Christmas in Singapore (CMAS/NDB Photos)

Arnis Anyo Seminars Taught @ OLPA

Joshelle Rianne C. Gubaton and Wilson D. Espejo of the OLPA Arnis Team crossing sticks during one of the seminars held at the Our Lady of Pillar Academy (OLPA), Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City (CMAS Photo).



Josea Elaine May V. Tulog of the OLPA Arnis Team performing the paying block from Yasay Sable/Guarra Style Modern Arnis against the center thrust of Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. (CMAS Photo).

To maximize the preparedness of the Our Lady of Pillar Academy (OLPA) Arnis Team for the upcoming Provincial Meet this December, Coach Ariane M. Ignacio invited Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. to conduct the 2nd OLPA Sport Arnis Seminar: Solo Baston Anyo and the 3rd OLPA Sport Arnis Seminar: Doble Baston Anyo last November 24 and December 1, 2011 respectively at one of the rooms of the academy, Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City.

The Our Lady of Pillar Academy (OLPA) Arnis Team was crowned champion in the boys labanan division with 5 gold medals in the Area Meet held last October 13-15, 2011 at the La Consolacion School Isabela Negros Occidental, Inc. in the Municipality of Isabela. The team also took three gold medals in the girls labanan division and a gold in the girls anyo category. Vanessa G, Torrecarion gave the team its lone gold medal by stringing together the basic striking patterns taught by Grandmaster Sabas T. Gubaton, Chief Instructor of the Oido de Caburata Arnis Group (ODCA). The team’s success gave them the opportunity to compete at the provincial level.

Ignacio expressed the excitement and anxiety her team feels, “We know there is better competition in the provincial level and more experience at that. Our team is a neophyte, only assembled this year. We need to train harder and we need all the support we can get.” The OLPA Arnis Team made their debut this year at the Division Meet. The Area Meet was only their second outing.

The series of seminars focused on the anyo event, which has more medal slots that the individual labanan event. For each seminar, Sy taught two sets of any a it is the required number of performances for each competitor for each category as set by the Department of Education (DepEd). Sy specifically designed the four forms for use by the OLPA Arnis Team for competition. The forms were a synthesis of sword-based movements from Conceptual Arnis, Yasay Sable, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, and Guarra Style Modern Arnis. Sy also gave pointers on how to go perform based on the set criterion and made the players understand the rules to avoid penalties in their scores.

Those who attended the seminars were Ryan N. Arguelles, Wilson D. Espejo, Joshelle Rianne C. Gubaton, Melissa Hilario, Christile Joy Landero, Roger A. Manong, John Mark G. Niña, Herokho Jean Gracir Saldon, Vanessa G. Torrecarion, and Josea Elaine May V. Tulog.

Another workshop, this time focused on labanan, is scheduled for December 6, 2011. Master Ferdinand “Bobot” Y. Gayoles of Yasay Sable and Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra of Guarra Style Modern Arnis gave their blessings to teach segments of their systems for the labanan division.

The Our Lady of Pillar Academy (OLPA) Arnis Team is supported by Director Rev. Fr. Samuel E. Balboa and Principal Candelaria Balbao.

CMAS, Inc. Donates Books to Bac. Lib.

The Bacolod City Public Library headed by Librarian III Merlyn Corpuz and Librarian I Greta Memoria received a donation of 75 textbooks and 150 periodicals from Negros martial arts historian/writer James U. Sy Jr., Founder/Master of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. last November 17, 2011 at its premises in Hernaez-Araneta Sts., Bacolod City.

There were a few college texts but majority of the books were for the secondary and elementary levels. The same is true for the magazines. The donation was the first batch that was made by CMAS; a second batch is expected as more books are being gathered.