Wednesday, July 23, 2008

MONTOYO PROMOTED TO ORIGINAL TAPADO GM By: James U. Sy Jr.

Master Elmer V. Montoyo, Founder/President of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc., was promoted to Grandmaster in Original Filipino Tapado by the 1st Generation Inheritor (Tig-subli) Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido last June 28, 2008 at the Lobrido Rsidence, Prk. Langka, Bgry. Taloc, Bago City .

The promotion was awarded in a simple ceremony during GM Lobrido’s 58th birthday celebration, which was attended by the Mamar and Lobrido Clans, relatives, friends, and members of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc.

The celebration also marked GM Lobrido’s 48th year of studying and teaching Original Filipino Tapado, an indigenous long stick fighting art founded by his late uncle Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City after studying Lagas, Oido, Layaw, and Sinamak from 4 different Arnis grandmasters.

The name Tapado derives from the Hiligaynon term Tapat, which in turn comes from Tapos “finish, end.” Contracting Tapat with the Hiligaynon suffix do, one gets a descriptive term for the degree or gravity of being finished or put to an end. Thus, Tapado is an art designed to finish a conflict the soonest.

GM Montoyo has a total of 51 years combined martial arts experience, starting off with Western Boxing under the late Coach Col. Porferio “Peryong” Arcobellas in 1957 at the Bacolod City Diamond Gloves. Montoyo started learning Shotokan Karate in 1960 at the famed White Kimono Karate Club under Levi Sembrano (3rd Class Brown Belt), then Jerry Gonzales (1st Class Brown Belt), followed by George A. Gargalicano Sensei (2nd Dan Black Belt), and finally Master Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, Founder/Chief Instructor of the White Kimono Karate-do Club, in 1963.

Montoyo was promoted to honorary Black Belt and 1st Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate in 1964 and 1966 respectively by Master Grandeza, the latter being under the sanction of the Visayas Budokyokai and the certification signed by All Japan Karate Federation (AJKF) Chief Instructor Koichi Kondo Sensei, AJKF President Kainosuke Watanabe Sensei, and WKKC Chief Instructor Casimiro A. Grandeza Sensei.

He earned his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dan Black Belts in Tang Soo Do from GM Grandeza in 1969, 1972, and 1994 respectively under the sanction of the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc. Korea Tang Soo Do Association (PMDKI-KTSDA). He was awarded his 6th da Dan Black Belt by Master Eric Breuer, 7th Dan Black Belt, under the sanction of Universal Martial Arts (USA).

He learned Kung Fu Karate Chinese Atado under Grandmaster Leong Fu, Hung Gar Kung Fu under Grandmaster Yao Hing Pui of Hong Kong, and Tai Chi Chuan under International Master Lee Fong Jong (Li Jun Feng), former National Wushu Coach of the People’s Republic of China .

Montoyo started his studies of Original Filipino Tapado under its Founder the late GM Mamar and his nephew Chief Instructor Master Lobrido in 1986 in Taloc, Bago City . He was awarded his Senior instructorship on December 20, 1998, his mastership on April 23, 2006, and his grandmastership on June 28, 2008, a total of 22 years continued practice and loyalty to Original Filipino Tapado. GM Montoyo earned the distinction as the first and only to be promoted to grandmaster in Original Filipino Tapado outside the Mamar and Lobrido Clans. Previously, the highest rank awarded in the art was master, which was bestowed to only 7 people.

GM Montoyo is also the President of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), Philippine Representative of Rossi Kuntao International, Board Director of the OFTLSFA, Inc., Chairman of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Chapter, and Consultant of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.

He previously served as Chief Instructor and National Forms Consultant of PMDKI-KTSDA, Negros Occidental Coordinator of the Philippine Pencak Silat Association (Philsilat)-Negros Occidental Chapter, and VP-Central Negros of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP) -Negros Occidental Chapter.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

ORIGINAL TAPADO INHERITOR/HEADMASTER TURNS 58 By: James U. Sy Jr.

Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, the 1st Generation Inheritor (Tig-subli) of Original Filipino Tapado, celebrated his 58th birthday last June 28, 2008 in conjunction with the 2nd birthday of his first grandson, Vince Russell Lobrido (June 26, 2008), at the Lobrido Rsidence, Prk. Langka, Bgry. Taloc, Bago City.

The Mamar and Lobrido Clans, relatives, friends, and members of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. attended the celebration.

The celebration also marked GM Lobrido’s 48th year of studying and teaching Original Filipino Tapado, an indigenous long stick fighting art founded by his late uncle Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City after studying Lagas, Oido, Layaw, and Sinamak from 4 different Arnis grandmasters. Tapado derives from the Hiligaynon term Tapat, which in turn comes from Tapos “finish, end.” Contracting Tapat with the suffix do, one gets a descriptive term for the degree or gravity of being finished or put to an end. Thus, Tapado is an art designed to finish a conflict the soonest.

Lobrido was among those very first to study the art directly from the Founder, in 1960, when he was just 10. By his early teens, he was assisting his uncle in teaching students. During those times, Arnis professors had to prove their worth by personal combat and Original Filipino Tapado was not exempted. GM Mamar braved many challengers, highly skilled in their own rights, to establish his new style as a viable system. These challenge matches then were unprotected, full contact skirmishes with the only rule being one submits when he can no longer continue. GM Lobrido had, in many instances, fought in behalf of GM Mamar.

GM Mamar had designated Lobrido the Chief Instructor of his art when it was introduced and taught publicly in 1984, the same year the official governing body for the art the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA) was founded. As Chief Instructor, Master Lobrido was second only to GM Mamar.

In 1986, GM Mamar publicly promoted his nephew to Master in Original Filipino Tapado after practicing and teaching the art for 26 yars at the West Negros College, Bacolod City. Master Lobrido did much of the teaching for GM Mamar and he is the Tapado teacher of the most prominent experts of Arnis, Karate, Kickboxing, Tang Soo Do, etc. in Negros Occidental.

The Mamar Clan formally turned over the headmastership of Original Filipino Tapado to GM Lobrido, during a simple ceremony at the funeral rites of the late Founder in February 2005 (see turnover pictures at http://oftlsfai.blogspot.com).

GM Lobrido serves as the 4th president of OFTLSFAI, having served since 2005 up to the present. GM Mamar was the 3rd president, serving from 1989 to 2005. It was under gM Lobrido’s administration that the association was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Under his admnistration, GM Lobrido had promoted 1 grandmaster, 3 Masters, 13 Senior Instructors, and 3 Junior Instructors in Original Filipino Tapado. Elmer V. Montoyo, Founder/President of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc., is the first to be promoted to Grandmaster in Original Filipino Tapado outside of the Mamar and Lobrido Clans. OFTLSFAI recognized are Jose “Joe” Pamilangco of Bago, Nelson G. Carmona of Bacolod, and Clodualdo “Budoy” M. Lobrido of Bago, each one having decades of experience.

Recognized Senior Instructors are Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado, Wilson Cejas, Joeffrey S. Deriada, Rufino Fernandez, Pastor Romeo N. Gumban, Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad of Murcia, Jinny J. Mamar, Romeo “Tokong” Mamar Jr., John “Jun-Jun” Maravilla, Dr. Rey Mollenido of Iloilo, Dr. Jason Rojas of Texas, Rolito A. Ruelan, and James U. Sy Jr. Junior Instructors are Jake A. Bugna, Lafayette A. Diamante, and Lorema “Bing” H. Tacsagon.

GM Lobrido had been featured in the pages of Rapid Journal, the Philippines’ one and only and longest running martial arts magazine, several times. GM Lobrido is married to Rosenda “Rose” Lobrido and is blessed with 3 daughters - Rhoda, Rose Ann, and Rubie.

For more info on Original Filipino Tapado, check http://oftlsfai.blogspot.com and http://visayanfilipinomartialarts.blogspot.com. Interested parties may contact GM Lobrido thru Alojado at 0928-7195141 or GM Montoyo at the Bacolod YMCA (5:00-7:00 P.M. TTHF, 9:00-11:00 A.M. Sat.).