MAP-NEG. OCC./IFFMAS GETS POF MUAY BRONZE By: James U. Sy Jr.

Muay Association of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Chapter (MAP-Neg. Occ.), with funding support from the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and a few generous private patrons brought home a bronze medal from the Muay Thai event of the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival Visayas Qualifying Games hled last July 24, 2008 at the Sibulan Gym, Municipality of Sibulan, Oriental Negros.

Reynold Baylon of Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc., representing MAP-Neg. Occ., fought a good fight against Romnick Carbellido of Dumaguete in the Flyweight (48-51 kg.) category but had to yield the championship bout to his foe on points. Cabellido battled Philip Delarmino of Iloilo in the finals. The Iloilo bet was crowned champion in the weight class.

Baylon, who was fighting his first Muay Thai bout, was personally trained by Master Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo Jr. under the supervision of PIMAA-FTSDA Founder/Preesident and IFFMAS President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo. Baylon previously won a Sipa Sumbag match during the 1st Brgy. Taloc Martial Arts Showdown last April 20, 2007 in Bago City,

GM Montoyo, the Muay Thai representative of the now inactive Bacolod City Sports Council (BCSC), accompanied Baylon to the competition. Master Montoyo wasn’t able to go due to time constraints with his job and his part time teaching responsibilities at PIMAA-FTSDA and Mega Boxing where he teaches Filipino Tang Soo Do and Muay Thai respectively.

Baylon is the first Bacoleño and Negrosanon from Negros Occidental to win a medal in the Philippine Olympic Festival Visayas Qualifying Games since its inception. Although Baylon is a native of Bacolod City, he donned the banner of Negros Occidental instead.

“Our campaign in the POF Muay Thai competition almost did not push through because of the absence of support from the City of Bacolod. MAP-Neg. Occ. had to use out of the pocket funding and solicitations from generous private patrons and allied organizations from the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) just to be able to send a skeleton team to the POF,” revealed GM Montoyo.

Those who funded the trip include Chiefmate Erodgie O. Sepe, Kho, Filipino Tang Soo Do Black Belt Franklin Tabino of Los Angeles, USA, Rommel Moyani, Theresa “Tess” Libo-on, and Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.

“Muay Thai may be new to some but there is already a Bacoleño world champion in Muay Thai in the person of Vince Soberano, who fought and won in Thailand. I believe it is a sport where Negrosanons can excel in,” added GM Montoyo.

Officials present during the Muay Thai competition were MAP President Kru Roberto B. Valdez, Mildred Quitcho of MAP-Kabankalan, Nelson Vargas of MAP-Tagbilaran, MAP National Coordinator Dong Sarmiento, and host MAP Visayas and Region 7 Head Ike Xavier S. Villaflores of Dumaguete City.

MAP-Dumaguete of Kru Villaflores and MAP-Kabankalan of Kru Mildred Quitcho will be holding muay Thai tournaments this coming November and 2008 and January 2009 respectively and had invited MAP-Neg. Occ. to send entries.

Muay Thai as taught by the Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) was introduced to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental by Kru Villaflores during the 1st MAP Negros Occidental Muay Boran Instructors Course on Jun 18-19, 2005 at the Group K Complex, Bacolod City.