OLPA Boys Arnis Champs in Area Meet by James U. Sy Jr.

English and Filipino teacher Mrs. Ariane M. Ignacio and Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. (seated) with members of the OLPA Arnis Team after a training workshop at the Our Lady of Pillar Academy (OLPA), Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City (CMAS Photo).

The Our Lady of Pillar Academy (OLPA) Arnis Team was crowned champion in the boys labanan division and took three gold medals in the girls labanan division and a gold in the girls anyo category during the Arnis event of the Area Meet recently at the La Consolacion School Isabela Negros Occidental, Inc., Municipality of Isabela, Negros Occidental.

OLPA Arnis Team gold medalists for the boys labanan division were Ryan N. Arguelles (flyweight), John Mark G. Niña (pinmweight), Wilson D. Espejo (bantamweight), Herokho Jean Gracir Saldon (featherweight), and Roger A. Manong (extra lightweight).

Gold medalists for the girls labanan division were Vanessa G, Torrecarion (flyweight), Christile Joy Landero (bantamweight), and Josea Elaine May V. Tulog (featherweight). Silver medalistrs for the girls division were Melissa Hilario (pinweight) and Joshelle Rianne C. Gubaton (extra lightweight).

Gold medalist for the girls anyo division was Vanessa G, Torrecarion. John Mark G. Niña took the silver in boys anyo.

The OLPA Arnis Team was supported by Principal Candelaria Balbao and prepared by Coaches Ronilo Cadigal Jr. (boys) and Ariane M. Ignacio (girls), Asst. Coach Chona Landero, and Trainors Grandmaster Sabas T. Gubaton and Master James U. Sy Jr.

GM Sabas Gubaton, Chief Instructor of the Oido de Caburata Arnis Group (ODCA) under the patriarchship of his elder brother Grandmaster Abraham T. Gubaton, initially trained the OLPA Arnis Team in the four basic striking techniques of the system founded by the late Grandmaster Antonio "Toñing" Tolosa in 1936/1937 in Murcia.

When the course was finished, English and Filipino teacher Mrs. Ariane M. Ignacio, who was also formerly a MPEH instructress, invited Master James Sy Jr., Founder of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and PIO of Arnis Philippines-Negros Occidental Chapter and Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc., to teach the rules of the competition, footwork of Yasay Sable and Guarra Style, and the fundamental otso-otso pattern as well as fundamentals of likha anyo.

The OLPA Arnis Team made their debut this year at the Division Meet. Ignacio will be scheduling a series of training workshops for the winners of her team which will focus on the anyo category, solo and doble baston events.