NUFAA TOPS ARNIS PHILS. TILT By: James U. Sy Jr.

In 3 weeks time, the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) under Grandmaster Jose "Joe" Mancesa and President Eliseo T. Yanong Sr., was crowned overall champion for the 3rd time during the 2nd NUFAA-SK Bago City Invitational Arnis Tournament held with the full support of Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres and the SK Federation-Bago City under President Eliseo T. Yanong Jr. last May 31, 2008 at the Bago City College (BCC) Campus Grounds, Brgy. Balingasag, Bago City .

Six Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) organizations from Bago and Bacolod Cities converged at the event to give Arnis demonstrations, officiate, and compete in 6 bouts using standard Arnis Philippines, Inc. (ArPi) rules. The tournament was sanctioned by Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter under Commissioner Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., and supported by member organizations of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) of President/GM Jalandoon and the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) of President/Master Elmer V. Montoyo.

Demonstrations: Grandmaster Danilo "Danny" Cardinal and his son Danny John Cardinal of KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA) demonstrated Likha Anyo Solo Baston and Tapi-Tapi.

Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo of the Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS), with the help of Grandmaster Romeo "Roming" Postrano of the Sikaran Garrote Arnis Club (SGAC), demonstrated the classical styles of Espada y Daga and the Trese Grabes Piga-Piga System.

The Sikaran Garrote Arnis Club (SGAC) of Grandmaster Romeo "Roming" Postrano and its chapter club, the Garrote Arnis Club (GAC) of Master Roy Postrano performed their Juego Todo style of Arnis through anyo and doble baston.

Host Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) was led by Grandmaster Jose "Joe" Mancesa in demonstrating Siquete, Aponlada, Valor, Whipping, and Doble Baston. The NUFAA demo team was composed of GM Mancesa, John Melchor Barsibal, Yvonne De La Cruz, Stevie John "Jan-Jan" Doctora, Vina Mancesa, and Pao-Pao Tagum. Noteworthy of the group's demo was the performance of 3-years old Barsibal, a grandson of GM Mancesa. At such an early age, the boy showed potential.

Overall Champion: Bago City 's Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) of Grandmaster Jose "Joe" Mancesa (4-1). 2nd Place : Garrote Arnis Club (GAC) of Master Roy Postrano (1-2). 2nd Place : KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA) of Grandmaster Danilo "Danny" Cardinal (1-1). 4th Place : Sikaran Garrote Arnis Club (SGAC) of Grandmaster Romeo "Roming" Postrano (0-2).

Results: Yves Birondo of KAA, 53 Kg., over Roy Postrano of GAC, 57 Kg. Rodrigo Claridad Jr. of GAC over Francis Marfil of NUFAA. Edgardo Doctora of NUFAA, 45 Kg., over Allan Pacheco of KAA, 45 Kg. Romulus Ballentes of NUFAA, 52 Kg., over Anthony Magbanua of SGAC, 52 Kg. John Carlo Bagatela of NUFAA, 54 Kg., over Ran-Ran Albana of GAC, 53 Kg. Stevie John Doctora of NUFAA, 60 Kg., over Jeremiah Postrano of SGAC, 61 Kg.

NUFAA, a founding member of IFFMAS and a member of Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter, was previously crowned overall champion during the 2nd Western Visayas Invitational Sports Arnis Tournament (May 10-11, 2008, Robinson's Place Bacolod, 4-0-1) and the 1st Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Goodwill Tournament (May 18, 2008, Casino Filipino Hotel-Bacolod, 5-3-0).

Stevie John Doctora of NUFAA took the gold medal in both events; Eduardo Doctora Jr., gold and silver in that order; John Carlo Bagatela, gold and bronze; and Vina Mancesa, gold and silver. Romulus Vallentes took the gold in the ArPi event while Yvonne de la Cruz got the bonze in the WV event.

Officials: Hon. Bago City Mayor Ramon D. Torres (Sponsor), Grandmaster Jose "Joe" Mancesa and President Eliseo T. Yanong Sr. (Tournament Organizers), Brgy. Capt. Vicente Maquiling 9Special Guest), Grandmaster Danilo "Danny" Cardinal of KaliSilat Arnis Association (Head of Officiating Team/Referee), Grandmasters Romeo "Roming" Postrano of the Sikaran Garrote Arnis Club and Felix A. Guinabo of the Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports, Masters Gualberto Dajao and Elizalde Aspan of KAA, and Master Stephen Francis Diaz of Guarra Style Modern Arnis (Judges/Referees), Prof. Wilson A. Alvarado of NUFAA (Emcee), Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society, Inc. (Event Coverage), and Pastor Raymund Legazpi (Invocation).