Some of the participants, officials, and instructors at the conclusion of the highly successful 4th Tribu Aikido Competition and Exhibition held by the Tribu Hangaway Philippines (THP), Inc. of Master Roy R. Flores Sr., 6th Degree Black Belt, in cooperation with the Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall represented by Advertising Officer Nomer Lobaton and Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. on May 26, 2013, 2:30-4:30 PM, at the Atrium Area, Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall, Araneta St., Bacolod City (Miyamoto Musashi Takeda photo via FB).
The 4th Tribu Aikido Competition and Exhibition was successfully held by the Tribu Hangaway Philippines (THP), Inc. of Master Roy R. Flores Sr., 6th Degree Black Belt, in cooperation with the Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall represented by Advertising Officer Nomer Lobaton and Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. on May 26, 2013, 2:30-4:30 PM, at the Atrium Area, Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall, Araneta St., Bacolod City.
DEMONSTRATIONS. Pangamut International, a member of the Laapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Aficioandos Association, demonstrated various stick blocking and striking, disarming, locking, takedowns, and finishing moves. Performers were Founder/Master Stephen Roy S. Dedel, Neale Edrian B. Acebedo, Chris Elsid P. Agpalo, Larry V. Hernandez, and Phillip M. Rivera.
The Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS) showed solo and doble baston, defense contra daga, daga vs daga flow, and Espada y Daga Trece grabes Piga-Piga System. Performers were Founder/Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo, Christian Decena, Vincent Española, Janber Guinabo, Rene Cyril Indonila, Eleazar John Otic, and Jerwin Palma.
The Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. of 1st Generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido was represented by JI Lorema “Bing” H. Tacsagon, with the assistance of OFT Master James U. Sy Jr., in a demonstration of the basic uno and dos strikes of the indigenous Bagoueño long stick fighting art.
The Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. gave a demonstration of the different aspects of the Conceptual Arnis System: basic application of the off guard stance, figure 8 pattern, and punyo, knife defense/restraint, and corto line flow drill. Performers were Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr., Montano Mondia IV, Raphael “Rocky” K. Molina, and Kimberly O. Longno.
Tribu Hangaway Philippines (THP), Inc., an affiliate of Yuishinkai International-Ki Aikido International of Ernesto Talag Sensei, was led by Instructors Jessie Necessito, Jared Turbanos, Jerry de la Cruz, and Slade Cabiles and joined in by students of different ranks in showing the different breakfalls, circular footwork, jointlocks, throws, and pins of the Japanese pacifist art Aikido.
Long Thrust 12-15 Years Old Green to Yellow Belt (Boys): Leshlie Rodriguez (1st Place), Justine Malbog (2nd Place), and Kyle Lambatin (3rd Place). Long Thrust 16 Years Old Above Green to Purple Belt (Boys): Rex Doromal (1st Place), Marvin Doromal (2nd Place), and Laurence Jayme (3rd Place).
High Thrust Yellow to Brown Belt (Boys): RJ Flores (1st Place) and Patrick Gilo (2nd Place)
Somersault 7-10 Years Old (Boys & Girls): Jamin Sapalo (1st Place), Bryce Mangubat (2nd Place), and Cassy Balinas (3rd Place). Somersault 12-15 Years Old Any Belt (Boys & Girls): Justine Malbog (1st Place), Gemern Mitch Rodriguez (2nd Place), and Mykah Marie Tacsagon (3rd Place). Somersault 16 Years Old Above (Boys & Girls): Althea Tornea (1st Place), RJ Flores (2nd Place), and Faye Mangubat (3rd Place).
Knife defense Blue Belt (Boys & Girls): Althea Tornea (1st Place), Faye Mangubat (2nd Place), and Luis Mangonon (3rd Place). Stick defense Brown Belt (Boys & Girls): RJ Flores (1st Place), Patrick Gilo (2nd Place), and Paolo Gilo (3rd Place).
Randori 7-10 Years Old Green & Purple Belts (Boys & Girls): Laurence Claire Alaban (1st Place), Bryce Mangubat (2nd Place), and Cassy Balinas (3rd Place). Randori 11-16 Years Old Green & Purple Belts (Boys): Jamin Sapalo (1st Place), Daryl Loro (2nd Place), and Leshlie Rodriguez (3rd Place). Randori 10-13 Years Old Green & Purple Belts (Girls): Mykah Marie Tacsagon (1st Place), Sherry Joy Mapa (2nd Place), and Anne Sibug (3rd Place). Randori 14-16 Years Old Green & Purple Belts (Girls): Mitch Rodriguez (1st Place), Melanie Deriada (2nd Place), and Hans Gonzales (3rd Place). Randori Yellow to Brown Belt (Girls): Althea Tornea (1st Place), Faye Mangubat (2nd Place), and Hannah Cabiles (3rd Place).
Officials were Founder/Master Roy R. Flores Sr. of Tribu Hangaway Philippines (THP), Inc. (Event Organizer/Competition Director), Russell Mohametano Sensei and Boy de los Santos Sensei of Arashi Ryu Aikido (Judges), and Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. (Emcee/Commentator). Guests include P/Insp. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez of Golden Kamagong International, Noel “Nonong” Fuentes Sensei of Kyokan Dojo, Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas of Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Aficionados, Master Joeffrey S. Deriada and Instructor Lafayette A. Diamante of Original Filipino Tapado and CMAS, Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado of Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod, and Erodgie O. Sepe among others.
