Informative Issue No. 1 2011 Will Total Unity in the Filipino Martial Arts Ever Be A Reality? Legends who have unfortunately and with sadness passed away. However they are practitioners that have inspired others, in sharing their philosophies, skills, and knowledge with their students, who continue to share what they have learned with others who are interested. Will Total Unity in the Filipino Martial Arts Ever Be A Reality? - Steven K. Dowd Pundador Manuel Molina Aguillon Sr. [1915 – 1991] Arnis Balite - Steven k. Dowd Ok you may ask, what is an Informative Issue? Well it will be in magazine form on a particular subject Grandmaster Gerardo “Larry” Alcuizar [1934 – 2007] Eskrido - Kirk Gooding for information purposes to bring about knowledge on a particular asset, history, or view point about the Philip- Grandmaster Venancio Bacon [1912-1980] Balintawak - Sam Buot pine martial arts and culture. If studying a Philippine martial art one should know the culture and some of the Guro Mariano Bermodes [1958 – 2006] Serrada - Wade Williams history about the arts of the Philippines as a whole, not just the art that one is training in. Guro Grande George Brewster [1924 – 2006] Brewster Arnis - Peter Freedman In this first issue starting off is; “Will Total Unity in the Filipino Martial Arts Ever Be A Reality?”, this Grandmaster Angel Cabales [1917 - 1991] Serrada Eskrima - Leo Fong covers some of the history of Alliances, Federations, Organizations etc., that when brought together united Grandmaster Jose Caballero [1907 – 1987] De Campo Uno-Dos-Tres Orihinal many of the Philippine martial arts, but as time passed dwindled and disappeared or are just hanging in there. Founder Filemon De La Cuesta Canete [1904 - 1995] San Miguel Eskrima - Tom Bisio With the Arnis Bill being signed on December 11, 2009 making Arnis the country’s national martial art Grandmaster Vicente Carin [1920 - 2004] Doce Pares - Vince Palumbo and sport it has been a question at least outside of the Philippines what is going on? Are the Philippine martial Grandmaster Gregorio “Goyong” Ceniza [1925 – 2007] Baraw Sugbo - Kaloy Bugoy / Karlon N. Rama arts uniting or trying to? Has an executive board been established? Is there one set of rules that is fair to both Roland Tango Pintoy Dantes [1945 - 2009] - Steven Dowd traditional and modern tournament competition? It has been almost 2 years and maybe within the Philippines Master Robert M. Du [? - 2007] PAKAMUT - Marc Lawrence something is on the move, but outside the Philippines little or nothing is known on what is transpiring. So what Ama Maestro Saturnino Fabia [1915 - 2005] Estella Sinkatan Arnis - Bernardo Salinas is written as the article transpires is what has been heard in trying to unite the Philippine martial arts and hope- Grandmaster Emertius Leovigildo (Leo) Miguel Giron [1911 - 2002] BAHALA NA - Tony Somera fully will carry on outside the country. Julian Goc-ong [1925 – 2003] Abanico De Vertical - Celestino C. Macachor Continuing on are practitioners who have unfortunately and with sadness passed away. They are legends Grandmaster Antonio Ilustrisimo [1904 - 1997] Kali Ilustrisimo - Reynaldo S. Galang in that they are practitioners that have inspired others, in sharing their philosophies, skills, and knowledge with Mangisursuro Mike Inay [1944 - 2000] Inayan Eskrima - Jon Ward their students, who continue to share what they have learned with others who are interested. Maestro de Maestro Sozimo ‘Sosing’ Labor [1924 - 2008] Siete Pares Escrima - Nelson Estanol / Joe Giron Many of these practitioners in some way contributed to the different Organizations in the Philippines Grandmaster Louis Lagarejos [1935 – 2004] Sikaran and outside of the Philippines in trying to bring the arts together. Grandmaster Ben Largusa [1926 - 2010] Villabrille-Largusa Kali System - Zena Sultana Babao The Mataw-Guro Notebook would like to thank the FMAdigest for its cooperation and permission to use Grandmaster Federico T. Lazo [1938 - 2010] Luzviminda Arnis Kali Brotherhood some of the material in this issue. Dr. Guillermo B. Lengson [1929 - 2000] KAFEPHIL - Jeff Suministrado Punong Guro Mark Lledo [1974 - 2008] Amara Arkanis - Emmanuel Querubin Respectfully Grandmaster Benjamin Luna-Lema [1919 - 2003] Lightning Scientific Arnis Mar Angeles Founder Reynaldo Ayo Magdaraog [1945 - 1998] Magdaraog Philippine Zen Aikido Jutsu Ryu Publisher Roy B. Magdaraog Grandmaster Romeo Mamar, Sr. [1938 - 2005] Tapado Grandmaster Timoteo Timor Maranga [? – 1988] Combat Eskrima Maranga Grandmaster Jose Mena [1917 - 2005] Doblete Rapilon Grandmaster Arnulfo Mongcal [1924 - 2005] New Concept of Philippine Arnis - Rino Balinado Master Joe Napial [1958 - 2004] Doce Pares - Alfred Bandalan Master Chian Brozula Ong Jr. [1953 - 2008] Baton Masters - Steven K. Dowd Lolo Guro Isidro Pambuan [1920 - 2008] Pambuan Arnis - Raffy Pambuan Batikan Eduardo Pedoy [1946 - 2008] Pedoy’s Style Derobio Escrima - Tyrone J. Takahashi Great Grandmaster Braulio Tomada Pedoy [1900 - 1992] Pedoy’s Style Derobio Escrima - Kent Lighter Great Grandmaster Ernesto Presas [1945 - 2010] Kombatan - Alexander Bautista