Arnis Master Elefante Promoted to P.A. Col. By James U. Sy Jr.

Col. Irving P. Elefante Jr., PA, AFP, Senior Master - Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System (IPEJ photo). Lt. Col. Irving P. Elefante Jr., a Senior Master of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System, was promoted last March 2022 to full pledged Colonel in the Philippine Army (PA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig Metro, Manila, with the new assignment to the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Training Director. Elefante began his training in the Filipino Martial arts (FMA) under Founder/Great Grandmaster Jose “Joe” L. Viñas of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Afecionados Association (LVAAA) in August 1980. Elefante was awarded his 7th Degree Senior Master rank in the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System by the son of the late Founder and the 1st Generation Inheritor of the system, Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, on December 30, 2003. Elefante served in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Bacolod for 17 years before transferring to the PA, AFP and commissioned as Captain. He was later commissioned as Major and was assigned in the Marawi War in Mindanao as a part of the Marawi Warriors assigned to checkpoints. He was then promoted to Lt. Col. and assigned to GenSan. He served as a Battalion Hand to Hand Combat Master Instructor and had taught Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis empty handed disarming techniques against edge weapons during the Balikatan Exercises between Philippine and U.S. Forces in Davao.

Negros Wado-ryu, 1-3-1 in Reg’l Karate Tilt By: James U. Sy Jr.

Negros Wado-ryu Karate Team-Handumanan medalists of the 3rd Region 6 Karate Championships on May 1, 2022 at Robinson’s Place Iloilo (from left): Randy Hernandez (bronze - kata), Hazyl Mae Villa (silver - kata & kumite), Rexie S. Diocares Sensei, Ruth Hechanova (gold - kata), and Atasha Hernandez (silver - Kata) (RSD photo). The Negros Wado-ryu Karate Team-Handumanan under Rexie S. Diocares Sensei, 2nd Dan (national)/6th Dan (regional), won a 1 gold-3 silver-1 bronze medal haul during the 3rd Region 6 Karate Championship last May 1, 2022 at the Robinson’s Place, Mabini St., Iloilo City. Bringing home the medals were Ruth Hechanova (gold - 16-17 years old intermediate kata), Hezyl Mae Villa (silver - 14-15 years old advance kata and 14-15 years old kumite), Atasha Hernandez (silver - 12-13 years old newbie kata), and Randy Hernandez (bronze - intermediate kata). Diocares Sensei founded the Red Bulls Karatedo Club (RBKC) to propagate Shotokan Karate in the 1980’s at his residence in Honey Bee, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City. The club later relocated to Brgy. Handumanan in 1983 by which time he met Dr. Alejandro Enrico G. Vasquez Kaicho (Chief Instructor) and went on to affiliate with his Filipinas Wado Ryu Karatedo Renmei to propagate the “Harmony (Peace) Flow” system of Karate founded by Hironori Ōtsuka Sensei (1892-1982). The Dagupan-based FWRKR is a branch of the International Federations of Wado Ryu Karate-do Organizations and is an active member of the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation.

CMAS Gathering Held By: James U. Sy Jr.

Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. gathering last July 14, 2022 at the Chicken House-Alunan (James Sy/CMAS photo). The Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. had their first gathering in 2022, and in several years, last July 14, 2022 at the Chicken House-Alumam, Lizares St., Bacolod City. Core Founding Members present were Founder/GM James U. Sy Jr., Master Lafayette “Laf” A. Diamante, RN, Master Lorema “Bing” Tacsagon-Diamante, Master Raymund A. Maguad, PTRP, MD, Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, and Instructor Moises “Jung-Jung” Nifras Jr. Not present was Instructor John Owen F. Ong who was in Manila at that time. CMAS is a fraternal organization of professionals with the primary goal of researching, training in, documenting, and promoting the various Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), particular the indigenous systems from Negros Occidental, as well as related arts. Most of the CMAS Core Founding Members had studied directly from the Founders and/or Inheritors/Keepers of specific systems. The 4 primary FMA systems/lineages that CMAS represent are Original Filipino Tapado (Bago) under 1st Generation Inheritor GM Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, Yasay Sable (Bago) under 3rd and 4th Gen. Headmasters GM Paterno “Pater” Yasay and GM Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Y. Gayoles, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis (Bacolod) under 1st Gen. Inheritor GM Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, and Oido de Caburata (Murcia) under GM Jose D. Aguilar and GM Abraham T. Gubaton. Specific CMAS Core Founding Members also represent other Negrense FMA systems as well as Chinese, Korean, and Japanese martial arts.

GM Lobrido of Original Tapado Turns 72 By: James U. Sy Jr.

GM Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) with his family during his 72nd birthday celebration on June 28, 2022 in Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (OFTLSFAI / CMAS photo). Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, the 1st Generation Inheritor (Manugsubli) of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT), celebrated his 72nd birthday through a simple dinner with his family and a few of his students and guests last June 28, 2022 at the Lobrido Residence, Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City. The simple gathering also doubled as a celebration for the 16th birthday of Senior Instructor Ben Russell “Bensoy” Lobrido, the grandson of GM Lobrido and his officially designated 2nd Generation Inheritor (Manugsubli) of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT). The birthday celebrants were joined by GM Lobrido’s wife, Rosenda “Rose” P. Lobrido, and their youngest daughter, Rose Ann, and her daughters Khimxia and Khaycie Villarmino. Other guests were Analee Vergara, Chief Instructor Master James U. Sy Jr., OFT Cadiz City Representative Master Alessandro “Dodong” M. Calvo, SI Romeo “Romy” T. Jarapa, Ike A. Curativo of Cadiz, and Michael Raymund R. Fabila. GM Lobrido’s 72nd birthday also marked his 62nd year of continuous study and teaching of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT). He was the sole Chief Instructor of the system founded by his uncle, Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar during the latter’s entire lifetime, with the rank of Master even before the art was introduced and taught publicly. All beginners in OFT had to undergo training under Master Lobrido before they can study under GM Mamar. The headmastership of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) was officially turned over by the Mamar Clan to GM Lobrido in February 2005 after the passing of the Founder. GM Lobrido has kept Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) alive in the last 17 years after the passing of the Founder and has produced the next generation of instructors of the art, primarily his heir apparent, Senior Instructor Ben Russell “Bensoy” Lobrido.