80th birthday celebration of Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” Terante Guarra last May 19, 2013 at the Guarra Residence, Brgy. Lag-asan, Bago City. From left: Grandmaster Isaac “Saac” T. Guarra (Arjuka), 1st generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Mamar Lobrido (Original Filipino Tapado), Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., (NOBF), P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra (Guarra Style Modern Arnis), Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo (Trece Grabes Piga-Piga System), and Master James U. Sy Jr. (Conceptual Arnis System) (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).
Bungkag Lalaw of Mrs. Perla Guarra, wife of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, and Brgy. Lag-asan Fiesta last May 26, 2013 at the Guarra Residence, Brgy. Lag-asan, Bago City. Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra of Guarra Style Modern Arnis (in yellow) with (from left): Kimberly O. Longno, Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, Montano Mondia IV of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).
P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” Terante Guarra, one of the few remaining active old time eskrimadors in Negros Occidental, celebrated his 80th birthday together with his family and a few Arnis friends last May 19, 2013 at the Guarra Residence in Brgy. Lag-asan, Bago City.
Arnis/Eskrima is a martial culture indigenous to the different Christianized ethnic groups of the Republic of the Philippines. Originally using blades of different shapes and sizes, Arnis/Eskrima today practiced with a stick in place of the blade because we are now living in the new society and safety reasons for its practitioners. GM Guarra is among the few remaining living treasures of this art, which was tested in countless conflicts in generations of eskrimadors.
GM Eslao Guarra himself was born to a family of arnisadors on May 19, 1933 in Bago City. His father, Grandmaster Cornelio “Kune” Toledo Guarra, taught the young Eslao and his six brothers and six sisters Arnis. All the Guarra siblings were trained in their father’s and his seven friends’ fighting arts locally known as Herada Redoble or Espada y Daga.
The young Eslao Guarra went on to study under different professors of Arnis, 20 of them in all. Among his teachers were Grandmasters Guillermo “Guimo” Yasay, Alfredo “Pedong” Yasay, and Constantino Arca (Ofensa Defensa/Yasay Sable), Claro Alvarez (Saber), Esmael “Maing” Alvarez (Saber), Senyong, Reynaldo Cabinta of Bukidnon (Disarming), Homero Sian (Fencing), Anong Abellana (Judo), Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza (Karate), Juan Recomura, Jose Garganera, Sulpecio Fernea (Herada Batangueña), Tatang Balat of Pampanga, etc.
Eslao Guarra put to the test his skills in Arnis by engaging in unpadded full contact surrender policy fights against other accomplished arnisadors of Negros Occidental. His fights had earned him a reputation as a fearless eskrimador who is always ready to put everything on the line.
On February 20, 1956, Guarra, then 22, started his 32 years service in the Bago City Integrated National Police (INP). Guarra had served as a training staff of the Bago City Police Station, having trained auxiliary police in all barangays of Bago City . Within his illustrious career he had received many awards and commendations, among them the Most Outstanding Policeman of Negros Occidental award.
Master Guarra had served as Security Officer and ROTC Tactical Officer at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R). He started teaching Arnis publicly in about 1970. He retired as a multi-decorated police sergeant on May 19, 1998 and by that time had already taught Arnis/Eskrima to not less than 10,000 barangay tanods, police officers, security guards, and civilians.
GM Guarra is the Founder/Grandmaster of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis, his own fusion of the different styles of Arnis/Eskrima he has learned over the years. He is the current President of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc., Council of Elders of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.
The grandmaster's martial art history and style was first put to writing by Rev. Fr. Jerson Balitor (D: 2010), then Parish Priest of Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City, himself a researcher and accomplished martial artist. GM Guarra was first introduced extensively to the general public by Negros’ premier martial arts researcher/historian/writer James U. Sy Jr., Founder/Master of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., through his various works starting with the 3-part series “The Best Arnisadors of Negros: GM Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra” which was published on the May 16-22, 2004 issue of Negros Weekly and culminating with the international feature “Guarra Style Modern Arnis: Modern Style Rooted in Tradition” published in the Vol. 10 No. 4 issue (2006) of the Rapid Journal, the one and only and longest running martial arts publication in the Philippines.
Arnisadors who attended his 80th birthday celebration were his brother Founder/Grandmaster Isaac “Saac” T. Guarra of Arjuka-Malingin, Atty. Col. Founder/Grandmaster Marcelo D. Jalandoon, Ph.d., of Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc., 1st generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Mamar Lobrido of Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., Founder/Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo of Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS), and Master Sy.
On a related note, the bungkag lalaw of GM Guarra's late wife, Perla Guarra, was held in conjunction with the Brgy. Lag-asan Fiesta at the Guarra Residence last May 26, 2013. Mrs. Guarra's interment was at the Divine Mercy Church in Calumangan, Bago City and burial at the Bago City Public Cemetery on January 15, 2012. The affair was attended by not less than 200 people.
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