Philippine Odyssey 2009
By Jay de Leon

PART TWO
THE ADVENTURES OF JAY DE LEON

Bangsal Restaurant, Binmaley, Pangasinan
May 23, 2009

Long-time friend and Ateneo classmate Jimmy Melendres
drove to Binmaley, Pangasinan all the way from Manila
and treated Jay to a  seafood dinner at Bangsal’s
Restaurant  in Binmaley.

This was the chanteuse of the live band performing at Bangsal’s
Restaurant in Binmaley, Pangasinan.

San Fernando, Pampanga
May 26, 2009

The last dojo I trained in in the Philippines just before immigrating to the United States in 1974 was a shorin-ryu school named Philippine Karate and Judo Association (PHICKAJU).It was located in Cubao, Quezon City and taught shorin-ryu, Latino Gonzalez style, Kodokan judo and Remy Presas arnis.

Its owner and chief instructor was Ranie Henson, who was a senior student of Latino Gonzalez on the same level as shorin-ryu stalwarts such as Johnny Carranza and Roberto and Rolando Gonzalez, the founder’s sons as well as Philippine movie actors. Ranie himself made appearances in several of these movies.

Now, some 35 years later, I was reunited with Ranie Henson. From Binmaley, Pangasinan, I picked up Mert Altares, another arnisador vacationing in Tarlac City, Tarlac from Saudi Arabia who had told me about Ranie’s whereabouts, and we proceeded to Ranie Henson’s dojo at its current location in San Fernando, Pampanga.  There, we had a joyous reunion, a sumptuous lunch and much catching-up.

My thanks to both Ranie Henson for taking the time to see me and to Mert for being my faithful escort and companion this particular outing. The best of luck to you both in different parts of the world.

Ranie Henson (left) with Jay de Leon at Ranie Henson’s shorin-ryu dojo
in the heart of the city of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Ranie Henson and wife, seated, and Jay de Leon and Mert Altares, standing,
enjoy lunch at a popular restaurant in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Ranie Henson was the owner and chief instructor of the Philippine Karate
Judo Association (PHICKAJU), my last dojo in the Philippines in 1974
before leaving for the United States. That was our last contact.

Camaley, Binmaley, Pangasinan
June 2, 2009

To all his former students and colleagues in martial arts, Grandmaster Nes Fernandez is alive and well, and still teaching arnis, at his ancestral house in Camaley, Binmaley, Pangasinan. He used to have an arnis school in northern California (south San Francisco and Daly City) for many years and was also a fixture in the kung fu scene in that area. I was fortunate to train with him a couple of years when I lived in San Jose, California.

He is also a cousin. His late mother was a de Leon, Dona Constantina de Leon Fernandez, who was cousin to my late father. They all grew up in Binmaley, Pangasinan.

Grandmaster Nes Fernandez (right) and Jay de Leon at Kuya Nes’s
ancestral house in Camaley, Binmaley, Pangasinan.

Manila Pavillion, Manila
June 4, 2009

I had my first meeting with my guro, Master Godofredo Fajardo, at the lobby
bar of the Manila Pavillion Hotel, just before flying out to Bohol the following
day.  Later on, we had dinner and drinks at the hotel restaurant. 

Center Stage, Quezon City
June 15, 2009

Two aging rock-and-rollers meet at Center Stage in Quezon City in the Phil.
where live bands perform.  After all these years, Leo Roa (right) concedes
 that Ateneo batchmate Jay de Leon is still about half an inch taller than he. 
Jay concedes though that Leo Roa is still as tisoy, trim, youthful-looking
 and desirable as ever.

Grilla Restaurant, Makati
June 16, 2009

Bambit Dulay, Liza Masicampo, Godofredo Fajardo, Jay de Leon,
Bobong Burbano and Panni Nagen of the International Modern
Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) at the
Grilla Restaurant in Rockwell, Makati, Philippines. 

Gallery of Modern Arnis Masters, from left to right :  Bambit Dulay,
  Godofredo Fajardo, Jay de Leon, Bobong Burbano, and Panni Nagen
 of the International Modern Arnis Federation of  the Philippines
(IMAFP) at the Grilla Restaurant  in Makati, Philippines in June 2009. 

Silk and Steel

This is my friend, arnisador Van Fuentes (known in FMA circles by his
nom de guerre, Talibung Antike) showing off his custom talibung, the bolo version of Antique.  Van’s talibung is primarily a combat weapon.  Photo courtesy
of Mert Altares, who met with Van in the Visayas during this particular trip.

A vendor at the Baguio City market displays a utility itak
(bolo) common to the Mountain Province. It has bound
rattan strips for a handle, and is used commonly for
farming, chopping firewood or as a trowel (using the
broad span at the tip of the blade).

During this trip, I bought a commercial bolo with a leather sheath
in Dagupan, Pangasinan.  This is a utility bolo meant for field work
rather than combat.

Yantok and bolo.

The author’s personal weaponry--Colt Python Magnum .357 and Browning 9 mm. 

Browning 9 mm. and Spyderco Delica

Colt Python Magnum .357 and Cold Steel Scimitar.  Incidentally, this
Colt pistol had a twin, but blued steel, which I sold many years ago.
Yes, I regret selling it and not having my picture taken, brandishing
both guns.  The Pythons are now considered collector’s items. 

Silverio’s Restaurant, Binmaley, Pangasinan
June 21, 2009

The occasion was Doming Lopez’s birthday party at Silverio’s Restaurant
just outside Binmaley.  Doming oversees our Biec property.  To his right
is his eldest sister Cristina. 

Cristina Lopez Suarez with son.  The Lopezes are blood relatives
to the de Leons, on my paternal grandmother’s side (Rovillos).

Marie Lopez, Doming’s youngest sister, and Jay de Leon. 

My driver Andy (left) and Cristina’s husband.

Yes, there was a live band at Silverio’s that was pretty good.

These are Cristina’s daughters who were not able to attend the party.
The older  girl on the left lives in Dagupan with relatives, and the
 younger one was visiting friends.

Aristocrat Restaurant, Manila
June 23, 2009

Jimmy Melendres, Jay de Leon, and Johnny Nanagas (here in his persona
as Col. J) at the Aristocrat Restaurant on Roxas Blvd. in Manila.  We are
long-time friends and Ateneo de Manila classmates and always get
 together every chance we get.

Jimmy Melendres came with two Australian business associates.  Col. J is
explaining either military tactics, business ethics or pick-up techniques.
Jimmy is not buying it, either.

Don’t let that pensive look fool you.  Col. J. Nanagas
of the Phil. Marines (see jacket patch) was as bellicose
and opinionated as ever.  A medical doctor as well,
 he was my judo sparring partner at the Ateneo
de Manila High School Judo Club.

I flew back to Los Angeles, California the following day, just before a typhoon was expected to hit Manila. Fortunately, the trip was quiet and uneventful.  My thanks to my nephew Mark Rugprayoon for picking me up at the Los Angeles airport, and to my nephew Martin de Leon for babysitting my car all this time.

Till the next odyssey…

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang arnis!