ORIGINAL TAPADO PROMOTIONS MADE by James U. Sy, Jr.

(Note this article appeared in the Sports Page of Negros Daily Bulletin on August 22, 2007 and is copied in toto here with the permission of the author)

Grandmaster Benefredo "Bebing" M. Lobrido, president of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., promoted seven members of the association to the rank of Senior Instructor in Original Filipino Tapado on the occasion of the 2007 OFTLSFA General Reunion at the Taloc Beach, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City .

Those promoted to Senior Instructor in Original Filipino Tapado were Auditor Narciso "Hansy" L. Alojado of Bacolod, Board Directors Joeffrey S. Deriada of Bacolod and Pastor Romeo N. Gumban of Bago, Business Manager Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad of Murcia , Members Dr. Rey Mollenido of Iloilo City and Dr. Jason Rojas of Texas , USA , and Secretary General James U. Sy Jr. of Bacolod .

Of the seven, only Pastor Gumban was from Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. of FTSD Founder/Master Elmer V. Montoyo. The rest were from Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. headed by Founders Sy and Alojado.

35-40 members and supporters of the association, including members of the Mamar and Lobrido Clans, relatives, and friends, witnessed the promotions, the second set awarded by GM Lobrido since he took over as Headmaster of Original Filipino Tapado after his uncle and OFT Founder/Grandmaster Romeo "Nono" C. Mamar (1938-2005) passed away in 2005 (see turnover rites at http://oftlsfai.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html).

Among those present were OFT Masters Jose "Joe" A. Pamilangco, Clodualdo "Budoy" M. Lobrido, and Elmer V. Montoyo and OFT old timers Jinny Mamar, Joe Advincula, Dominador "Doming" D. Ferrer (Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis grandmaster), and Naldo Hundana. Also present were the sons of the late founder, Romeo "Tokong" Mamar Jr. and Dingdong Mamar.

With the promotions, OFTLSFA Inc. have as of date promoted 2 grandmasters, 6 masters, 1 master instructor, 29 senior instructors, and 14 junior instructors since its inception in 1960.

Dr. Maguad had earned the distinction as the first medical doctor in the world to be awarded such rank in Original Filipino Tapado. As Organizer and Chapter Head of CMAS-Iloilo, Dr. Maguad taught OFT to Dr. Mollenido and Dr. Rojas before endorsing them to GM Lobrido for further studies.

Dr. Mollenido, in behalf of Dr. Maguad, now leads a small study group in Iloilo while Dr. Rojas had already started a small OFT group in Texas .

Sy, Alojado, Deriada, and Gumban assisted GM Lobrido in introducing Original Filipino Tapado in Bacolod , Himamaylan, Iloilo , Murcia , Sagay, and San Carlos via demonstrations and seminars. GM Lobrido conducted a seminar for an instructor in San Carlos last June 2007 with the hopes of starting a small study group there. SI Sy will follow up the group there.

The newly promoted Senior Instructors started their studies of Original Filipino Tapado in 2005 under GM Lobrido and underwent the required Instructorship Course before being allowed to handle new students. In Tapado, students are asked to perform their strikes full force with the instructor feeding the strikes. Without the necessary feeding skills, an instructor would be at risk of injury, especially for students who still doesn’t know how to control the trajectory of their strikes. The instructors also need to regulate the power in their strikes to allow students to train longer and learn faster. Unnecessary pain and injuries are avoided in practice.

“The training for fighters in Tapado is different from the kind of training that is conducted for instructors. Training for a fighter is relatively easier. As long as the strikes are done properly, that would suffice already. More is expected for instructors, that is, making sure of the students’ safety during practice as well as their own safety. We use longer sticks than the usual Arnis sticks and thus, thus, create more power in the strikes. A single well placed power strike is more than enough to take the hand out of commission. Hence, the necessity for an Instructorship Course. Up to this day, these individuals continue to refine their skills as teachers as well as technicians.” revealed GM Lobrido.

Interested parties may view video clips of Original Filipino Tapado at http://oftlsfai.blogspot.com and go to the December 2006 and March, June, and July 2007 Archives. Alternatively, go to www.youtube.com and search for “Original Filipino Tapado” and “OFT Practice.”