HERADA PIGADA NOW TAUGHT AT BAE

By: James U. Sy Jr.


Public instruction in the Herada Pigada style of Arnis is now available every Thursday, 6:00 P.M., at the Bacolod Aikido Enthusiasts (BAE) Dojo, Banaba Rd., Villa Angela Subd., Bacolod City. Lessons are taught by BAE Founder/Chief Instructor and former Arnis Philippines (ArPi) Negros Occidental Commissioner Maxwell “Max” J. Maun.

Previously, Maun only taught Herada Pigada to a few of his Aikido students who had an open mind and an eye for the Filipino Martial Arts. His move to have a separate class for Herada Pigada is due to the revival and reorganization of Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter under the leadership of Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo “Pope” C. Jalandoon as its official Coordinator.

Maun hopes that the class will produce players that can support the Sport Arnis programs that will be implemented by the new Head of Arnis Philippines in Bacolod and Negros Occidental. Hence, the Herada Pigada class will have a competitive focus rather than a combative approach.

Herada Pigada derives from the Filipino corruptions of the Spanish words Erar “To Wave” and Pigar “To Press” and refers to a specific style of Arnis which traces its ancestry to Bayoneta Carada, a style of bayonet fighting founded or perfected by USAFFE Army Infantryman Grandmaster Benito Agui of Cadiz City. GM Agui taught his art to several people, among them Pedro Doromal Sr. and his 6 sons of Bo. Sicaba. Three of his sons, Maj. Pedro Doromal Jr., Capt. Nelson Doromal, and Robert Doromal, taught Maun. The Doromals added elements of other arts to Bayoneta Carada and evolved it into Automatic Fencing. Automatic Fencing was later known as Herada Pigada.

The style is so named in reference to its strategy of moving out of the line of attack and trapping/immobilizing/pinning/checking the opponent’s weapon hand with the alive or non-weaponed hand.

Master Maxwell “Max” J. Maun served as Arnis Philippines (ArPi) Negros Occidental Commissioner up to 1999 together with Bacolod City Commissioner Master Efren Diongon. Within his term, he had brought the Bacolod Team to two national level Arnis Philippines tournaments and sponsored one competition in the City of Smiles.

After the terms of Masters Maun and Diongon, the local Arnis Philippines group became inactive. Then last September 1, 2007, Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter was revived and reorganized with a directive coming from Arnis Philippines President Raymond S. Velayo. Effective September 3, 2007, Col. Atty. GM Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., Founder/President of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), was appointed by President Velayo as the NSA’s only official Coordinator for Bacolod and Negros Occidental. The appointment was documented by a certification duly signed by Mr. Velayo.

With this appointment, GM Jalandoon was granted authority to facilitate application membership for local clubs and practitioners and transmit it to Arnis Philippines General Headquarters in Manila for proper documentation and record keeping. No other individual or entity can perform such obligations, including the collection of fees for membership, otherwise with proper authorization/certification and credentials from Arnis Philippines General Headquarters.

Master Maun’s group is currently processing their individual memberships to Arnis Philippines and will be registered under the banner of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) of Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D.