USLS Karate-do PE Final Exams held, Arnis Demoed by: James U. Sy Jr.

Prof. Joenel F. Campmanes (right) briefing sophomores of his Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education class before commencement of their final examination in combative sports (Karate-do) last March 13, 2012 at one of the classrooms of the Cody Hall, University of St. La Salle (USLS), La Salle Ave., Bacolod City.



Sophomore from the Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education perform three standard Karate-do kata (forms) for their final examination. Prof. Joenel F. Campmanes conducted the examination last March 13, 2012 at one of the classrooms of the Cody Hall, University of St. La Salle (USLS), La Salle Ave., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).



Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, 8th Degree Black Belt, Founder of Filipino Tang Soo Do, (top photo) and Master Luciano “Nick” Montoya, 5th Degree Black Belt Filipino Tang Soo Do, lecturing on kata mechanics and attributes and Tang Soo Do/Karate history respectively to sophomore of the Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education class last March 13, 2012 at one of the classrooms of the Cody Hall, University of St. La Salle (USLS), La Salle Ave., Bacolod City.


Grandmaster Rodrigo Berdin of Oido de Cinco Henerales Arnis (right) performing an armlock on Master Luciano “Nick” Montoya after neutralizing his knife attack during a lecture/demo to Sophomore students of the Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education class last March 13, 2012 at one of the classrooms of the Cody Hall, University of St. La Salle (USLS), La Salle Ave., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).


Sophomore from the Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education class pose with (seated from left): Master James U. Sy Jr. (Conceptual Arnis/Martial Arts), Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo (Filipino Tang Soo Do), Grandmaster Rodrigo Berdin (Oido de Cinco Henerales Arnis), Master Luciano “Nick” Montoya (Filipino Tang Soo Do/Oido de Cinco Henerales Arnis), and Prof. Joenel F. Campmanes (Karate-do) at the conclusion of their final examination last March 13, 2012 at one of the classrooms of the Cody Hall, University of St. La Salle (USLS), La Salle Ave., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

The semester’s final examination for sophomores Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education was conducted by Prof. Joenel F. Campmanes last March 13, 2012 at one of the classrooms of the Cody Hall, University of St. La Salle (USLS), La Salle Ave., Bacolod City.

The PE curriculum taken up for the 2nd semester of SY 2011-2012 for the class consisted of individual sports (athletics) for the prelim and the midterm and combative sports (Karate-do) for the final term. There were six sophomores who took the final exams. They performed together three standard kata “forms (Nihonggo),” a sequence of choreographed movements which combines both defensive and offensive waza “techniques (Nihonggo)” together with footwork. The students were graded based on precision, sequencing, and synchronization.

Campomanes introduced Karate-do as part of the USLS college basic PE class in 2005 and was later included in the PE majoring classes.

Invited guests for the examination were Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, 8th Degree Black Belt, Founder of Filipino Tang Soo Do, Master Luciano “Nick” Montoya, 5th Degree Black Belt Filipino Tang Soo Do, Co-Founder of Oido de Cinco Henerales Arnis, Master James U. Sy Jr., Founder of Conceptual Arnis/Martial Arts, and Grandmaster Rodrigo Berdin, Founder of Oido de Cinco Henerales Arnis.

GM Montoyo gave pointers on the mechanics of kata performance. Master Montoya displayed the 5 basic strikes of Cinco Henerales Arnis, and together with GM Berdin demonstrated a few stick and empty handed techniques of Oido de Cinco Henerales Arnis. Master Sy, with the help of a volunteer, showed the Conceptual empty handed applications against grabs and punches using the vertical slashing pattern and a common denominator between Arnis and a few other Asian martial arts. Masters Montoya and Sy also gave simplified lectures on the evolution of different Asian martial arts, Karate, Tang Soo Do, Taekwondo, and arnis among them.

Campomanes is a product of the Tay Tung High School (Batch 1985) and received his Bachelor of science in Education Major in Physical Education at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) in 1992. In 1993, he joined the faculty of the University of St. La Salle (USLS) and was awarded his Master of arts in Education, Major in Teaching Physical Education by UNO-R in 2011.

