LEGADA, INHERITOR OF TOGLE STYLE MODERN ARNIS

Grandmaster Honorio “Norio” C. Togle (1921-2004), founder of Philippine (Togle style) modern arnis, applies judo no. 14 on his nephew Leonidas “Jun” P. Legada Jr.

Leonidas “Jun” P. Legada Jr. was unanimously voted by members to take over the leadership of Togle style Philippine modern arnis as the art’s 1st generation inheritor and current headmaster during the 1st Philippine Modern Arnis Assembly held on January 1, 2005 at the Legada Shop, San Sebastian-Verbina Sts., Bacolod City.

The assembly was called to organize and preserve the teachings of the late Grandmaster Honorio “Norio” C. Togle (1921-2004), founder of Philippine (Togle style) modern arnis and the uncle of Legada. GM Togle succumbed to a cardiac arrest on December 9, 2004 at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Lacson St., Bacolod City. He was 83. The GM was survived by his wife Jesusa and their children Eduardo, Yvonne, Ronnie, Edna, and Gina. He was laid to rest on December 19, 2004 at the Bacolod City Public Cemetery, Burgos St., Bacolod City.

The elected officers for Philippine Modern Arnis during the assembly were Stephen Francis A. Diaz (chairman), the GM’s grandson-in-law Victor P. Piansay (president), the GM’s grandson Salvador “Boy” Y. Urbano (vice president), Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado (secretary), Joeffrey S. Deriada (treasurer), and James U. Sy Jr. (PIO/Management Consultant).

Most of the elected officers compose the first and only batch of students officially promoted by the late grandmaster on July 8, 2004, also at the Legada Shop. Those promoted were Sally Claire C. Diesto (senior member), Alojado, Deriada, Legada, and Sy (senior instructors), and Francis Diaz and Urbano (master). Legada was originally given a master’s ranking but declined and settled for the senior instructor rank. Batchmates of those promoted include Raymund Antonio Maguad and Moises “Jung-Jung” Nifras Jr. Alojado, Deriada, Diaz, Maguad, Nifras, and Sy are all students of Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, 1st generation inheritor of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis system, who were cross training in other styles of arnis and are members of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society.

On August 28, 2005, GM Honorio "Norio" C. Togle made his last public demonstration at the 1st Prk. Macanpiña Martial Arts Expo together with Diaz, Urbano, Sy, and Diesto at the Prk. Macapiña Basketball Court, Prk. Macanpiña, Brgy. 6, Bacolod City.

On January 22, 2005, GM Togle’s son Grandmaster Eduardo Togle and nephew Grandmaster Antonio “Tony” Togle Tan were made technical consultants by the group.

The late GM Togle started training in arnis in 1937 under his uncle Grandmaster Narciso “Sisoy” Alvarez. For several years he had traveled, lived, taught, and fought in 23 cities and towns in Negros Oriental and Negros Oriental.

GM Togle’s life story was documented in the column Conceptual Warrior in an article entitled “The best Arnisadors of Negros I: GM Honorio Togle” written by Sy for Negros Weekly. The biography was published in two parts and appeared in issues March 8-April 3, 2004 and April 4-10, 2004.

Togle style Philippine modern arnis is primarily a solo baston style which combines various traditional methods of stickfighting with empty handed defenses against the knife which the founder called “judo.”