Friday, March 06, 2009

Jinny Mamar's Endorsement Re: Inheritorship

Jinny Mamar is the son of Patrocinio Mamar of Bago City.
Patrocinio Mamar was one of the pioneers of the Original Tapado together with the late Florencio Lobrido, the father of the 1st Generation Inheritor GM Benefredo Mamar Lobrido, and the late GM Romeo Nono Mamar, the uncle of Jinny and the inventor of Original Filipino Tapado.
Last February, 2008, during the OFT reunion at Ilaya, Taloc, Bago City, Jinny Mamar, as a representative of the Mamar Clan endorsed GM Bebing Lobrido as the inheritor.
Hereunder are what he said during that event.




Wednesday, March 04, 2009

2009 Original Filipino Tapado Reunion Part III: OFT Promotions Made By: James U. Sy Jr.

Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Mamar Lobrido, Una nga Tigsubli (1st Generation Inheritor) of Original Filipino Tapado and current President of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association, Inc., awarded rank promotions to eight tapadistas during the 2009 OFTLSFA Reunion and General Assembly last March 1, 2009 at the Shelton Beach, Brgy. Pta. Taytay, Bacolod City.

Ernest Christian “Chen-Chen” P. Montoyo and Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo were promoted to Junior and Senior Instructors respectively. With the promotion, they earned the distinction as the second siblings in the world to be certified as instructors of Original Filipino Tapado and the first in Bacolod City. The first siblings to be so certified in the world and the first in Bago City were Ludovico (deceased) and Rodolfo Zambales. The Montoyo brothers trained under GM Lobrido and were further reviewed by their father Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, Founder of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc.

Awarded the Master’s title were Michael “Bong-Bong” Rosquillo of Bago City, Narciso “Hansy“ L. Alojado, Joeffrey S. Deriada, and James U. Sy Jr. of Bacolod City, and Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad of Murcia. All except for Rosquillo are Core Members of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.

During his lifetime, Founder/ Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar (1938-2005) had only promoted four people to the Master level, among them retired army man Joe Pamilanco, and one Master Instructor (Dr. Ronald A. Harris of the USA). Including the latest promotions, GM Lobrido has awarded a total of 8 Master’s rank; The first batch included Clodualdo “Budoy” Lobrido, Nelson G. Carmona, and Elmer V. Montoyo.

Dr. Maguad became the first certified Master of Original Filipino Tapado in Murcia and the first medical doctor in the world to be so accorded with such honor. Sy earned the distinction of being the first Master of Original Filipino Tapado of Chinese descent.

Old timer Nelson G. Carmona, (B: 1948) of Brgy. Pta. Taytay, a cousin to the late Founder, was honored with the Grandmaster title in Original Filipino Tapado. Carmona started training under the Founder in 1969. Since then he had served as his sparring partner and at times his teaching assistant. He guided several prominent individuals in developing their Tapado skills. He was promoted by GM Mamar to Junior Instructor 19 years later on December 30, 1988 and then to Senior Instructor on December 20, 1998. GM Lobrido awarded him his Mastership on April 23, 2006.

GM Carmona is the fourth certified Grandmaster of Original Filipino Tapado in the world, following GM Mamar, GM Lobrido, and GM Montoyo, the only non-family member to be bestowed such an honor. GM Carmona was instrumental in the establishment of the State Theater Tapado group by facilitating the use of the back part of the theater as the venue for training. GM Carmona is now retired from active employment.

2009 Original Filipino Tapado Reunion Part II: Tapadistas Reassures Support for OFT By: James U. Sy Jr.



Tapadistas who are related to the Mamar and Lobrido Clans of Brgy. Taloc, Bago City reaffirmed their undying support and loyalty to Original Filipino Tapado and its Una nga Tigsubli (1st Generation Inheritor) Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Mamar Lobrido during the 2009 Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. Reniuon and General Assembly last March 1, 2009 at the Shelton Beach, Brgy. Pta. Taytay, Bacolod City.

The old timers of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) took center stage and gave their respective messages to the more than 46 attendees of the gathering. Jenny Mamar, a cousin of GM Lobrido, remembered their late uncle, Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar (1938-2005), offering him to continue the legacy of his art after his passing. He, however, declined, knowing too well that such an honor would require a lot of responsibilities and expectations. Besides, GM Lobrido was the most experienced of the tapadistas next to the Founder, having been his assistant since his teen years and ultimately the Chief Instructor of his art up to the Founder’s passing. Jenny Mamar, who is a Senior Instructor in Original Filipino Tapado, ended his message with this, “Kami nga pamilya, ginatugyan namon ang pagpalakat kag pagdumala sang Original Filipino Tapado sa kay Bebing (Our family is assigning the management of Original Filipino Tapado to Bebing).”

