Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, the Una nga Tig-subli (1st Generation Inheritor) of Original Filipino Tapado, turned 59 last June 28, 2009. A simple luncheon gathering was held at the Lobrido Residence, Prk. Langka, Bgry. Taloc, Bago City.
11 well wishers from Bacolod City, all members of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., were in attendance to celebrate with the Lobrido family.
GM Lobrido’s birthday also marked his 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 his studies of 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 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.
Lobrido was among those very first to study the art directly from GM Mamar, 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 unprotected, full contact personal combat. Original Filipino Tapado was tempered in these challenge matches. GM Mamar remained undefeated up to his death. In many instances, GM Lobrido in these challenge matches in behalf of GM Mamar.
GM Mamar had designated Lobrido the Chief Instructor of his art with the rank of Master even before 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 and taught almost all of the students. It was also common for students to have undergone under the guidance of other seniors in the art such as the Founder’s cousin Nelson Carmona of Bacolod (now himself a grandmaster) and his relative Joe A. Pamilangco of Bago (Master under the 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.
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 is as the 4th president of OFTLSFAI, Inc., having served since 2005 up to the present. GM Mamar was the 3rd president (1989-2005). It was under GM Lobrido’s administration that OFTLSFA was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
GM Lobrido, during his administration, had produced 2 grandmasters, 8 masters, 10 senior instructors, and 4 junior instructors (total: 24, with 6 having gone two promotions) 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. Nelson G. Carmona was awarded his grandmastership this year by GM Lobrido.
OFTLSFAI recognized masters are Jose “Joe” Pamilangco of Bago, Clodualdo “Budoy” M. Lobrido of Bago, a US-based Filipino master who wishes to remain anonymous, Michael “Bong-Bong” Rosquillo, Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, Joeffrey L. Deriada, Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad (Murcia), and James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.
Recognized Senior Instructors are Wilson Cejas, Rufino Fernandez, Pastor Romeo N. Gumban, Jinny J. Mamar, Romeo “Tokong” Mamar Jr., John “Jun-Jun” Maravilla, Dr. Rey Mollenido of Iloilo, Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo, Dr. Jason Rojas of Texas, Rolito A. Ruelan. Junior Instructors are Jake A. Bugna, Lafayette A. Diamante, Ernest Christian “Chen-Chen” P. Montoyo, 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, as well as in FMA Digest of Punong Guro Steven K. Dowd of Aguillon Arnis and various daily and weekly newspapers in Western Visayas. 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 at 0907-472-0621 or Alojado at 0928-719-5141.
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