PIMAA Preview Demo for the Innovative Martial Way Summer Camp Held @ DC III by James U. Sy Jr.

The Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. under its Founder/President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, 8th degree black belt, and Chief Instructor Master Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo Jr., 5th degree black belt, gave a preview martial arts demonstration for the kids and teenagers under Youth President Carmelo Matutino recently at the DC III Clubhouse, RPHS, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City for the organization’s upcoming summer camp. Owen and Charlton Jocson performed the different fundamental exercises of the Filipino Chinese Integrated Hand Way (Filipino Tang Soo Do) including the splits, spider walk, handstand, and others. Dr. Raul Fama showcased the group’s Oido de Cinco Henerales style of Arnis, including offense, defense, and pangagaw. Master Elmer Montoyo Jr., Nonoy Gargoles, and Norbert Poliapoy presented self defense sequences against empty hand, knife, and two-man attacks using a synthesis of different martial arts including Filipino Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, and Grappling. Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. demonstrated holding the cellphone on the street, the basic application of the off guard stance, and a few knife disarming techniques from the Conceptual Arnis System. The Innovative Martial Way Summer camp of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. starts on March 30, 2013. The summer camp seeks to improve fitness level, flexibility, strength, and balance, burn fat, relieve stress, and learning to defend oneself. Enrollment still going on. Venue at DC III Clubhouse. Contact Master Don-Don at 0917-414-9888. For more details visit www.geocities.com/filtsd.

CMAS Visits Oido Fencing GM by James U. Sy Jr.

Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. with the grandmaster (from left): Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Arnis System, Eirine O. Longno, Founder/Grandmaster Sotero Tario of Oido Fencing, Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, and Montano Mondia IV during a visit to the GM's home in Bago City on March 4, 2013 (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). The Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. visited Grandmaster Sotero Tario, Founder of Oido Fencing, for the 3rd time at his residence in Bago City last March 4, 2013. The group included Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr., Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, Montano Mondia IV, and Eirine O. Longno. The visitors were rought to the GM’s home by his son, Master Sotero Tario Jr. At 81 going 82 this May, GM Tario is one of the old timers of Arnis in Bago City and Negros occidental. He started his studies in the Espada y Daga in his younger days and later through his association and familiarity with other arnisadors, especially those specializing in Oido de Caburata, he developed his own style, which combines Oido with Negrense style fencing. CMAS helped introduce the public to Oido Fencing on April 7, 2007 when they invited GM Tario and his student Master Federico Culango Sr. to demonstrate his art during the 2007 Summer Best of Negros Martial Arts Expo at the Activity Center, SM City Bacolod, Reclamation Area, Bacolod City. GM Tario, who is already recognized as a grandmaster of Arnis in their locality, was formally conferred with the title Founder/Grandmaster of Oido Fencing by both the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. under its President, P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao T. Guarra, and the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), Inc. under its President, Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo during the 2nd Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres Arnis Expo & Tournament organized for the Bago City Office of the Mayor and the Bago City Tourism Office by the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. last February 18, 2012 at the Bantayan Park, Bago City as part of the city’s 46th Charter Day Celebration.

Golden Kamagong Opens North Fitness Hub Branch by James Sy Jr.

Golden Kamagong International (from left): Grandmaster Carlo L. Barzo, Guro Maru Macalipsay, Founder/Chairman P/Inspt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez (seated), Guro Boy Begasa, and Grandmaster John Mark L. Barzo at the Golden Kamagong international-North Fitness Hub Branch, 2/F Art District, Lopue's Mandalagan, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City on March 9, 2013 (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). — The Golden Kamagong International (formerly Golden Kamagong Arnis Kali Eskrima Association) of Founder/Chairman P/Insp. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez officially opened its newest branch last March 8, 2013 at the North Fitness Hub, 2/F Art District Bldg., Lopues-Mandalagan, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City. Golden Kamagong International has its headquarters at Prk. Bayanihan, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod city and its main gym at 3/F De La Rama Center, Luzuriaga St., Bacolod City. Assigned instructor for the new branch is Grandmaster John Mark L. Barzo. Arnis is a collective generic term for the various forms of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) scattered all over the 7,100 islands of the Republic of the Philippines. It is the Filipino corruption of the Spanish arnes “harness, armor” and having knowledge of it allows a practitioner to be able to defend himself as if he has an armor. In Cebu it is more commonly known as Eskrima, the Filipino corruption of the Spanish Escrima “fencing.” It is also variously known as Baston, Garrote, and Olisi. Training schedule is 9:00 AM-12:00 NN Friday, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Saturday, and 9:00 AM-2:00 PM Sunday. Interested parties may contact GM Lopez at 0916-696-3374, GM Barzo at 0947-958-9272, or Ms. Karen at 0910-970-3932.

CMAS Visits Oido Fencing GM by James U. Sy Jr.

Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. with the grandmaster (from left): Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Arnis System, Eirine O. Longno, Founder/Grandmaster Sotero Tario of Oido Fencing, Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, and Montano Mondia IV during a visit to the GM's home in Bago City on March 4, 2013 (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Yuishinkai Aikido Instructor to be featured in Da T.yuy Files This Fri. by James U. Sy Jr.

Lodel Magbanua Sensei (seated right), Chief Instructor of Bacolod Aikido Yuishinkai (BAY), and Philippine Aikido pioneer Ernesto “Ernie” T. Talag Sensei, 6th Dan Aikido Yuishinkai, Founder/Chief Instructor of Ki Association international (KI-AI), with BAY members on September 8, 2012 in Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS Photo). Da T.yuy Files, the first and only and longest running comedy talk show on local cable TV in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, will be featuring a martial artist guest for a second time in its 6 years run as a program that educates and entertains. T'yuy, hosted by Anthony Peter Yulo, will premiere its feature episode on Yuishinkai Aikido this coming Friday, March 1, 2013, 10:00 PM on OnTV12 (Channel 32). Guest will be Lodel Magbanua Sensei, Chief Instructor of Bacolod Aikido Yuishinkai (BAY), which is the official representative of Ki Association international (KI-AI) of Philippine Aikido pioneer Ernesto “Ernie” T. Talag Sensei, 6th Dan Aikido Yuishinkai, which in turn is affiliated with Aikido Yuishinkai International (AYI) of Maruyama, Koretoshi Sensei (B: 1936), an uchideshi “inner disciple” of Aikido Founder Ueshiba, Morihei (1883-1969). Magbanua, with the help of Yulo and other BAY members, sponsored Talag Sensei to conduct the Yuishinkai Aikido Seminar & Belting Advancement last September 8, 2012 at the 3/F High School Bldg., St. John’s Institute (Hua Ming), Hilado St., Bacolod City, which was attended by 19 aikidokas from four Bacolod groups. Magbanua Sensei, a nephew of 1964 Asian karate champion Jimmy Magbanua of Bacolod, used to train in Aikido under Rene F. Cornel Sensei (1951-2005) in Bacolod and upon the death of Cornel sensei, started his studies with Talag Sensei in Manila in 1991, while managing NGO’s; Cornel Sensei was once Talag Sensei’s representative in Bacolod. Magbanua Sensei has a small group in Bacolod, the latest revival of which was last September 2011. Da T.yuy Files started going on air in 2007 and has over the years tackled serious issues but from a relatively comedic perspective to further liven the discussion. The first martial artist guest was James U. Sy Jr., Founder/Master of the Conceptual Arnis System and the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. with hi students Montano Mondia IV and Eirine Kimberly O. Longno. March 1, 2013 will be the premier of the Yuishinkai Aikido episode and succeeding replays will be the following week, MWF 10:00-11:00 PM and TTHS 3:00-4:00 PM.

2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams Held by James U. Sy Jr.

Officers and members of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. pose for posterity after its successful 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams last February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City. From left: Master James U. Sy Jr., Guro Stephen Roy Dedel, Joselito Guzon, Master Roy R. Flores, GM Felix A. Guinabo, P/Sgt. (Ret.) GM Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, Col. Atty. GM Marcelo “Pope” C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., GM Ibarra E. Lopez, Master Ian B. Negrido, and GM Romeo Postrano (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). Guro Stephen Roy Dedel defending against the attack of P/Insp. (Ret.) Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez during the 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams last February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). Master Roy R. Flores defending against the attack of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra during the 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams last February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). Joselito Guzon of Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS) defending against the attack of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra during the 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams last February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). Master Ian B. Negrido defending against the attack of Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo during the 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams last February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). Grandmaster Romeo Postrano defending against the attack of Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo “Pope” C. Jalandoon, Ph.D., during the 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams last February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). The Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), Inc. successfully conducted the 2nd NOBF Arnis Rank Certification Exams on February 24, 2013 at the Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St., Bacolod City The examination board was composed of the three most senior grandmasters of the federation and another grandmaster who was commissioned by the elders to also act as examiner. At the head of the examination board was Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo “Pope” C. Jalandoon , Ph.D., of Talisay City, Founder/Consultant of NOBF. The two other elders were P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra of Bago City, President of NOBF and Founder of Guarra Style Modern Arnis and P/Insp. Grandmaster Ibarra E. Lopez of Bacolod City, Vice President of NOBF and Founder of Golden Kamagong International. Grandmaster Felix A. Guinabo, Board Director of NOBF and Founder of Guinabo Arnis and Combat Sports (GACS), was the last examiner. The examinees, who mostly hold rank already in their respective clubs, consisted of three regular-member school heads and club representative and two school heads who were new recruits for the federation. Grandmaster Romeo Postrano, Founder of Garrote Sikaran, has been previously recognized as a Grandmaster of Arnis by Grandmaster Hortencio Navales of the Bacolod Negros Arnis Federation International Inc. (BNAFII) and holds a 3rd degree black belt in Sikaran. Master Roy R. Flores, Founder of Tribu Hangaway Philippines, holds a 6th degree black belt in Tapondo/Aikido awarded by the Founder/Master Ambrosio “Monching” Gabileño and has been verbally recognized as Master in Arnis by the NOBF. Joselito Guzon, a long time student of GM Guinabo, is a consistent Arnis tournament fighter and is up for promotion to Master in the Trese Grabes Piga-Piga System by his teacher. Master Ian B. Negrido, Founder of BASSDUMAS, holds a 7th degree black belt in Adino (Eznite)/Sikaran under the late Founder/Grandmaster Pastor Julius B. Delasan and is the Vice President of Zion Original Disciples in Arnis and Combat Sports (ZODIACS), Inc. under President/Grandmaster Romeo G. Banas. Guro Stephen Roy Dedel, Co-Founder of Pangamot International, has been verbally recognized as an Instructor by his teacher Master Baldwin “Nonoy” T. Garrucho, founder of Sundangan Baneg, in 2007 in Escalante City and is currently continuing his Arnis education with Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, the 1st Generation Inheritor of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System. The examiners took turns in giving the attacks to the candidates. Covered were solo baston vs solo baston, pangamot vs solo baston, pangamot vs daga, and contra defense. The exam went on until the examiners were satisfied with the responses of the candidates. Results of the examinations and the corresponding ranks to be awarded to each candidates will be awarded a few days after and they will be awarded their certifications in a formal event. The NOBF Rank Certification Exams is a project of GM Guarra, who assumed the presidency of the federation in late 2009, for the purpose of ensuring the quality of those graded by the federation. The first batch of examinees was GM Guinabo and Master James U. Sy Jr., Secretary General of NOBF and Founder of Conceptual Martial Arts society (CMAS), Inc., last year. Prior to this, ranks had been issued to member school heads with no examination. The NOBF had also issued rank recognitions to 16 grandmasters and master who are not members of the federation to affirm their contributions to the art of Arnis during the highly successful 2nd Hon. Mayor Ramon D. Torres Arnis Expo & Tournament last February 18, 2012 at the Bantayan Park, Bago City as part of the city’s 46th Charter Day Celebration. Witnessing the proceedings were Master and Clyde Jason G. Poral, a grandson of GM Guarra.

Joel Villaluz: A Man of Music, A Man of Inspiration by James U. Sy Jr.

I first got acquainted with Mr. Joel “Bagguer” Villaluz and his wife, Cosette, in the mid 1990’s while I was still employed as an account officer at First Provincial Finance Corporation. Back then I’ve already noticed the couple’s penchant for music, definitely an essential part of their lives way back earlier than I am aware of. This love for music becomes apparent with Mr. Villaluz’s column here at NDB, Musically Yours. Last February 23, 2013, Villaluz, an accomplished musician, especially with the keyboards, became an inspiration to many as the fourth installment of preliminary auditions of the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 4 was aired over at ABS-CBN. At 70, he joined the preliminary auditions held at SM Cebu and despite of not being able to talk, he inspired the three judges with his music and got their nod. Villaluz was a smoker before, which led him to be diagnosed with throat cancer and ultimately had an operation to remove his vocal chords in 2007. According to the narration of his wife, he would play the harmonica, with a cigarette in his mouth. This event changed his life a lot although it did not deter him to continue his pursuit of music. At PGT, Villaluz came to the stage with a white board and was later joined by his wife to help him answer the judges’ questions. Villaluz played “Somewhere in Time” with his keyboard, making judge Kris Aquino, the Queen of All Media, stand from her seat. Judge FMG, a music virtuoso himself, asked Villaluz to play another piece, if he were to give him a chance. Villaluz played “Granada” with gusto and got the judges’ unanimous yes. FMG said he was familiar with the music because “galing ‘yan sa kapanahunan ko. I’ll give you a yes.” Villaluz looked healthy and stood with posture for a 70 year old (and his wife Cosette looks younger than her age of 66). However, more inspiring was his message to the audience, and the televiewers, just before his performance, which he wrote on his white board, “Don’t lose your life to cigarettes. I almost lost mine.” His piece was hair raising and touches the soul yet even more inspiring was his will and determination to go through the competition, even without the ability to talk and having the challenge of facing some of the best talents in the Visayas. Villaluz gave thanks to God that even with what happened to him, he was still given a chance to continues life and live it as it should be lived as commanded by God. He had the message laid out for the judges and the audience in the tarpaulin that hung in front of his keyboard. We all know the evils of smoking and I need not enumerate here what it can and can not do for us. Villaluz’s written words for PGT fans were simple. Our body is a temple given to us by God and we need to take good care of it. Life is precious so live it well. We all have shortcomings but they should not deter us from achieving new heights in our lives. Villaluz performs for different institutions and private individuals who request him to perform during occasions and events. He had brought his music to L’Fisher Hotel, Robinson’s Place Bacolod, Chicken House, Naga City, La Carlota City, and Cebu City among several others. He had also made a 10-volume collection of classical music in CD format. Villaluz is one of three Bacolodnons who were honored with the Ang Banwahanon Award on June l7, 20l2 at the Grand Lobby, Bacolod City Government Center, for the social impact of his “free” musical services especially for the elderly and disabled and for notably composing “Kami Bacolodnon,” eventually the official song of the City of Smiles.