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.