|
PHILIPPINE ODYSSEY IV
By Jay de Leon
PART I
3rd Prof. Remy Presas Training Camp
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Dec. 1 - 7, 2009
The Prof. Remy Presas Training Camp and Tournament is sponsored by the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is held every other year, hosted by a particular region of the IMAFP in the Philippines. This year, in 2009, it was hosted by the Bacolod IMAFP headed by its Commissioner, Bobong Burbano, assisted by Liza Masicampo.
Several IMAFP grandmasters and tournament officials based in Manila flew to Bacolod for the event. This included GM Bambit Dulay, Master Godofredo Fajardo, and senior guros Jimson Dearos and Paolo Motita. Jay de Leon, IMAFP Commissioner for North America, flew in from the United States. Another IMAFP guro, Edwin Velasquez, trekked in from Jolo, in Mindanao. Other IMAFP guros from neighboring provinces, like Iloilo Commissioner Roy de Leon, showed support by bringing in their own arnis teams or by acting as tournament officials.
The event was a resounding success, as attested by the numerous schools, styles and individual participants who either attended the training camp or participated in the tournament. While this event is a local or Philippine event, there was one foreign participant, Carolyn Dean, an athletic blonde from Great Britain, who participated in both the training camp and tournament and garnered a gold medal in forms competition.
The venue for the tournament was the Robinson Mall in the heart of
downtown Bacolod, Negros Occidental, in the Visayas. The hometown
of Prof. Remy Presas named Hinigaran is about an hour’s drive away.
The teams start to bow in. In the foreground sitting at the dais is
Master Godofredo Fajardo, senior tournament official and
IMAFP Commissioner for the Middle East. Master Godo has
been officiating in tournaments since the 1980’s, during the
time of Arnis Philippines and other seminal arnis organizations.
A contestant from Tacurong awaits the go-signal from the tournament official.
Note Jay de Leon at the far right of the picture sitting as one of the four judges
for all the forms events.
A contestant from Tacurong awaits her scores following her routine. The judge
to the right may be seen showing his score to the scorers’ table. Also, note the spectators on the second floor of the Robinson Mall.
The audience was treated to an impressive arnis demonstration by
GM Bebing Lisondra (right), with his son. GM Lisondra, one of
Prof. Remy Presas’s first students in Bacolod, is now blind.
Jay de Leon (center), IMAFP Commissioner for North America who delivered the
keynote message during the opening ceremonies of the 3rd Remy Presas Training,
Camp and Tournament in Bacolod in Dec. 2009, shares center stage with team
members from the Iloilo club owned and coached by Girlie Tinagan (second
from left).
Jay de Leon with members of the powerhouse team from Tacurong, Cotabato.
The ladies were surprised to find out that Jay de Leon has actually been to
Tacurong as a young man, and actually lived and worked in that part
of Cotabato for almost two years.
Jay de Leon with Christine Macalipsay, a member of the La Carlota team
and a silver medalist in the laban event of the tournament.
Jay de Leon of IMAFP with GM Efren L. Apresto (right), chief instructor
of the Tacurong arnis club, and his son who also coaches the team.
Jay de Leon (right) poses with Roy de Leon (no relation), IMAFP
Commissioner for Iloilo, who fielded his own team for the tournament.
.
Carolyn Dean (left) from Great Britain and GM Bambit Dulay of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Phil. (IMAFP) at the 3rd Remy Presas Training Camp and Tournament held at Robinson’s Mall in Bacolod, Negros Occidental in Dec. 2009.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Dean
Jay de Leon (left) with Trisha Lim, IMAFP tournament official and
announcer. She is the daughter of tournament official Liza Masicampo
of IMAFP Bacolod. Thanks for all the hard work, Trisha.
This is one of the few pictures I took during the 3rd Remy Presas Training Camp itself held in Bacolod in Dec. 2009. It shows Carolyn Dean (foreground) and Master Godofredo Fajardo practicing a Modern Arnis anyo or form. Carolyn Dean took gold medal in regular forms competition. Carolyn was the only foreigner who took part both in the training camp and the tournament. In this picture, she shows the form that won her the gold, as well as her attributes of strength, flexibility, endurance and dedication to training.
