RENE CORNEL SENSEI, 54, PASSES AWAY

Rene Fujiwara Cornel Sensei passed away last November 11, 2005 in Bacolod City due to a kidney ailment and complications resulting from the illness. He was 54.

Born on May 21, 1951, Cornel Sensei graduated from La Consolacion College-Bacolod and was later employed at the City Engineer’s Office in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City. He held the position of Architect IV and served as OIC for Building Officials in 2000 to 2002.

Cornel Sensei was a dedicated martial artist who studied and taught different Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino styles and systems. He was a 1st dan black belt in karate under Mike Vasquez Sensei of the Vasquez Martial Arts Center (VMAC). He also held a 1st dan black belt in judo under the sanction of the Philippine Amateur Judo Association (PAJA). He was a 2nd generation judoka at the Paglaum Judo Club and later taught at the Shinsei Judo Club (St. Joseph High School), the YMCA Judo and Sports Club (Burgos St.), and the USLS Judo Club (University of St. La Salle). He learned his judo and aikido from Bacolod judo and aikido pioneer Patricio “Pat” P. Prologo Sensei.

He went on to register as a member of the Ki Society of the Philippines (KISOPHIL) under Philippine aikido pioneer and Chief Instructor Ernesto “Enie” Talag Sensei and became his representative for Bacolod City.

He was also a practitioner of the Chinese internal arts of tai chi chuan, pa kua chuan, and hsing I chuan as well as the healing arts of acupuncture, accupressure, pranic healing, and herbal medicine.

Cornel Sensei is one of the first four individuals to be promoted by the founder of original Filipino tapado to the rank of master in 1986. He once served as the chairman for the Membership Committee of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (Bago City). He had also studied various Filipino martial arts, among them yaming under Grandmaster Fortunato “Atong” Garcia.

Cornel sensei is survived by his wife Demetria J. Cornel, their children Paul Shoji and Mary Ann Cornel, Adrian and Irene Arellano, and fritz and Elizabeth Villanueva, and their grandchildren Diana and Marcus Arellano.

His remains now lies in state at Chapel G, 2nd Floor of Rolling Hills Memorial, Lacson St., Mandalagan, Bacolod City. Internment will be on November 19, 2005, 9:00 A.M., at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park.