ARNISADORS RETURN LOST 3210

Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis & Self Defense Association (left) and Victorio C. Perez of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society in afile photo.

This article appeared in the November 3, 2005 issue of the Negros Daily Bulletin.

About 2 weeks ago Peter Lanistosa lost his cellphone. Today he is reunited with his phone, thanks to 2 arnisadors who exerted efforts to trace the owner and return the unit.

Last October 9, 2005, after teaching an arnis class for the Javellanas at Crossing Bago, retired P/Sgt. Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis & Self Defense Association (GSMASDA) and James U. Sy Jr. of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS) boarded a tricycle. GM Guarra noticed a Nokia 3210 lying on the seat. He asked the driver if he knew the owner of the unit. When the driver could not pinpoint a particular person, the duo proceeded to the Bago City Police station and endorsed the unit PO1 Napoleon Espinosa and PO1 Coly Dionela, who were on duty at the Complainst and action desk at that time.

Using phone numbers derived from the address book of the lost cellphone, Sy traced the unidentified owner of the cellphone. He contacted Kristine Braga, who revealed that the owner was Peter Lanistosa, a grade 6 section 3 pupil of the Bago Elementary School-1 under Ms. Ma. Theresa Gallego. Then Sy went to the school and talked with Principal Victorino Pailano and Ms. Gallego.

Ms. Gallego informed Lanistosa, who claimed the cellphone at the police station during the highlights week of the Masskara Festival celebration in Bacolod City.

GM Guarra is the president of GSMASDA based in Bago City and is vice president of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF). He is a retired multi-awarded policeman who had taught more than 10,000 policemen, barangay tanods, security guards, and civilians. He presently serves as a kagawad of Brgy. Lag-asan.

Sy is founder, president, and head instructor of CMAS and holds officership positions in several martial arts organizations. He is certified in several arts, among them Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis, Togle style modern arnis, Yasay sable, aikido, and Kimdo. He is a former banker and is now employed as an auditor in a private company.