ORIGINAL FILIPINO TAPADO REUNION RESCHED MAR. 1 By: James U. Sy Jr.

The Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. has officially moved the 2009 OFTLSFAI General Reunion from February 15, 2008 to March 1, 2008 but still at the same venue, Hilton Beach, Brgy. Pta. Taytay , Bacolod City.



Heading the celebration will be the late Founder’s nephew, 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido with the support of the Mamar and Lobrido Clans, association officers and old and new masters, instructors, and practitioners of the art. It will be the 4th OFTLSFAI Reunion to be held under GM. Lobrido’s presidency.



This year’s event will mark the association’s 25th Year Anniversary, having been founded as the first and official governing body for Original Filipino Tapado, in 1984 in Bago City.



Original Filipino Tapado is the indigenous long stick fighting art founded by the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Brgy. Taloc, Bago City after studying the Negrene arts of Lagas, Oido, Layaw, and Sinamak from 4 renowned grandmasters. Tapado differs from other native or eclectic Negrense long stick fighting arts in that it only uses two kinds of strikes, albeit each one having its own hierarchical linyada from within characterizing dalum “depth” of technique. It is a single ended, stick-based, two handed grip art.



Tapado derives from the Hiligaynon term Tapat, which in turn comes from Tapos “Finish, End.” Contracting Tapat with the suffix do, one gets a descriptive term for the degree or gravity of being finished or put to an end. Thus, Tapado is an art designed to finish a conflict the soonest, 3 strikes maximum ideally.



GM Lobrido is the 4th president of OFTLSFAI, having served since 2005 up to the present. His uncle, GM Mamar, was the 3rd president, serving from 1989 to 2005.



The most important achievement of the association under the leadership of GM Lobrido was the registration of the association with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) last December 16, 2005 (SEC Registration No. CN200530787).



OFTLSFA is a proud member of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS).



Members and friends are welcome. Contact Robie Lobrido at 0928-600-2476 or Alojado at 0928-719-5141.

ARNIS WORKSHOP HELD IN LUPON By: James U. Sy Jr.

Arnis Grandmaster Roland Dantes conducted the Defensive Tactics Seminar/Workshop for Law Enforcement Officers during the 88th Araw Ng Barangay Poblacion last February 17-18, 2009 in the municipality of Lupon, Davao Oriental.



The seminar was a refresher course to the Barangay Peace and Security Officers (BPSO) under Brgy. Police Commander Antonio dela Cruz Jr.



GM Dantes was invited by the major sponsor of the event, international restaurateur Mercedes dela Cruz-Barner. Dela Cruz-Barner believes that the coming of GM Dantes will revive the people’s interest for the original Filipino Martial Art of Arnis.



The event was well supported by Mayor Domingo Lim and the members of the Barangay Peace and Order Council headed by Kagawad Alan Balingit.



GM Roland Dantes, now based in Australia, is the first prominent figure to have displayed Arnis in Philippine cinema. Among his movies was The Pacific Connection (1974) where he played the Filipino named Ben who faced a Japanese Samurai during the Spanish Era. Another of his movies was Arnis: The Sticks of Death (1984). GM Dantes teaches Modern Arnis and once reigned as a 5 times Mr. Philippines.

200 DEMO LAPU-LAPU VIÑAS ARNIS By: James U. Sy Jr.

200 high school students presented a Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis demonstration during the 2009 RTNHS Day Playground Demonstration last February 18, 2009 at the Ramon Torres National High School (RTNHS) Grounds, Bago City.



The performers came from 5 different freshmen sections under the tutelage of MAPEH instructor Apollo Pillo and were trained by English teacher Wilson A. Alvarado, who is a Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis student of Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Y. Gayoles and certified as an instructor of the art under 1st Generation Inheritor Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas.



The event was held under the supervision of Principal Heidi M. Estandarte and PESS Coordinator Orlando Cesar.



The RTNHS Day Playground Demonstration is an annual event held by the school every February 18. Other presentations also include dances (folk and modern), playground demonstrations, rhythmic gymnastics, etc.



Alvarado is one of the few from the newer generation who is trying to revive the old glory days of Bago City as an Arnis power.



Arnis is a corruption of the Spanish Arnes “Harness, coat of mail, trapping, equipment, armor.” Mano “Hand (Español)” is sometimes added to Arnis. Arnis de Mano “Harness of the hand” alludes to the reputed ability of an arnisador to defend himself as though he has an armor of mail. Arnis has been recognized by the Philippine Government as the National Martial Sport of the country.



Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis is the oldest documented Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) system in Bacolod City, having been founded by Grandmaster Jose “Joe” L. Viñas (1906-1991) in 1932, the same year the famed Doce Pares was founded in Cebu, the hotbed of Eskrima in the Visayas.

UDTA PROMO EXAMS HELD by James U. Sy, Jr.

Six students of the Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA) took and passed the 1st UDTA Rank Promotion Examinations last February 21, 2008 at the Universal Health Caregivers Training Center, #83A Cor. Rosario-Locsin Sts., Bacolod City.

Examinees (and their new ranks) were Hamel Marco D. Borromeo (Green Belt Level 1), Voltaire V. Daypal (Green Belt Level 1), Paul Anthony M. Ganzon (Green Belt), Jether A. Palma (White Belt Level 3), Sharlyn B. Remo (White Belt Level 1), and Kris ‘O Henrii P. Uy (White Belt Level 1).

Founder/Chairman Abraham G. Ganzon Jr. conducted the belting ceremony.

Examiners were Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, Founder/President of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), President of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), and Grandmaster Danilo Cardinal, Founder/Headmaster of KaliSilat Arnis Association (Bacolod) and Traditional Shotokan Karate Arts (TSKA), Secretary of Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Chapter.

Other invited guests were Master Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado, Co-Founder of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and Senior Instructor with the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., Senior Instructor Joeffrey Deriada of OFTLSFA, and Mr. Phoebus “Junby” Teruel, Jr., new member of CMAS and OFTLSFA.

UDTA traces its roots to F.I.G.H.T. (Filipino Integrated Guerilla Hand to Hand Tactics) which was started on January 8, 2008 in Bacolod City. In June 2008, Ganzon and the Board Directors of the Universal Health Caregivers Training Center decided to assimilate F.I.G.H.T. into the caregiver school and turn it into the Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA). UDTA handles the self defense course modules for the caregiver students of the Universal Health Caregivers Training Center.

The stockholders of the school wanted to equip their graduates with not only the expertise in caregiving but also in the skills of defending oneself against bodily harm. The Universal Health Caregivers Training Center has affiliate agencies overseas and a big number of their graduates are now working in Canada.

UDTA is a proud member of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS).


(The examinees)

(Abraham Ganzon instructing the examinees while the examineers are seated at the sides)

ORIGINAL FILIPINO TAPADO REUNION FEB. 15 By: James U. Sy Jr.

The Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. will be holding the 2009 OFTLSFAI General Reunion this coming February 15, 2008 (morning) at the Hilton Beach, Brgy. Pta. Taytay , Bacolod City .

Heading the celebration will be the late Founder’s nephew, 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido with the support of the Mamar and Lobrido Clans, association officers and old and new masters, instructors, and practitioners of the art. It will be the 4th OFTLSFAI Reunion to be held under GM. Lobrido’s presidency.

This year’s event will mark the association’s 25th Year Anniversary, having been founded as the first and official governing body for Original Filipino Tapado, in 1984 in Bago City.

Original Filipino Tapado is the indigenous long stick fighting art founded by the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Brgy. Taloc, Bago City after studying the Negrene arts of Lagas, Oido, Layaw, and Sinamak from 4 renowned grandmasters. Tapado differs from other native or eclectic Negrense long stick fighting arts in that it only uses two kinds of strikes, albeit each one having its own hierarchical linyada from within characterizing dalum “depth” of technique. It is a single ended, stick-based, two handed grip art.

The name Tapado derives from the Hiligaynon term Tapat, which in turn comes from Tapos “Finish, End.” Contracting Tapat with the suffix do, one gets a descriptive term for the degree or gravity of being finished or put to an end. Thus, Tapado is an art designed to finish a conflict the soonest, 3 strikes maximum ideally.

GM Lobrido is the 4th president of OFTLSFAI, having served since 2005 up to the present. His uncle, GM Mamar, was the 3rd president, serving from 1989 to 2005.

The Mamar Clan formally turned over the headmastership of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) to GM Lobrido, during a simple ceremony at the funeral rites of the late Founder in February 2005 (see turnover pictures at http://oftlsfai.blogspot.com).