Some participants after a day of training at the 3rd Prof. Remy Presas Training Camp in Bacolod, Phil., in Dec. 2009. Front row, Ayumi Lamoreno of Golden Kamagong Club, Liza Masicampo of IMAFP Bacolod, and Roy de Leon, IMAFP Commissioner for Iloilo. Back row, GM Efren Apresto of Tacurong, Master Godofredo Fajardo, IMAFP Commissioner for the Middle East, Jay de Leon, IMAFP Commissioner for North America, Bobong Burbano, IMAFP Commissioner for Bacolod, GM Apresto’s son and Edwin Velasquez, IMAFP guro and representative for Jolo. In front showing off her full splits is Carolyn Dean from Great Britain. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Dean.
Evening refreshments after training camp at an outdoor restaurant in Bacolod, in the Visayas in the Philippines. Clockwise, Jay de Leon, GM Bambit Dulay, Liza Masicampo, Edwin Velasquez, and Carolyn Dean, modeling her Red Horse drink.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Dean.
From left to right, Sonic the Hedgehog, Carolyn Dean from Great Britain, and Godofredo Fajardo of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Phil. (IMAFP) enjoying some free time at the Robinson’s Mall in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines during the 3rd Remy Presas Training Camp and Tournament last November, 2009. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Dean, with permission from Sonic the Hedgehog.
Before leaving Bacolod and this event, I would like to thank Grandmaster Ibarra Lopez of the Golden Kamagong Club of Bacolod for his active partnership with IMAFP in the 3rd Remy Presas Training Camp, both in the training camp and the tournament, and for bestowing on me honorary membership of his club as well as their official custom t-shirt (see below).
Jay de Leon, Commissioner for North America of the International
Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP), wearing
an official t-shirt of the Golden Kamagong Club of Bacolod
authorized by its Grandmaster Ibarra Lopez.
IMAFP Courtesy Call on GM Bebing Lisondra
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Dec. 4, 2009
From left to right, IMAFP guro Jimson Dearos, Ayumi Lamoreno of the Golden Kamagong Club, GM Efren L. Apresto of Tacurong, IMAFP guro Edwin Velasquez from Jolo, Master Godofredo Fajardo,IMAFP Commissioner of the Middle East, GM Bebing Lisondra, Roy de Leon, IMAFP Commissioner of Iloilo, Jay de Leon, IMAFP Commissioner of North America, GM Apresto’s son, IMAFP tournament official Liza Masicampo, and Carolyn Dean, IMAFP student from Great Britain, who garnered a gold medal in forms competition.
GM Bebing Lisondra, Bobong Burbano, IMAFP senior guro and
Commissioner for Bacolod, and Roy de Leon, IMAFP Commissioner for Iloilo.
GM Bebing Lisondra (right) and Jimson Dearos, IMAFP senior guro and
tournament official for the 3rd Prof. Remy Presas Training Camp.
Meeting with GM Elmer Montoyo and Master James U. Sy, Jr.
Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Dec. 3, 2009
On Dec. 3, 2009, after several years of corresponding via email, I finally got to meet in person Master James U. Sy, Jr. I consider him a kindred spirit, as he is a master of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), a writer and historian of note, a tireless and passionate promoter of FMA, and a founder and guiding spirit of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), an organization for the promotion and preservation of FMA.
We met at their training facilities at the YMCA in Bacolod. That evening, James was giving a private lesson to a student from Israel, while there was a tang so do class being taught by Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, who is a senior grandmaster of the Original Filipino Tapado System originally founded by the late GM Romeo “Nono” Momar and now headed by inheritor GM Benefredo “Bebing” Momar Lobrido.
After the classes and picture-taking, we repaired to a nearby restaurant for drinks and dinner. I would like to thank both GM Montoyo and James for the dinner, the invaluable information on their respective arts and their insightful take on the local martial arts situation, and for their famed Ilonggo hospitality and spirit of camaraderie in the arts. We were joined at dinner by a senior student, John Ong and his wife, who graciously gave me a ride home.
Front row, left to right, Master James U. Sy, Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of the Original FilipinoTapado System, and Jay de Leon of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP). In the back rows are several students who attended the previous class.
Photo taken at the YMCA, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines on Dec. 3, 2009. Photo courtesy of James U. Sy, Jr.
Left to right, Master James U. Sy, Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of the Original Filipino Tapado System, and Jay de Leon of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP). Photo taken at the YMCA, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines on Dec. 3, 2009. Photo courtesy of James U. Sy, Jr.
Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of the Original Filipino Tapado System (left), and Jay de Leon of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP). Photo taken at the YMCA, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines on Dec. 3, 2009. Photo courtesy of James U. Sy, Jr.
Jay de Leon’s Courtesy Call on GM Jerson “Nene” Tortal
Talisay, Negros Occidental, Dec. 5, 2009
GM Jerson “Nene” Tortal of Dekiti Tirsia graciously agreed to meet
with me at his comfortable home in Talisay, just outside Bacolod City.
He had several bookcases full of arnis weapons as well as other memorabilia.
He allowed me to take pictures of a few of them , and as you can see, his
collection is quite extensive and impressive.
I found GM Tortal very knowledgeable, articulate and humble—truly one of the remaining living legends of arnis. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for sharing his art and his insights, as well as his time and hospitality at his house in Talisay, Negros Occidental.
Courtesy Call on Master Nilo Limpin
Apalit, Pampanga, Dec. 28, 2009
Nilo Limpin is a former movie stuntman, a respected martial artist and arnisador, a master of the balisong, and a master craftsman, producing martial arts weapons and other handicrafts made of exquisite Philippine hardwood. His products have been admired and sought after worldwide, both as beautiful durable training weapons and as collectibles.
He also happens to be a comrade in arms in Modern Arnis, and a dear friend. During this particular visit to his home and shop, he was gracious enough to give my companions an impromptu demonstration of his balisong skills, as well as some training pointers. My thanks also to his gracious wife for the refreshments on a warm day.
Jay de Leon (left) and Nilo Limpin pose for a picture after an impromptu
balisong demonstration by Nilo Limpin at his house and shop in Pampanga,
Philippines in December 2009.
Grilla Summits
Grilla Restaurant
Makati, Rizal, Dec., 2009 – Feb. 2010
Grilla Summits are nothing else but dinner reunions for the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) and Filipino Fighting Arts Int’l (FFAI) members and their spouses, with occasional guests of honor and friends. They are held at the Grilla Restaurant in Makati, near Rockwell. During this trip, there were three Grilla Summits.
From left to right, standing, Michael Gubat, Godofredo Fajardo, Jeff Nisnisan, Jay de Leon, Cocoy Oyales and his wife, and Christine Macalipsay. Squatting in front of the group is Manny Maer. All the men are guros of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) currently teaching in either the Philippines, United States, or
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Manny Maer, Cocoy Oyales and wife. Manny Maer was vacationing in the
Philippines from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he instructs
Master Godofredo Fajardo’s IMAFP and FFAI schools. Cocoy Oyales
runs IMAFP and FFAI schools in Manila.
From left to right, Conrad Cuesta, Johnny Nanagas, Michael Gubat,
Bert Labaniego, Orly Junio, Romy Valleno, Godofredo Fajardo,
Jeff Nisnisan, Jay de Leon, and Christine Macalipsay.
Conrad Cuesta and Johnny Nanagas are my Ateneo de Manila classmates. Conrad is a boxer, while Johnny is a judoka, a Marine colonel and all around bad-ass. Here, he appears to be either berating or barking commands to his soup.
Michael Gubat is an IMAFP guro but is also training to be a shotokan
fighter. Bert Labaniego is a senior GM of Ben Lema’s Lightning
Scientific Arnis. Orly Junio is a guro under Bert Labaniego, and
just recently returned “for good” from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, training with Godo Fajardo’s students there. Romy Valleno
is a grandmaster in Mang Ben’s Lightning Scientific Arnis system.
|
|