Campomanes started his study of Karate-do under Carmelino “Jun” Rojo Sensei, Founder of Octagon, in June 1989. He entered his first tournament in October 15 of the same year, the National Karate-do Open. He received his 1st and 2nd Degree Black Belts in Karate-do from Rojo Sensei under the sanction of Octagon in 1989 and 1990 respectively. In January 1990, he attended a seminar in Tang Soo Do conducted by Grandmaster Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza and in November 1990 he shifted to Tang Soo Do under Luciano “Nick” Montoya. He received his 1st Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do from Montoya on May 29, 1994, during the National Open Championships organized by the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan, Inc.-Korea Tang soo Do Association at the West Negros College (WNC) Gym, Bacolod City. His 2nd,
3rd, and 4th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do were awraded by Master Montoya in 2005, 2008, and January 2, 2012 respectively under the sanction of the Murcia Martial arts Center (formerly Murcia Moo Duk Kwan).

Lessons From the CENECO Robbery by James Sy

Change – That is the best one word that can describe the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) robbery last March 2, 2012, 9:15 AM. Let me explain why.

The dinosaurs had long been extinct and it is not clear why. At least 6 theories had been forwarded by scientists, all of which had the common denominator of change. It is believed that massive gravitational, magnetic, climatic, and/or geological changes led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Others believe that they were phased out by an asteroid, comet or other space debris. In all these theories, the dinosaurs weren’t able to adapt to their new environment.

Nothing in life is constant except change, as one Greek philosopher would tell us. This truth applies not only to the time of the dinosaurs but extends even to our era. Survival of any organism dictates that it should be able to adapt to the changing environment, or if necessary, to evolve into a modified or different life form, as was the cash of fishes going into land and evolving into some land animals.

Bacolod may have been a peaceful and safe place but such perception would have been true only to a specific period of time in the past. It is but erroneous to believe or at least, perceive that what it was before is still is today. Time changes. We only need to open our eyes, ears, and heart to what’s happening all around us. Snatching, pickpockets, rape, robbery, murder, corruption,… We may not realize all these things are happening because nothing of the like had yet happened to us. But then why not wait for that to happen before taking notice?

Let’s take the case of CENECO. After the incident, the guards were issued higher caliber rifles and it was realized that there was a need for a CCTV camera. But then what happened had already happened. The robbers won't be dumb enough to return. The installation of safety measures is an indication of one's assessment of the current environment and preparedness. Preemptive measures would have been best.

Crime fighting in the USA is much more successful. Thanks in large part to the CCTV cameras which easily give cops a solid lead to solve the case. If P3.6M had been taken from the cooperative, the price of a CCTV camera would pale in comparison.

I remember way back in 2001, when I was still working at East West Bank, there was a rumor that a major bank will be robbed. Before we knew it the guards of the Central Bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) were already in full battle gear, complete with bullet proof vests, high powered guns, and reinforcements. The robbery did not take place but it was because of that proactive measure on the part of the BSP.

Who would have thought that a robbery will take place at CENECO. Of course, nobody. Herein lies the problem. Complacency of things that had been the usual. The usual routine, day in and day out, without any thought that anything dreadful could ever happen.

It was reported that the robbers, numbering 6 or 8, could have been professionals because it only took them 3 minutes to finish everything. This indicates militaristic background or experience. The robbery took place at a time when there are not many people paying bills and at a time when the collections were being taken out from the vault for endorsement to the armored car. This only means that the robbers had studied CENECO's time table and details of its operations. A good manifestation of Sun Tzu's Art of War, "Know yourself and your opponent."

It is a fact. Bacolod is no longer as safe as we remember it to be in the past. The CENECO may have been an isolated case but what it tells us is that there is an organized group now operating in Bacolod. As with regards the police knowing the identity of this group, they only know. But the question in the citizenry's mind is, is it possible for this event to be repeated, on another establishment? If it can happen to CENECO, what will prevent the same group from robbing much smaller establishments? These are very pertinent questions.

The relief of Bacolod Police Station Chief Ulysses Ortiz and the suspension of CENECO General Manager Sulpicio Lagarde Jr. could have served to show the citizenry that something is being done about the matter. However, what would be more important is to address the issue at hand and solve the case.

This brings us back to the best single word - change. Everybody was caught with their pants down. Hopefully this will be a lesson to everybody, including the citizenry. Since change is constant, we have to adapt and when we adapt we become proactive. But before we can adapt we need to be attuned to our environment and aware of what's happening in our surroundings. We don't dig a well when we are already dying from thirst. Just my few cents.