EZ SHIRT, STARLASER, & TELETECH TO SUPPORT BEST OF FMA By: James U. Sy, Jr

EZ Shirt and Starlaser are the major sponsors for the upcoming “The Best of Filipino Martial Arts” this coming September 29, 2007, 9:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M., at the Negros Occidental Multi Purpose Activity Center (NOMPAC), Bacolod City . This was revealed recently by Master Elmer V. Montoyo, the event organizer, after final preparations were made fdor the much anticipated tournament.

EZ Shirt “Shirts Made EZ, Print Like No Other” is owned and managed by Mr. Glenn Dexter Yee. It offers quality full graphics T-shirt printing and other printing services.

Starlaser “Quality Print is Our Business” is owned and managed by Mr. Jimmy T. Lee, who is a 3rd dan in Filipino Tang Soo Do under Master Montoyo.

EZ Shirt and Starlaser had agreed to support The Best of Filipino Martial Arts because the tournament is for a good cause, that is, to educate the general public of the positive effects of martial arts training such as respect, confidence, character building, and serenity and also to help build a semi-permanent structure at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Negros Occidental for the spiritual, cultural, and sportive needs of the youth. Ticket sales proceeds will go to the construction of said structure.

“The public often perceives martial arts as they see them in movies. But the martial arts are more than just hurting people. They are a medium of molding an individual into a better person, superior physically, mentally, and spiritually, who can contribute to the general welfare of the society rather than to cause trouble. In martial arts, a student learns how to fight but once he learns how to fight, he sees the futility of conflict. Martial arts are a way of peace, as much as it is a way of war” revealed Master Montoyo.

Master Montoyo’s Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) in cooperation with the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Negros Occidental will be presenting tournament.

The event will be historic in that it will be a 4-format competition with divisions for Filipino Tang Soo Do, Filipino Kickboxing (Sipa Sumbag), Arnis Short Stick, and Tapado Long Stick. The Pangamut (empty handed) divisions are primarily foreign-based but Filipinized while the Hinganiban (Weapons) divisions feature indigenous Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) native to the Ilonggos. Plus there would be a multitude of martial arts demonstrations.

PIMAA-FTSDA and members of IFFMAS worked hard for the preparation of the tournament for not less than 3 months. The organizers are expecting participants from Bacolod , Bago, Escalante, Iloilo , Murcia , San Carlos , Talisay, and Victorias .

About 22 groups are expected to show their wares at The Best of Filipino Martial Arts. They are Abalajon Classical Arnis of Founder/Grandmaster Frank Abalajon, Arjuka-Malingin of Founder/Grandmaster Isaac T. Guarra, Bacolod Consolidated Sports Management Association (BACSMA) of President/Head Instructor Joel R. Casiple, Bacolod Oido de Caburata Arnis Society (BAODCAS) of Grandmaster Jose Aguilar, Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main) of Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante, Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Head Instructors James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado, Fight Club Combat and Streetfighting Center (FC) of Founder/Chief Instructor Edwin J. Tusil, Guarra Style Modern Arnis and Self Defense Association (GSMASDA) of Founder/Grandmaster Ret. P/Sgt. Estanislao "Eslao" T. Guarra, Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS) of grandmaster Felix A. Guiinabo, Kalupaan Tapado Association (KATA) of Grandmaster Welbor “Kickok” Presno, Lightning Scientific Arnis International-Philippine Dynamic Arnis (PDA) of Founder/Grandmaster Rogelio H. Galvarole Sr., Murcia Martial Arts Center of Master Nick Montoya, Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) of Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) of Founder/Grandmaster Jose "Joe" Mancesa, Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. of 1st Generation Inheritor/Current Grandmaster/President Benefredo "Bebing" M. Lobrido, Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) of Master Elmer V. Montoyo,
Sacred Ki Art of Filipino Footfighting of Founder/Master Ricardo B. Filipinas, San Carlos Jungle Fighters Martial Arts Club (SACA JUFIMAC) of Founder/Chief Instructor Diomedes N. Mamugay, Tapondo International Federation Inc. (TIFI)- Negros Chapter and Tribu Hangaway (TH) of Founder/Chief Instructor Roy R. Flores Sr., Thunder Kicks Martial Arts Club-Escalante Chpater (TKMAC-EC) of Founder/Chief Instructor Jesus “Jess” Flores, and Undokan Martial Arts Association (UMAA) of Founder/Master Efraim T. Beatingo.

Interested parties may contact Master Elmer V. Montoyo at 4464702 or James U. Sy, Jr. at 0928-7122888 or Hansy Alojado at 0928-7195141.