The gravestone of the late GM Romeo "Nono" Mamar, Sr. during the groups visit last year.
Officers and members visited the grave of the late founder of OFT, GM Romeo "Nono" Mamar, Sr. before proceeding to the reunion last year.
GM Lobrido (B: 1950) started his studies of Lagas/Oido and then Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) under his uncle GM Mamar in 1960, the year when OFT was perfected. For the next four decades, GM Lobrido became GM Mamar’s assistant and ultimately was designated as Chief Instructor when an organization was set up to govern the activities of the art. Even before the association was established, the Founder had already recognized GM Lobrido a a Master of his art. GM Lobrido personally handled instructions, especially when the Founder retired from teaching. Many renowned martial artists owe their OFT knowledge to GM Lobrido. To date, GM Lobrido has a total of 49 years experience in Tapado.The late GM Romeo"Nono" Mamar, Sr (red shirt) and the present Headmaster of OFTLSFAI, GM Benefredo "Bebing" Lobrido in practice session in the early days of the Association.

The most important achievement of the association under the leadership of GM Lobrido was the registration of the association with the Secutrities & Exchange Commission (SEC) last December 16, 2005 (SEC Registration No. CN200530787).

Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, Auditor of OFTLFAI and Co-Founder of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., has this to say, “Martial Arts is a way of life and the people who teach and practice with you is family. Here at OFTLFAI, we are fortunate to have GM Bebing. To most other people, he is the “grandmaster” but for us he is more like our second father. In the time I was under his tutelage, I felt more like family than a just a student outside of his family. The reunion is a great time to strengthen such bond again among “family” members.”

Members and friends are welcome. Contact Robie Lobrido at 0928-600-2476 or Alojado at 0928-719-5141.
Grandmaster Benefredo "Bebing" M. Lobrido (right) and Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo during one of the practice seions of Original filipino Tapado.

TAI CHI CIRCLE OF BACOLOD GATHERING HELD By: James U. Sy Jr.

21 members and guests of the Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod (TCCB) converged for a get together last January 28, 2008 at Cocobana, Luxur Place, Bacolod City.

The group postponed their get together last Christmas due to the hectic schedules of its members. The group initially decided to hold the gathering on the 26th to coincide with the Chinese New Year but since not everone can come on that date the members agreed to have it on the 28th. Members welcomed Atty. Alex Ang who flew from Manila to join the gathering. Atty. Ang is also a member of the RAPID (Research and Propagation of Internal Arts Development) Group of Daniel O. Go Sifu which is based in Binondo.

“Our goal here at TCCB is to uplift our well being so that we can enjoy life better and live it to the fullest. We try to improve the quality of members’ lives physicaly by practicing Tai Chi Chuan, mentally by studying the philosophy behind the art, and spiritually (not religiously) by attaining a peaceful and calm mind through meditative practices. Getting together is one way of unwinding and leaving behind the day’s worries, interacting with friends, and to reenergize one’s self for the following day,” explains Peter Loren Yap Sifu, who heads the practice of the group.

The Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod (TCCB) is a non-profit, non-competitive network of career professionals/business people dedicated to the serious study of the ancient Chinese internal art of Tai Chi Chuan “Grand Ultimate Fist” to improve one’s health and quality of life.

The Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod (TCCB) was founded on July 17, 2000, making it perhaps the longest existing training network/group of Tai Chi enthusiasts in both Bacxolod City and Negros Occidental.

TCCB is concentrated on the study of the Yang Chia 24-steps and the Cheng Man-Ching (Zheng Manqing) 37-steps. It also pursues the study of the traditional 108-posture form. TCCB’s primary goal is to improve one’s quality of life through cultivation of the mind and inner peace, correct breathing, and non-impact/non-injurous physical exercise through Tai Chi Chuan, proper diet, a health centered lifestyle, and a harmonious relationship with one’s brothers and sisters in and outside the art. Many had joined the group to contain their diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, etc.

Members present were Peter Loren Yap Sifu, Atty. Alexander Ang, Letecia Chiu, Pepe Chiu, Guillermo “Bill” L. Gomez, Ianna Gomez, Ben Halili, Pepito Khey, Bing Lim, Humberto “Toti” Lim, Greg Tan, Phoebus “Jundy” Teruel, Ramshir Traigo, Rose Traigo, Jose “Joe” V. Uy Jr., and Stephen Young. Guests present were Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, James U. Sy Jr., Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad, and Dra. Saja Marie B. Maguad of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA).