1st Neg. Occ. Baston Fed. Rank Exams Held

The Examiners for the 1st NOBF Rank Examinations, the three highest ranking grandmasters in the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc., at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City. From left: current President P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, Founder and President Emeritus Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., and Vice President P/Supt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez (CMAS/NOBF photo).

Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo defending against the attack of NOBF President P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra during the 1st NOBF Rank Examinations at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City (CMAS/NOBF photo).

Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo defending against the attack of NOBF Vice President P/Supt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez during the 1st NOBF Rank Examinations at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City (CMAS/NOBF photo).

Master James U. Sy Jr. defending against the attack of NOBF Founder and President Emeritus Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., during the 1st NOBF Rank Examinations at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City (CMAS/NOBF photo).

Master James U. Sy Jr. defending against the attack of NOBF President P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra during the 1st NOBF Rank Examinations at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City (CMAS/NOBF photo).

Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. officers - from left: Master James U. Sy Jr., P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., P/Supt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez, and Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo - during the 1st NOBF Rank Examinations at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City (CMAS/NOBF photo). The 1st NOBF Rank Examinations were held by the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. last July 15, 2012, Sunday, at the Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) Main Gym, 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The Examiners were the three highest ranking grandmasters of the federation, namely Founder and President Emeritus Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., current President P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, and Vice President P/Insp. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez. The trio grandmasters have over a hundred years of combined experience in the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) of Arnis/Eskrima/Baston and each one had, in his own way, contributed to the growth and propagation of the native martial traditions in the province of Negros Occidental. GM Jalandoon founded the NOBF in the early years of the 21st Century to bring arnisadors of different systems/styles together in a concentrated effort to propagate and promote the Filipino martial traditions. The Negros Occidental Arnis Association (NOAA, later Negros Occidental Arnis Federation), founded in 1986, was the predecessor of the NOBF. When NOAF faded away, it took several years before the NOBF was established to fill the void left behind by the NOAF. NOBF initially joined as a member organization of the Union of Martial Artist of Negros and Bacolod (UMA-ONEBA), an alliance which was predominantly composed of karatekas, but later operated independently to better focus on Arnis/Eskrima promotion and activities. GM Lopez and GM Guarra served as NOBF Vice Presidents for Bacolod and South Negros Respectively under the leadership of GM Jalandoon. In 2099, GM Jalandoon designated GM Guarra to replace him as NOBF President upon his retirement. GM Guarra’s first pet project was the rank examination for federation members. For one reason or the other, this plan was shelved up until now. The federation previously recognized the ranks/titles that its school head-members were utilizing in principle, and in a few cases certified, and accord to those who do not yet have any. The examinations are simply formalities wherein the Examiners can check if the bearer of the rank/title lives up to the honor. The examinations, however, were voluntary and those who do not wish to take it has the liberty to do so. Examinees were Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo, Founder of the Trese Grabes Piga-Piga System of Arnis and the Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS), and Master James U. Sy Jr., Founder of Conceptual Arnis/Martial Arts System and Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. While they were already certified in their respective arts previously, the candidates were being tested for NOBF rank. Master Roy R. Flores, Founder of Hangaway Arnis and Tribu Hangaway Philippines, was willing to take the exams but could not make it to the exams because he was out of town. The NOBF ranks will be awarded in a formal ceremony which will be announced soon. A second batch of examinations will be given if there are other school head-members that would be interested. The NOBF welcomes interested clubs in Negros Occidental who wish to join its roster. Inquiries may be directed to the Secretary General at 0946-398-2117.