-studded and action-packed dance number, which earned them the top 3 spot.

Violin wonder Maria Jeline Oliva of Naga City played three isntruments: her bread and butter violin, the drums, and the piano.

The chorale group Luntayao Family of the Municipality of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, the first from the Visayas to qualify for the finals, also gave their best shot.

Baldivino sang Too much Love Will Kill You by Queen and got the loudest cheer from the crowd. Baldivino was clearly the favorite, garnering 48.81% of the text votes or almost half of the total votes. Even Filipinos in Europe voted for him.

The other finalists were Ingrid Payaket of the Cordilleras, Fil-Norwegian crooner Markki Stroem, guitarist Keith Clark Delleva of Pasay City, Ezra Band of Davao City, and Balladeer Sherwin Baguion.

Baldivino was teary eyed after being announced as the very fist Pilipinas Got Talent (Season 1) Grand Winner. He was given a check for P2M. Runner ups Velasco Brothers and Baguio Metamorphosis received P100,000 each. The remaining finalists received P50,000/group.

When asked by Aquino if he wanted to be part of any ABS-CBN show he wants: a teleserye alongside Sarah Geronimo, musical variety show ASAP XV, or noontime variety show Wowowee, Baldivino replied "Lahat po." Baldivino shaked the hands of the fans near the stage. The other contestants hugged and congratulated Baldivino.

Iya Villania was the co-host of Luis Manzano during the proclamation night.

Since airing in February, Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) had topped the weekend primetime national TV ratings, with a high of 43.1% just on its second week of airing. It was the most talked-about topic on Twitter during the start of the show’s final results night on Jun 13. The hashtag “Pilipinas Got Talent” was first on Twitter trending topics as of 8:41 PM, even way ahead of the much-anticipated 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Now starts another chapter of Jovit's life.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Garimot ArnisTraining Summer Retreat 2010 Set

When: July 9, 2010, Friday, 9:30 AM, to July 11, 2010 5:00 PM
Where: TY Park, Hollywood, Florida
What: GARIMOT ARNIS TRAINING SUMMER RETREAT 2010 SIETE COLORES ARNIS TRES PUNTOS KNIFE FIHGTING GARIMOT BUNO (GRAPPLING)
Organizer: Gat Puno Abon "Garimot" Baet
Type: Gathering of masters

1st Tribu Hangaway Prov'l Combat Aikido Tilt a Success Part II By: James U. Sy Jr.


Master Roy R. Flores Sr. with his student Mykah Tacsagon during the awarding ceremonies of the 1st Negros Occidental Tribu Hangaway Combat Aikido Competition recently at Gaisano City Bacolod.

Overall champion was Tribu Hangaway Philippines-Bacolod Chapter. Escalante and Sagay Chapters were 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

Long Thrust Kids 7-10 Years Old. Roy R. Flores Jr. of Bacolod (1st place), Paolo Gilo of Bacolod (2nd place), Rafglen Sergs Lopez of Escalante (3rd place).

Somersault Kids 7-10 Years Old. Paolo Gilo of Bacolod (1st place), Roy R. Flores Jr. of Bacolod (2nd place), Ivan Cordero of Bacolod (3rd place).

Long Thrust 11-14 Years Old. Arjay C. Flores of Bacolod (1st place), Ernest Viñarta of Bacolod (2nd place), Finger Glen Choclit Lopez of Bacolod (3rd place).

Somersault 11-14 Years Old. Paolo Sy of Bacolod (1st place), Ernest Viñarta of Bacolod (2nd place), Finger Glen Choclit Lopez of Bacolod (3rd place).

High Thrust 15 Years Old Above. Robert John Gilla of Escalante (1st place), Arnel Guanzon of Escalante (2nd place), Slade Cabiles of Bacolod (3rd place).

Somersault Adult 15 Years Old Above. Joemar Gilla of Escalante (1st place), Slade Cabiles of Bacolod (2nd place), Shelwin Songkit of Bacolod (3rd place).

