2ND BATCH OF LAPU-LAPU VIÑAS ARNIS STANDARDIZED RANK PROMOTIONS SET

Senior Instructor Dante L. Robles uses a no. 2 block to defend against the no. 2 strike of Instructor Joeffrey S. Deriada.

Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, the 1st generation inheritor of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis system and the son of the late founder Great Grandmaster Jose “Joe” L. Viñas, is set to conduct the 2nd Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Aficionados Association Standardized Rank Promotions this coming December 30, 2005 during the association’s annual Grand Assembly in Bacolod City.

Instructors from the Conceptual Martial Arts Society will be recommending new candidates for instructorship in the art.

Headmaster Viñas made the first promotions on September 9, 2003 but the formal announcement was only made on December 30, 2003 during the annual Christmas Party of the association at the Viñas Residence, 65 Lacson St., Bacolod City.

The first batch of promotions under the then newly implemented Standardized Ranking System developed by the association’s Systematization Team were GM Dominador “Doming” D. Ferrer (10th degree grandmaster), Irving P. Elefante (7th degree senior master), Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Y. Gayoles (5th degree master), Servando “Diotay” P. Largo Jr. (4th degree master instructor), Dante L. Robles (3rd degree senior instructor), James U. Sy Jr., John Owen F. Ong, and Joeffrey S. Deriada (2nd degree instructor), and Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado (1st degree instructor).

The candidates’ certifications were publicly awarded by Headmaster Viñas during the 1st Gaisano-BOMB Mixed Martial Arts Eliminations and Expo held on February 1, 2004 at the Atrium Area, Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall, Brgy. Singcang, Araneta St., Bacolod City.

About 7 candidates are expected to take the examinations for the 2nd ranking promotions.