2nd Hon. Ramon Torres Arnis Tilt to Explode on Bago Charter Celebration by James U. Sy Jr.

Arnisadors after an organizational meeting last February 11, 2012 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City for the upcoming 2nd Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres Arnis Expo & Tournament on February 18, 2012 at the Bantayan Park, Bago City. From left: Master James U. Sy Jr., Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Y. Gayoles, Master Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo Jr., Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, Master Luciano “Nick” Montoya, Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” Cardinal, SI Randy Alvarado, Gerald Daclan, Carl Trunio II, and Mr. Heiroteo “Didoy” Villarosa (CMAS Photo).

The Bago City Office of the Mayor and the Bago City Tourism Office will be presenting the 2nd Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres Arnis Expo & Tournament this coming February 18, 2012, 2:00 P.M., at the Bantayan Park, Bago City, Negros Occidental as part of the city’s 46th Charter Anniversary celebration.

Organizing the event for the Bago City Government is the Taloc-based Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. of 1st Generation Inheritor/Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Mamar Lobrido in cooperation with the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. and the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), Inc. under its President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo.

GM Lobrido, the nephew of the late Founder of Original Filipino Tapado Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar, is the Event Organizer while Master Sy, who is known for bringing together different arnisadors from various systems/styles in the events he organizes, is the Expo/Tournament Director.

The 1st Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres Arnis Expo & Tournament was also put together by Master Sy for the Bago City Government with the Guarra Style Modern Arnis (GSMA) of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Founder/Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra and Arjuka-Malingin of Founder/Grandmaster Isaac “Saac T. Guarra as Event Organizers last November 5, 2010, also at the Bantayan Park as part of the city’s Cinco de Novembre celebration.

This year, not less than 80-100 arnisadors representing 19-20 organizations from Bacolod, Bago, Murcia, San Enrique, Talisay, and Valladolid are expected to give demonstrations on different systems/styles of indigenous and foreign based Ilonggo-Filipino Martial Arts that were developed, practiced, and evolved in the province of Negros Occidental, and to compete in three competition format: Tapado Rules, IFFMAS Arnis Rules, and Yasay Sable Arnis Rules.

Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) is a long stick fighting art indigenous to Brgy. Taloc of Bago City, founded by the late GM Mamar in 1960 and field tested in countless challenge matches against other arnisadors. There will be two bouts for the Tapado rules competition, the only goal of which is to overpower the other player’s long stick (No hits to the body allowed).

IFFMAS Arnis rules were proposed by GM Eslao Guarra to IFFMAS to which he is a member of the Council of Elders. This set of rules is fought in a circle with combatants assuming defender and attacker roles for the first two rounds and freestyle for the last round. This format was so designed to highlight an arnisador’s defensive ability which is often neglected in modern day Sport Arnis competitions. Research by master Sy showed that this was a traditional format used in parts of, if not all, Negros, Panay, and Cebu.

Yasay Sable is an indigenous blade-based art that has been practiced by the yasay Clan of Bago City for 4 generations now. Grandmaster Paterno V. Yasay is the 3rd Generation Headmaster while Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Y. Gayoles is the 4th Generation Chief Instructor. Yasay Sable rules is based on the premise that the weapon being held is a blade, and not a stick. Thus, strikes are made with less body torque but with more precision and timing.

Both the IFFMAS Arnis and Yasay Sable Arnis rules use time limits which are much more shorter than well established formats such as ArPi, IMAFP, and WEKAF; the logic being real fights are very short and one needs to get the advantage early on.

Among the systems/styles expected to be showcased in the demonstrations are Arjuka, Cargada Pigar KaliSilat Arnis, Conceptual Arnis/Martial Arts, Espada y Daga, Filipino Tang Soo Do, Guarra Style Modern Arnis, Hangaway Arnis, Herada Pigada Arnis, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Oido de Caburata, Oido de Cinco Generales, Oido Fencing, Original Filipino Tapado, Trece grabes Piga-Piga System, UDTA System, and Yasay Sable.

Hon. Mayor Ramon Torres is an ardent supporter of Arnis/Eskrima. It was in his term when the Bago City College (BCC) Arnis Team headed by Coach/Trainor Randy Alvarado took the overall championship during the 3rd Alculympics held last 2011 at the City College of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro with a 12-5-7 medal haul, beating 5 other teams.