Kicking Defense Yellow Belt Only. Joemar Gilla of Escalante (1st place), Slade Cabiles of Bacolod (2nd place).

Knife Defense Blue Belt Only. Renante Inso of Bacolod (1st place).

Stick Defense Brown Belt Only. Jimmy Soquiña of Bacolod (1st place), Arnel Guanzon of Escalante (2nd place), Shelwin Songkit of Bacolod (3rd place).

Multiple Attackers Defense Kids Boys 7-11 Years Old. Rafglen Sergs Lopez of Escalante (1st place), Paolo Gilo of Bacolod (2nd place), Roy R. Flores Jr. of Bacolod (3rd place).

Multiple Attackers Defense Kids Girls 8-12 Years Old. Faye Mangubat of Bacolod (1st place), Franzit Sumugat of Bacolod (2nd place), Mykah Tacsagon of Bacolod (3rd place).

Multiple Attackers Defense Kids 12-16 Years Old Any Belt. Hannah Cabiles of Bacolod (1st place), Maria Villaueva of Escalante (2nd place), Ellani Huillar of Bacolod (3rd place).

Multiple Attackers Defense 1 Against 3 1st to 3rd Degree Black Belt. Alan Mario Facturan of Bacolod (1st place), Rolando Mirasol of Escalante (2nd place), Fred Sumugat of Bacolod (3rd place).

Baston Exhibition Black Belt Only. Jussel Torres of Bacolod (1st place).

Others who competed were John Lester Buenavista of Sagay, Jerry de la Cruz of Bacolod, Laurenz Elintores of Bacolod, Patrick Gilo, Erika Gumban of Bacolod, Ronielee Magbanua of Escalante, Arnold Montevon of Sagay, Jessie Necesito of Bacolod, Jonas de Ocampo of Bacolod, Rogelio Palumar of Sagay, Aduie dela Peña of Bacolod, Maricel Sante of Escalante, Ricardo Sorillo of Bacolod, and Peter Uberas of Bacolod.

Officials were Master Roy R. Flores of Tribu Hangaway Philippines (Tournament Director), Chief Instructor Rosyl Mohametano of Musubi Dojo (Judge), Master James U. Sy Jr. (Emcee/Jury), Jackie Honor (Competition coordinator), and Maricel Sante, Jimmy Soquiña, et. al. (timer)

A Memorial to GM Alejandro “Andy” Abrian (1936-2010) By: James U. Sy Jr.

Grandmaster Alejandro “Andy” Abrian, Founder of Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral Arnis, passed away on April 18, 2010. He was 76.

GM Abrian was born on November 3, 1936 in Eastern Samar. At a time when Flash Elorde of Cebu reigned as the world boxing champion, Abrian was into boxing. Later he sought out a friend of his uncle who was a boxer living in the next town. Mang Pasi was also an Eskrimador aside from being a boxer. The teen had a few rounds with the boxer after which Mang Pasi adviced Abrian to take up Eskrima instead.

Since then Abrian trained in Eskrima by himself by climbing coconut trees, hunting wild animals, and doing drills with half of his body immersed in the sea. He picked up pointers from local eskrimadors.

Abrian later relocated to Manila where he worked as a janitor at the Luneta Park. The Kali Ilustrisimo group (now Kalis Ilustrisimo) of Grandmaster Antonio Ilustrisimo is among the Eskrima groups who conduct their training at the park. Abrian joined the group but soon left and in 1955 founded his own style which he called Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral Arnis.

The name Moro-Moro is homage to the fact that GM Abrian’s style is a modification of a Moro eskrimador’s style who he saw performing in his home province. Orabes and heneral are terms used by Samareños to refer to low and high strikes respectively.