Master Joe Pamilanco, another relative to the Mamars and Lobridos and a retired military man, expressed his continued support to the association and GM Lobrido. As a member of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) and the Philippine Army (PA), he had traveled to Luzon where he had pitted his skills in Tapado against the other extant systems there and succeeded each time. Pamilanco is one of only four individuals to be promoted to Master in Original Filipino Tapado by the Founder during his lifetime.

Another pioneer exponent of Original Filipino Tapado, Ernesto Jacinto, said that his practice of the art was put on hold because of family life but his support is still with the group. He expressed his joy to see Original Filipino Tapado still flourishing 49 years after its founding and 4 years after the passing of the Founder.

Master Nelson G. Carmona (B: 1948), a cousin to the late Founder, narrated his experiences in Original Filipino Tapado, beginning with the start of his training under GM Mamar in 1969. He went on to become one of his sparring partners and at times assistant. In the early days, when he was still employed with State Theater, Carmona facilitated for the group to be able to practice at the back part of the theater. Later, Edilberto “Bing” leong, proprietor of the Golden Country manokan, offered his place in Libertad for the group’s training venue.

Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” Cardinal of the KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA), one of the special guests of OFTLSFA, Inc., expressed his thanks for being invited to the family affair and for being received with a warm welcome. He related that he too is a teacher of Arnis yet he still appreciates the uniqueness of Original Filipino Tapado. He revealed that GM Lobrido shared with him the basics of the art when the latter went to his home the night before as a gift from one grandmaster to another.

GM Lobrido, on the other hand, announced that he will be teaching a batch of about 20 teenagers in Brgy. Taloc this coming summer and invited old timers to review their techniques and assist in teaching.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

2009 Original Filipino Tapado Reunion Part I: A Time For Brotherhood By: James U. Sy Jr.

The Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. successfully held the 2009 OFTLSAI Reniuon and General Assembly last March 1, 2009 at the Shelton Beach, Brgy. Pta. taytay, Bacolod City.

More than 46 members of the Mamar and Lobrido Clans and association members together with invited guest instructors from the Martial Arts community were in attendance to rekindle memories and camaraderie.

It was the fourth reunion of the association to be held under the presidency of Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Mamar Lobrido, the nephew and Una nga Tigubli (1st Generation Inheritor) of the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo "Nono" C. Mamar (1938-2005).

The reunion also marked the 25th Year Anniversary of OFTLSFA, Inc., having been founded as the first and official governing body for Original Filipino Tapado in 1984 in Bago City. Original Filipino Tapado (founded 1960), on the other hand is now on its 49th year.

The gathering was more of a family affair with everybody interacting with each other. The serenity of the beach provided an atmosphere where the attendees could relax, chat, and update each other of new developments in the "family."
Those in attendance were Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado, Jake Bugna, Warlito Caniamo, Master Nelson Carmona, Joeffrey S. Deriada, Lafayette "Laf" A. Diamante, Rufino Fernandez, Joy Gallos, Pastor Romeo N. Gumban, Maica Jacinto, Master Clodualdo "Budoy" Lobrido, Cory Lobrido, Ernesto Jacinto, GM Benefredo "Bebing" M. Lobrido, Robie P. Lobrido, Rosenda P. Lobrido, Kyle Ray B. Maguad, Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad, Dra. Saja marie B. Maguad, Hernando Mamar, Jinny Mamar, GM Elmer V. Montoyo, Elmer "Don-Don" P. Montoyo, Ronnie Ngalongalay, Eduardo Octavio, Glicerio Paloma, Master Joe Pamilangco, Cesar Perez Jr., Dependo Perez, Eliseo Perez Jr., Roleto Ruilan, James U. sy Jr., Phoebus "Junby" Teruel, Hieroteo "Didoy" Villarosa,
Rodolfo Zambales, and others who had not signed in the attendance sheet.

Special guests from other Martial arts schools include Master Joery C. amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main), Grandmaster Danilo "Danny" Cardinal, Master Elizalde Aspan, Danny John Cardinal, and Danver Cardinal of the KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA), Founder/Chairman Abraham Ganzobn Jr. and his student of Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA), and Grandmaster Jose "Joe" Mancesa and his student of Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA).