SAGAY CITY SPONSORS 2ND NATIONAL
FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL
By Jay de Leon

Sagay City, Negros Occidental in the Visayas, Philippines sponsored the 2nd National Filipino Martial Arts Festival, an annual event of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) based in Manila, Philippines.  It was held on March 9 – 15, 2009 as part of the Sinigayan Festival.

The event was held under the auspices of Hon. Alfredo Maranion, Mayor of Sagay City, and Mr. Benson Fernandez , Sports Coordinator and Co-chairman of the Sinigayan Festival.   The officials of the NFMA tournament included Grandmaster Ibara Lopez as Project Chairman, Senior Guro Bobong Burbano as Tournament Director, and Master Bambit Dulay as Tournament Coordinator.

The IMAFP event consisted of a parade, seminars, demonstrations and a tournament.  A special guest of the seminar was Grandmaster Max Pallen of an arnis style called Senkotiros.  GM Pallen owns and teaches several arnis schools both in the United States and the Philippines.

The following participated in the NFMA Festival :

Luzon
1. Manila City  2.Marikina City  3.Taguig City  4.Cavite City  5. Paranaque City         
6.  Isabela Prov.

Visayas
1.Coron, Palawan   2.Bacolod.City  3.Bago City   4. Talisay City  5. San Carlos City 6.Sagay City   7.Ilo-IloCity   8.Sta. Barbara  9. Guimaras Prov.  10. Antique

The over-all winners were as follows:

Junior Division :  1. Cavite  2.Sagay  3. Bago
Senior Division  :  1. Manila  2. Sagay   3. Marikina

All in all, it was another colorful and successful undertaking, truly national in scope.  The participants enjoyed the competition and the camaraderie, the arnis clubs got to hone their sports skills, and the city of Sagay enjoyed the arnis action and pageantry as part of its Sinigayan Festival.

Special thanks to the mayor, officials and citizens of Sagay City for their warm hospitality.  Congratulations and kudos to participants, officials and supporters of the 2nd National FMA Festival, including the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) and its officers and guros like Master Godofredo Fajardo, Master Bambit Dulay, Jimson Dearos, Panni Nagen, Nonoy Poblacion, Roy de Leon, Rey Prostrado, Bobong Burbano and others. 

Long may the cherished traditions of the National Filipino Martial Arts Festival as well as the Sinigayan Festival flourish.

Till the next NFMA Festival…

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang arnis!

Copyright, Jay de Leon 2009
Photos courtesy of Godofredo Fajardo.

Photo Gallery

 
Manila Filipino Fighting Arts, Int’l (FFAI) EARIST Delegation.

 
Manila Filipino Fighting Arts, Int’l (FFAI) team
sponsored by Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila.

 
Several medalists pose with Benson Fernandez, co-Chairman
 of the Sinigayan Festival 2009 and Sports Coordinator
 of Sagay City, extreme left,  and Godofredo Fajardo,
Senior Master of International Modern Arnis Federation
of the Philippines (IMAFP), extreme right.

Synchronized anyo (arnis form)

Balay Kauswagan Government Hotel where the delegates were billeted.

Rey Prostrado, Godofredo Fajardo, Nonoy Poblacion, Max Pallen,
Bambit Dulay, Bobong Burbano (left to right) pose in front of the
official event banner of the International Modern Arnis Federation
of the Philippines  (IMAFP).

Participants get some training in (background) as
Guro Ludi Losanes demonstates some moves (foreground).

 
Gala night with dinner and awards for delegates.

Arnis synchronized swimming?

 
Ah, the joy of youth…

Ah, the joy of hanging out with Godofredo Fajardo…