2ND LAPU-LAPU VIÑAS ARNIS STANDARDIZED RANK PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL

EXAMINATION PANEL. From left: Master Ferdinand Emmanuel "Bobot" Y. Gayoles, Headmaster Wilson E. Viñas, Grandmaster Dominador "Doming" D. Ferrer, and Host Master Elmer V. Montoyo.


EXAMINEES. From left: Wilson A. Alvarado, Heli "Kabong" Altamarino, Lafayette A. Diamante, Lorema "Bing" Tacsagon, and Moises "Jung-Jung" Nifras Jr.


EXAMINATION PANEL, EXAMINATION STAFF, AND EXAMINEES. Seated first row, from left: Master Ferdinand Emmanuel "Bobot" Y. Gayoles, Headmaster Wilson E. Viñas, Grandmaster Dominador "Doming" D. Ferrer, and Host Master Elmer V. Montoyo. Standing second row: Instructor James U. Sy Jr., Instructor Joeffrey S. Deriada, Heli "Kabong" Altamarino, Wilson A. Alvarado, Lafayette A. Diamante, Lorema "Bing" Tacsagon, Instructor Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado, Moises "Jung-Jung" Nifras Jr., and Senior Instructor Dante L. Robles.

Examinees demonstrating their mastery of the 7 basic strikes of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis system.


Heli "Kabong" Altamarino (right) displaying his blocking skills against the offensives of Instructor Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado during the second phase of the examination (blocking).


Heli "Kabong" Altamarino (right) responds with a handblade and outside wristlock against the knife attack of Instructor Joeffrey S. Deriada.


Wilson A. Alvarado of Bago City (right) defends against the onslaught of Senior Instructor Dante L. Robles during the fourth phase (empty hands) of the examination.


The examination panel grading the test candidates. From left:
Host Master Elmer V. Montoyo, Master Ferdinand Emmanuel "Bobot" Y. Gayoles, Grandmaster Dominador "Doming" D. Ferrer, and Headmaster Wilson E. Viñas.


Lafayette A. Diamante effects a disarm on Instructor Narciso "Hansy" Alojado.


Moises "Jung-Jung" Nifras Jr. going through a free form routine during the fifth phase of the examination (open/freestyle demonstration).


Lorema "Bing" Tacsagon (left) uses disarm no. 1 to render Senior Instructor Dante L. Robles helpless during the third phase of the examinations (disarming).


Headmaster Wilson E. Viñas, the 1st generation inheritor of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis system, giving his comments and recommendations after the examination. Here he is explaining the finer points of stickfighting with Senior Instructor Dante L. Robles.


Grandmaster Dominador "Doming" D. Ferrer, the oldest living grandmaster of Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis in the world, demonstrating jointlocking technique for everybody in attendance with the assistance of Instructor James U. Sy Jr.

The 2nd Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Standardized Ranking Promotional Examinations were held by the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Aficionados Association (LVAAA) on December 30, 2005 at the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) Gym, Group K Complex, Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City.

The examination was historic in that it was the first ranking promotion in the association’s 73 years existence conducted with a systematic examination for instructor candidates complete with a well defined examination format and criteria and an examination panel who evaluated the test candidates. The 1st batch of promotions was made as spot promotions to initiate the association’s Standardized Ranking Program.

The Examination Panel consisted of Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, the 1st generation inheritor of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas arnis system and the president/chief instructor of LVAAA; Grandmaster Dominador “Doming” D. Ferrer, 10th degree grandmaster LVAAA and Founder/Chief Instructor of Kalantiaw Defense Society; and Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Y. Gayoles, 4th generation master of Yasay Sable and 5th degree master LVAAA. Host instructor was Master Elmer V. Montoyo, 6th degree black belt founder of Filipino Tang soo do and the Founder/President of PIMAA-FTSDA.

The 5 test candidates who came from different chapters of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (and their instructors/recommending authority) were Heli “Kabong” Altamarino of CMAS-Alijis (under senior Instructor Dante L. Robles), English teacher Wilson A. Alvarado of CMAS-Bago (under Master Gayoles), Bago City Clerk of Court Moises “Jong-Jong” G. Nifras Jr. of CMAS-Main (under headmaster Viñas), and West Negros College Jr. Clinical Instructor Lafayette A. Diamante and Ma. Lorema “Bing” H. Tacsagon of CMAS-PNRC (under Instructor James U. Sy Jr.).

The Examination Staff were Instructor Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado of CMAS-Porferia/USLS, Instructor Joeffrey S. Deriada of CMAS-Alijis, Senior Instructor Dante L. Robles of CMAS-Alijis, and Instructor James U. Sy Jr. of CMAS-Main/USLS.

The examination consisted of 6 phases: strikes, blocks, disarms, empty hands, open/freestyle, and oral. All candidates passed the examinations and currently have a probationary status as 1st degree instructors until their certificate of ranks are officially awarded by the association. Alvarado topped the examinations, garnering 50 points out of the perfect score of 60.