GM Abrian started teaching his brand of Eskrima in the 1980s. His Eskrima primarily teaches single stick, single knife, and empty hands with double sticks and stick and dagger taught later in training. The style is characterized by fast footwork, dance like movements from low, crouching stances, and the absence of choreographed or flow drills. GM Abrian also integrated Boxing’s bobbing, weaving, ducking, and principle of putting the body behind a strike into his Eskrima. Disarming is also taught in Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral Arnis.

Grandmaster Alejandro “Andy” Abrian was among the eskrimadors featured in the book Masters of Arnis, Kali, and Eskrima by Edgar Sulite and was in the cover of the Vol. 5 No. 4 (Book 18 2001) issue of the Rapid Journal. Cinco Teros DVD, a docufilm on GM Abrian's style, has also been produced.



In September 2006, GM Abrian suffered his 6th stroke, leaving him confined to a chair with slurred speech, impaired hearing, and unable to practice Eskrima. Three months after, hr taught an Australian from his chair; he had also taught his latest student Diego Nepomuceno by proxy. One of GM Abrian’s students, Punong Guro at Nagtatag (Grandmaster/Founder) Henry Espero of Barrio Tagdon, Barcelona, Sorsogon, Bicol Region, founded his own style of Rapido Realismo Kali.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Is “KALI” Appropriate to Describe an Indigenous Blade Based Filipino Martial Arts? By Talibung Antike

Written by Talibung Antike on August 6, 2008

True blooded genuine Eskrimadores in the island Panay from the coastal plains to the hinterlands of Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Antique who are mostly if not all are World War II underground guerrilla fighters pitted their craft using “Talibungs”, “Sanduko” and “Ginuntings” against the Japanese soldiers’ “Katana” swords and Bayonets in hand to hand combat when they ran out of bullets. One will never hear a word “Kali” from any of them that alludes to fighting whether unarmed or armed confrontation where sticks, spears, or bladed weapons are used. It should be noted that the word “Kali” in the major languages of Panay and Negros (Hiligaynon and Kiniray-a) means “to dig” which refers to a farming or harvesting activity when one has to dig something from the ground like: “to dig camote=kali camote”, “dig peanuts=kali mani”, “dig gabi=kali gabi”. The word in itself has no reference to fighting at all whatsoever. All these veteran fighters and war survivors refers to their craft as “Eskrima, or the act of “Eskrimahay” which refers to skirmish, a confrontational exchange of blows/attacks, offense/ defense- it may be used outside the context of physical combat, as in “eskrimahay ka tinaga” which means a fierce verbal exchange, and may also refer to the use of weapons like: “baston, talibung, binangon, ginunting, sanduko, lantip, sanggot, espading, daga, lugod, bahi, bugsay, tungkod, yaming, tuwang-tuwangan, garab, kaw-it, hal-o, etc”. The experts and practitioners of these indigenous martial arts systems are either called “Eskrimador” or “Bastonero” not “Kalista”, “Kalidor” nor “Kalinero”.

The claim that the word “Kali” came from the Muslim chieftains that established a colony in Kalibo, Aklan — (sometimes cited as the origin of the name “Kali”) is very wrong and has no historical basis at all.

The official history of Kalibo on record states that, Kalibo is a town in Aklan, founded by settlers from Malaysia who came with Datu Bangkaya (The Muslims had never been successful in conquering Panay Island despite relentless attempts even during Spanish times). Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, Madianos (Madyanos) is the primitive Pre-Hispanic name of Kalibo. It was found to be the first place in Aklan with houses grouped together, the inhabitants thereof, already having some form of political organization.

