8th Bakbakan of Eskrimadors @ Gaisano City This Sat by James U. Sy Jr.

Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. Officers and Board Directors during the conclusion of the group's monthly meeting last July 8, 2012 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City. From left: Master James U. Sy Jr., Master Gualberto Dajao, Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo, P/Supt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez, Founder/President Emeritus Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo "Pope" C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., current President P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao "Eslao" T. Guarra, Grandmaster Danilo "Danny" Cardinal, Master Abraham "Abe" Ganzon Jr., and Master Roy R. Flores Sr. (Felix A. Guinabo/NOBF photo). The Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS) of Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo will be presenting the 8th Bakbakan of Eskrimadors "Higutay Duel" this coming July 29, 2012, 1:30 PM, at the Atrium Area, Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall, Aranatea St., Bacolod City. There will be segments for exhibitions of different systems/styles of Arnis/Eskrima founded and/or practiced in the province of Negros Occidental. About 15 Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) groups are expected to participate. Among those systems confirmed to be demonstrated include Arjuka, Guarra Style Modern Arnis, Conceptual Arnis, Herada Pigada, Oido de Cinco Henerales, Original Filipino Tapado, and Trece Grabes Piga-Piga System. The other half of the event will be a competition that will be using the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) rules of Arnis competition. Currently, there are several established rules of Arnis competition, each one having their own merits. The WEKAF set of rules, introduced by the Cebuanos, is the pioneering version of sport Arnis which makes use of full body armor and live sticks. This set of rules was adopted by the first national governing body of the sport, the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL), in the 1970's. During the change of power in 1986, the NARAPHIL was changed by the Arnis Philippines, which soon developed a set of rules which used head and body protectors and padded sticks. Its rules, and later a modification of it, was adapted by the Department of Education (DepEd) for use in interschool competitions. Another set of rules that has come to prominence in later years is the one developed by the IMAFP, also using helmet and body armor and padded sticks but with some differences in rulings with Arnis Philippines. The IFFMAS rules, which will be used in the coming tournament, is actually a revival of an old format of Arnis play used by arnisdadors of old in Negros, Panay, and Negros. The format, now with revisions, is composed of three rounds of 30 seconds each. The first round will see the first player act as the defender and will stay in a circle with a diameter of 1.80 m. The other player, staying outside the circle, will act as attacker; the one inside the circle will show his skill in defending against attacks. The roles are reversed in the second round. In the third round the players are allowed to go offense and defense. A modification of the IFFMAS rules will also be showcased in the higutay match ups. The same set of rules will be adapted but contestants will have a rope tied to their waists to discourage running away. This is another traditional competition format in the old days. Details of the tournaments were taken up during the monthly meeting of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. last July 8, 2012 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City. Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo organized the event in cooperation with Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall represented by Advertising Officer Nomer Lobaton, Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. of Founder/President Emeritus Atty. Col. Grandmaster Marcelo "Pope" C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., and current President P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao "Eslao" T. Guarra, Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), Inc. under its President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, and Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr.