ORIGINAL TAPADO REUNION Part 2: The New Generation By: James U. Sy Jr.

Not less than 40 members of the Mamar and Lobrido Clans, association officers and members, old and new masters, instructors, and practitioners of the art, and special guests from Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Hinigaran, and Iloilo converged at the Lobrido Residence, Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City last February 24, 2008 for the 2008 Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. General Reunion.

Special guests Grandmaster Jose Mancesa and Ramon Torres National High School teacher Wilson A. Alvarado of the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA), OFTLSFA old timers Masters Jose “Joe” A. Pamilangco and Elmer V. Montoyo, Board Director/Senior Instructor Jinny Mamar, and OFTLSFA New Generation Pastor Romeo N. Gumban gave their respective messages to the body.

1st Generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, assisted by Masters Jose “Joe” A. Pamilangco and Elmer V. Montoyo, VP John “Jun-Jun” Maravilla, and Board Director/Senior Instructor Jinny Mamar, awarded rank promotions to Junior Instructor in Original Filipino Tapado to Jake A. Bugna of Tapondo International Federation Inc.-Bacolod and Lafayette A. Diamante and Lorema “Bing” H. Tacsagon of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.

With the promotion, Tacsagon earned the distinction as the first woman in the world to be so certified as an instructor in Tapado. Last year, Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad, also of CMAS, earned the distinction as the first medical doctor in the world to be certified as an instructor in Tapado.

Since 2005, when GM Lobrido was designated as the 1st Generation Inheritor of the late Founder Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar by the Mamar Clan, only 4 Masters, 13 Senior Instructors, and 3 Junior Instructors were certified to teach Original Filipino Tapado.

Recognized Masters by OFTLSFA are Jose “Joe” Pamilangco, Nelson G. Carmona, Clodualdo “Budoy” M. Lobrido, and Elmer V. Montoyo, each one having decades of experience before becoming masters.

Recognized Senior Instructors are Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado, Joeffrey S. Deriada, Wilson Cejas, Rufino Fernandez, Pastor Romeo N. Gumban, Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad, Jinny J. Mamar, Romeo “Tokong” Mamar Jr., John “Jun-Jun” Maravilla, Dr. Rey Mollenido, Dr. Jason Rojas, Rolito A. Ruelan, and James U. Sy Jr.

The last part of the reunion was the exhibition of various forms of the martial arts from the allied groups of Original Filipino Tapado. Members of the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) of Grandmaster Jose Mancesa showed the whipping techniques and different methodos of the Alasabate Sciencia style of Arnis.

Host Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. was led by 1st Generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido in demonstrating the basics, advanced direct hitting, and short stick techniques of Original Filipino Tapado. Assisting GM lobrido were SI John “Jun-Jun” Maravilla, James U. Sy Jr., and Joeffrey S. Deriada, and JI Lorema “Bing” H. Tacsagon.

Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. of Founder/Master Elmer V. Montoyo was represented by twin sisters Joan and Jenny Moran with a sinawali babaw-dalum 2-man flow form and Pastor Romeo N. Gumban showing various throwing and locking techniques from Antiqueño Dumog.

Tapondo International Federation Inc.-Negros of Negros Island Chief Instructor Roy R. Flores Sr. was represented by Tapondo black belts Jake A. Bugna and Fred Sumugat with a demonstration of various techniques against hold up situations.

Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. and Chapter Head Lafayette A. Diamante presented various knife defense and disarming methods from Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis and Togle Style Modern Arnis.