How Kalibo got its present name was because of a mass Christening of One Thousand (1,000) natives in “Madianos” in May, 1566, by a Spanish priest, who came with Adelantado Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. One thousand (1,000) is written in the Aklan dialect as “ISA KA LIBO”, “SANG LIBO”, and in order to commemorate and perpetuate this historical fact, the name “Calibo”, a contraction derivative of these three words in the Aklan dialect, was given to the town instead of “MADIANOS”. From year 1566, “CALIBO” was the official name used up to about 1929. Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Geographical Names, the official name “KALIBO” was finally adopted.
If Kali as a blade based fighting system is to be alluded to the word “Kalis”, it is even farther from the true meaning of the Hiligaynon word “Kalis”. “Kalis” in Hiligaynon and Kiniray-a is a verb which means “to scrape off” and if used as a noun it refers to the straight edged wooden or bamboo slat used to swipe the excess grains being measured. The word “Kalis” is a measuring device or activity to ensure accuracy of measurement where the excess are scraped off or leveled out or “kalison” using a “kalis” before counting it as one full unit volume. Traditionally the grains or farm produce like: rice, corn, monggo, sugar, salt, beans, etc are quantified based on traditional volumetric measuring containers like: “ganta or gantangan” (25 gantas = 1 sack), wooden box “panega” (3 panegas=1 sack), “tabig”, and “tabungos”.

(Note: The use of kilograms in measuring plant or farm products is a relatively recent development when the Philippines adopted the metric system during the 1980s)

Hence, based on the aforementioned elucidations the use of the word “Kali” parallel with Arnis and Eskrima in Filipino Martial Arts if it has to be used at all is absurd and very etiologically inappropriate. Example: you “Kali” your opponent! That would mean “you DIG your opponent!” or say: Lets practice “Kali” that would mean “Lets practice DIGGING”

If you KALI your opponent, you DIG your opponent! So he must have been buried, must have been dead a long time ago or a victim of a land slide! That would be the most absurd FMA indeed!

The languages used in Negros Island are “Hiligaynon” (most of Negros Occidental close to Panay Island) and “Bisaya or Cebuano” (Negros Oriental close to Cebu Island). These languages are influences brought by migrants from both islands as workers in the Haciendas of Negros mostly owned by the Hacienderos who are landed elite migrants from Jaro, Iloilo City. If there is no KALI in Cebu Island nor in Panay Island, then claiming KALI as indigenous blade based fighting arts of Panay Island brought to Negros Island is one of the greatest frauds that ever plagued the Filipino Martial Arts History and Martial Arts World as a whole.

It is high time to “KALI” deeper= to “DIG” deeper and ferret out the “TRUTH” about “KALI” as clearly it has no rightful place in the Filipino Martial Arts World historically and etiologically.

This is a big challenge to the well meaning Filipino Martial Arts enthusiasts, avid practitioners, scholars, researchers & historians to start retracing back and DIG deeper into the true Filipino Martial Arts History…. there are still lots to DIG out (KALI) into the open here in PANAY island… the center of the PHILIPPINES.

Welcome to Panay Island PHILIPPINES!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

A Memorial to Henry C. Villalva (1948-2010) By: James U. Sy Jr.


Sportswriter Henry Chuatico Villalva, Acting Editor-in-Chief of Sun Star Bacolod, passed away last June 4, 2010, 5:30 PM at Doctor's Hospital, B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod City due to multiple organ failure caused by a myocardial infection (heart attack). He was 61.

Villalva was rushed to the hospital by his niece Frances Villalva Porter where medical personnel tried to save him for 30 minutes at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Previously he also had a heart attack several months back but recovered.

Villalva, who hails from Isabela, Negros Occidental, was born on December 9, 1948. He was an active student activist during the Martial Law years and later worked as a DJ at DYWN of West Negros College and DYRG in the 1980s and at Magic 103 in the 1990s. He was also a formerly a university professor.

Prior to becoming the Acting Editor-in-Chief of Sun Star Bacolod, Villalva was a sportswriter and columnist of different print media outlets in Bacolod. Negros Daily Bulletin sportswriter Cyrus Garde called him the “Football Guru” as football was his favorite sports event to cover.

Villalva conceptualized the idea of a local sportswriters group which he proposed to his colleagues in 1988 and the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP)-Bacolod elected its officers in 1989. Villalva was Vice President. In the next elections, he became President.