Bayot France Professor Remy A. Presas [1936 - 2001] Modern Arnis - Kelly Worden Grandmaster Rafael Reston [1927 - 2006] Combat Judo Karate - Craig Radcliffe / Bill Anderson Master Christopher Ricketts [1955 - 2010] Kali Ilustrisimo - Steven K. Dowd Grand Tuhon Baltazar “Bo” Sayoc [1934 - 2007] Sayoc Kali Punong Guro Edgar Sulite [1957 - 1997] Lameco Eskrima - Dog Brothers Inc. Guru H. Yasser Tanadjalan [1950 - 2007] Silat Sawdara - Felipe ‘Bot’ Jocano Jr. Grandmaster Bernandino G. Tanique [1933 - 2005] Tanique Arnis Grandmaster Floro Villabrille [1912 - 1992] Villabrille-Largusa Kali The articles are the property of the author’s that wrote them and cannot be used without the permission Great Grandmaster Atty. Jose Villasin [1923 - 1988] Balintawak - Sam Buot of the author. The Mataw-Guro Notebook is the property of the Mataw-Guro Association and is for the promul- Professor Florendo Visitacion [1910 - 1999] Vee Arnis Jitsu gation and promotion of the Filipino Martial Arts Education. Maestro Sonny Umpad [1948 - 2006] Visayan Corto Kadena NO issue can be printed and Sold for Monies, without the express permission of the Mataw-Guro Asso- Brian / Jackie Quilalang Umpad / George M. Yore ciation. Maestro Elmer Ybanez [1953 - 2004] Lema Scientific Kali Arnis - Steven K. Dowd Will Total Unity in the Filipino Martial Arts Ever Be A Reality? President Arroyo on December 11, hroughout the history of the and teachings. Other legends such T 2009, a move that was welcomed Philippines, there have been fight- as Remy Presas of Modern Arnis, by Senator Zubiri and the countless ing arts for survival. This is promi- Eduardo J. Pedoy of Derobio Arnis practitioners throughout the nently noted during the time the Escrima, Angel Cabales of Serrada country. Spanish dominated the Philippines, Eskrima, Leo Giron of Giron Sys- It’s quite ironic that Arnis, along with World War II with the tem of Arnis Escrima (BAHALA the traditional martial arts, is being Japanese, and even when other NA), Isidro Pambuan of Pambuan practiced more in other countries countries had tried to control the Arnis Tulisan Caballero and others than inside Philippines. Philippines, like the Portuguese, left the Philippines bringing their In Thailand they have Dutch, and Americans. art with them and sharing it in the Muay Thai Boxing, in Korea they Once the Philippines country that they resided in. Also have Tae Kwon-Do and in Indo- gained their independence fully, one must not forget the practitio- nesia they have Pencak Silat, now still the Filipino art known as ners that head their systems and the Philippines; has Arnis as the Arnis (Kali or Eskrima in some are still alive and well and sharing national sport areas) was still not taught publicly, their knowledge in the Philippines The long wait is over for staying in the province, backyard, and also outside the Philippines. Arnis, the traditional Filipino mar- indoors, underground etc. December 11, 2009 tial arts, has become the national Throughout the history of Senate Majority Leader sport. And it took a Senator and the Philippines the fighting arts Juan Miguel Zubiri who, along Arnis experts as well, to give the have been for village survival etc, with Representative Henry Teves sport, around the world, the recog- but as time progressed their art be- and George Arnais, authored the nitions it deserves. came refined to their heritage and law making Arnis the country’s surroundings. Many had to take national martial arts and sport. The their art underground or disguise it Arnis Bill of Law, Republic Act in a dance form during the time the No. 9850, an act declaring Arnis as Spanish ruled, and also during the the National martial arts and sport Japanese occupation. of the Philippines was signed by It is in just the last century that the Filipino art of Arnis has come out somewhat and has been taught to fellow countrymen and foreigners. Some of the legends which have passed away such as: Venancio “Anciong” Bacon of Balintawak Eskrima, Jose D. Caballero of De Campo Uno-Dos- Tres Orihinal, Filemon Canete of San Miguel Eskrima, Anto- nio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo of Kali Ilustrisimo, Benjamin Luna-Lema of Lightning Scientific Arnis, Jose L. Vinas of Lapu-Lapu Vinas Arnis and the list goes on, did not leave the Philippines, and were known but unfortunately became Senator Zubiri spoke in front of the Arnis Grandmasters from different styles, well known after their passing clubs, and organizations from across the country as they paid a courtesy call on through their students dedication Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Harry Angpin. Unifying the Filipino art known ship to hold such schools or group on making Arnis a pillar in the Arnis Philippines, and the Interna- one stick individual (single stick as Arnis together, to steer it towards a world of martial arts. tional Arnis Federation, Arnis form), men’s anyo two sticks team With the coming of the direction, so as to prevent Arnis Because of the vacuum and Philippines for those who do not (double stick synchronized team Americans, in the beginning of the from slipping into oblivion.