Villalva covered various local and national sports competitions such as the Batang Pinoy, Palarong Pambansa, and the Southeast Asian Games

He was active in the formation of several sports events together with local sports patrons like Oscar Bascon, Monju Guanzon, Rafael "Junie" Lizares, Vic Tan, and Roy Yanson and took part in the conduct of different international sports competitions such as the 2005 SEA Games, Asean Football Championship-Qualifier, and the recent RP-Malaysia Goodwill Games.

In their obituary pieces on Villalva, the top three local dailies in Bacolod unanimously called Villalva as "one of the pillars of the local sportswriting industry in Bacolod and Negros Occidental."

Villalva was the second SCOOP member who died in 2010, the first being Victorino Salazar.

Friday, June 4, 2010

World’s Ugliest Dog Passes Away, 17 By: James U. Sy Jr.


The small, bug-eyed Chinese Crested Hairless dog Miss Ellie, named World's Ugliest Dog by Animal Planet in 2009, died on June 1, 2010 in her Tennessee home. She was 17 years old.

The dog was rescued from a home when she was 7 and was brought to dog trainer Dawn Goehring who started her in a career in resort show business in the Smoky Mountains. She starred in shows at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge as part of a troupe of dogs that Goehring had trained, had appeared on The Animal Planet cable show Dogs 101, and was on billboards and in a commercial.

Miss Ellie helped Goehring raise over US$100,000 for the Sevier County Humane Society. Because of this, Pigeon Forge Mayor Keith Whaley honored the dog by proclaiming November 12 as "Miss Ellie Day."

Miss Ellie's pimples and lopsided tongue that always sticks out of the side of her mouth had won her the 21st Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest in 2009 in Petaluma, California. She was set to travel to California this month to defend her title.

Miss Ellie was blind in her final years. Miss Ellie will be cremated.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

1st Tribu Hangaway Prov'l Combat Aikido Tilt a Success Part I By: James U. Sy Jr.


Founder/Grandmaster Isaac “Saac” T. Guarra demonstrates the striking techniques of his Arjuka style.

Members of the Tribu Hangaway Philippines showed various grappling techniques as used in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

The 1st Tribu Hangaway Negros Occidental Provincial Combat Aikido Compeition was successfully held by the Tribu Hangaway Philippines of Master Roy R. Flores Sr., 6th Degree Black Belt, in cooperation with Aksyon Radio last May 23, 2010 at the Atrium Area, Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall, Araneta St., Bacolod City.

8 martial arts organizations from Bacolod, Bago, Escalante, and Sagay Cities competed and/or gave demonstrations

DEMONSTRATIONS. Martial arts exhbitions were given before the competition proper. The first to perform was the Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association (GKAKEA) of P/SUPT. (Ret.) Founder/Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez. The demonstrators were a fusion of members from its Bacolod, Sagay, and Bacolod Christina College (BCC) Chapter under Grandmaster Alex Doza, Grandmaster Gener V. Arnaiz, and Master Leo Uyanib respectively. The GKAKEA contingent performed several anyo "forms" as taught in the International Modern Arnis Federation, Philippines (IMAFP), where GM Lopez serves as Negros Occidental Chapter President. Among their demonstrations were Solo Baston, Doble Baston, Espada y Daga, Daga, Pangamut, etc.

The second to perform was the combined team of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Founder/Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra and Arjuka-Malingin of Founder/Grandmaster Isaac “Saac” T. Guarra. The youngsters who performed the systems of the Guarra brothers were Filton Bernadas, Dennis Real Guarra, Jhon Richard Guarra, Ceasar Ian Poral, Clyde Jason Poral, and Wendy Lou Poral. The demo Guarra team performed various patterns of Sinawali, disarming, and empty hands work. Guarra Style Modern Arnis and Arjuka-Malingin represented the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) to which GM Eslao Guarra is President.

The Conceptual Martial Arts Soceity (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Masters James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado and the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. of 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo "Bebing" Mamar Lobrido also had a composite demonstration which showcased both Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) and Chinese Martial Arts (CMA).

Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr., Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, Master Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad, Instructor Lafayette A. Diamante, Instructor Lorema “Bing” Tacsagon, and Montano Mondia demonstrated Conceptual Martial Arts solo baston defensa and ofensa, pang-agaw, Long Quan (Dragon Fist) Kung Fu double touch, blindfolded double touch, and two man form, Wild Judo knife defense, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis seated disarming, and Orginal Filipino Tapado basic and advanced long stick fighting.

The Musubi Dojo-Himamaylan Chapter led by Chief Instructor Rosyl Mohametano with three students went through various Aikido kansetsu waza "jointlocking techniques" and nage waza "throwing techniques" against various empty handed attacks. Founder of Musubi Dojo in Bacolod is Dr. Nilo del Carmen.

The Sacred Ki Art of Filipino Foot Fighting of Master Ricardo P. Filipinas, 6th Degree Black Belt, presented a fundamental form of the school with children as the performers led by a black belt. A David-vs-Goliath Sikaran sparring was then conducted between two boys to highlight the confidence and skill that martial arts develop in smaller practitioners.

Tribu Hangaway Philippines of Master Roy R. Flores Sr. gave a demonstration on Mixed Martal Arts (MMA) with a focus on various ground grappling maneuvers. Another exhibition by the group featured Combat Aikido as performed by the kids, msot of whom also saw action during the competition proper.

Luntayao Family of Hinigaran, 1st PGT Finalist From Viz By: James U. Sy Jr.



The chorale group Luntayao Family of the Municipality of Hinigaran, representing Negros Occidental, got the highest text vote of 28.19% among six contestants during the 5th batch of the semi-final round of the Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) last May 29, 2010 to automatically qualify them for the finals scheduled for June 12-13, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City.

The Luntayao Family is the first from the Visayas to qualify for the finals.

Judges Ai-Ai de las Alas and Kris Aquino praised little Charl for his voice while Freddie M. Garcia commented that the family's blending of voices is good.

Violinist Maria Jeline Oliva of Naga City and wacky reggae duo Powerpuff Corn of Baguio City were voted second and third highest with 20.62% and 18.71% respectively. The judges were unanimous in their decision for Oliva to qualify for the finals.

The other semi-finalists of the 5th batch (and their text votes) were beat boxer Harold Gesulga of General Santos (14.56%), dance group Experience Kidz of General Santos (12.29%), and singer Jayzan Tero of Cebu (5.64%).

The Luntayao Family and Oliva are now among the 10 finalists. The others are singer Jovit Baldivino of Batangas, ventriloquist Ruther Urquia of Las Piñas, magician Allan de Paz AKA Alakim of Novaliches, Quezon City, Fil-Norwegian crooner Markki Stroem, guitarist Keith Clark Delleva of Pasay City, breakdancers Velasco Brothers of Batangas, Ezra Band of Davao City, and Balladeer Sherwin Baguion. Jovit Baldivino owns the highest among the highest text votes of the 10 finalists, garnering 80% during his batch showdown compared to the 17.99% to 28.++% of the other contestants.

Pilipinas Got Talent started airing at ABS-CBN last February 20, 2010. It is based on the British TV format Got Talent franchise, conceived and owned by Simon Cowell's SYCO company. Pilipinas Got Talent is the country’s biggest nationwide talent-reality search.

The first round was the auditions, which ran from November to December 2009 in Batangas, Cebu, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Manila. The second round was the Judges' Call, where 220 acts were considered for evaluation for the next round. The third round was the live semi-finals were the 36 of the 220 in the second round chosen by the judges were made to perform live on TV.

The contestants for the sixth and final batch of semi-finalists that will showdown this f this coming June 5, 2010 are Baguio Metamorphosis, Imusicapella Chamber Choir, Carl Malone Montecido, Josephine Aton, and Hello World.