Informative Issue No. 197 2015

Isagani AbonIsagani Abon

Joemar ObejasJoemar Obejas

Beneficiaries of This Fundraiser Mandirigma: A Fundraising Seminar Maestro Bong Abenir Punong Guro Henry Espera Sir Roland Isla Dalubhasang Guro Joemar Obejas Batikong Guro Isagani Abon Seminar Comes to an End

Each issue features practitioners of martial arts and other internal arts, other features include historical, theo-retical and technical articles; reflections, Filipino martial arts, healing arts, the culture of the Philippines and other related subjects. The authors, publisher and owner of this online magazine are not responsible for any injury, which may result from the instructions contained in this online magazine. Before embarking on any of the physical activates described in the magazine, the reader should consult his or her physician for advice regarding their individual suitability for per-forming such activity. The ideas and opinions expressed in the FMA Informative online magazine are those of the authors or instruc-tors being interviewed and are not necessarily the views of the publisher, editor or owner of the FMA Informative. The articles are the property of the author’s that wrote them and cannot be used without the permission of the author. The FMA Informative is for the promulgation and promotion of the Filipino martial arts and the Culture of the Philippines. NO issue can be printed and Sold for Monies, without the express permission of the Owner and Publisher of the FMA Informative.

Instructors & Topics:> Maestro Bong Abenir - Founder and Headmaster, Abenir Kalis Filipino Fighting Art - Intricacies of Sword & Dagger

> Punong Guro Henry Espera - Founder amd Grandmaster, Rapido Realismo Kali Int’l Assc. Inc. - Sabakan - Filipino Dirty Boxing

> Sir Roland Isla - Chief Instructor, Isla Mandirigma under Kali De Leon - Wielding Dual Weaponry

> Dalubhasang Guro Joemar Obejas - Vice-President, Rapido Realismo Kali Int’l Assc. Inc. - Body Wisdom through Silat movement

> Batikong Guro Isagani Abon - President and Training Director, Rapido Realismo Kali Int’l Assc. Inc. - Realities of Knife Defense & Tactics

The FMA Informative wants to thank Guro Reinier Dave Zapanta of SINAG FMA for writing this issue with contributions from Guro Adrien Pierre Quidlat of Rapido Realismo Kali International Association Inc. Rapido Realismo Kali International Association Inc. teamed up with Isla Mandirigma Kali- Kali De Leon and Abenir Kalis Filipino Fighting Art, in order to host the “Mandirigma: Filipino Warrior Methodologies - A Fund Raising Seminar This is what one would call true brotherhood of the arts, coming together donating their time and knowledge to help two fellow practitioners which have had a tragic event come into their life and now are being helped by fellow practitioners to assist in overcoming these tragedies. All proceeds of this seminar will definitely aid them on getting back on their feet and recover from these challenges in life.

Contributed Photos: Sir Paolo Pagaling and Maestro Bong Abenir

Adrien Pierre Quidlat

Reinier Dave Zapanta

Beneficiaries of This Fundraiser:- Batikong Guro Isagani Abon and Family: Last July 26, 2015 a fire broke out in Navotas and reached the home of the ABON family and burned al-most all of their possessions. Everything was lost in the fire including all of Guro Isagani’s photography equip-ment (he is currently working as a photographer), computer, as well as most of his Martial Arts equipment and collection. Thankfully his family was able to leave the area unscathed but are now left with almost nothing but the clothes they were wearing. They essentially need to start from the scratch and the proceeds of this seminar will definitely aid them on getting back on their feet and recover from this challenge.

- Dalubhasang Guro Joemar Obejas and Family: Last July 30, 2015, Guro Joemar Obejas lost his father, Avelino Obejas Jr., to a tragic work-related accident. His father who was a Master electrician was found convulsing on the floor apparently due to being electrocuted during a project in Trinoma Mall at around 2am in the morning. He was then rushed to East Avenue Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Post-mortem examination showed signs consistent with electrocution. Investigators surmised that someone could have turned on the breaker during the time his father was working causing the incident. It has been a month since his death but Trinoma and the company who employed his father has yet to have take any action nor provided support to Guro Joemar and his family for their loss. The proceeds of this seminar will definitely aid Guro Joemar and his family cover for the expenses of their loss and to be able to fight for justice for their beloved father.

MANDIRIGMA: A Fundraising Seminar

On a hot Saturday afternoon, Guro Joemar Obejas moves at an almost perfect rhythm. Hands and feet, shoulders and hips - his whole body performing Silat movements with dance-like grace, al-most in a trance as he demonstrates a parry, moving his body away from the line of attack then suddenly closing in to his opponent with blinding speed. He is the fourth to impart his knowledge in Filipino martial arts. His is the body wisdom gained through Silat movements. He learned his version of Silat from Master Fred Fernandez and other fellow practitioners that he met in Mindanao when he once con-ducted a walking mission there. His face shifts along with his movement; from the stern and serious look while executing a technique to the smile of openness upon sharing his movement. His face hides very well the tragedy that has recently fallen upon his family.

“Last July 30, 2015, Guro Joemar Obejas lost his father, Avelino Obejas Jr., to a tragic work-related accident. His father who was a Master electrician was found con-vulsing on the floor apparently due to being electrocuted during a project in Trinoma Mall at around 2am in the morning. He was then rushed to East Avenue Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Post-mortem examination showed signs consistent with electrocution. Investigators surmised that someone could have turned on the breaker during the time his father was working causing the incident. It has been a month since his death but Trinoma and the company who employed his father has yet to have take any action nor provided support to Guro Joemar and his family for their loss. The proceeds of this seminar will definitely aid Guro Joemar and his family cover for the expenses of their loss and to be able to fight for justice for their beloved father.”

Guro Joemar Obejas is one of the reasons for the event. Another beneficiary is Guro Isagani Abon, whose life was affected by a recent event involving his place of residence.

“Last July 26, 2015 a fire broke out in Navotas and reached the home of the Abon family and burned almost all of their possessions. Everything was lost in the fire including all of Guro Isagani’s photography equipment (he is currently working as a photographer), computer, as well as most of his Martial Arts equipment and collection. Thankfully his family was able to leave the area unscathed but are now left with almost nothing but the clothes they were wearing. They essentially need to start from the scratch and the proceeds of this seminar will definitely aid them on getting back on their feet and recover from this challenge.”

Both are well-respected and renowned instructors in the world of Filipino Martial Arts. Both have under-went recent tragic events, yet both are willing to give and share their knowledge. Guro Isagani Abon and Guro Joemar Obejas have given a lot to the Filipino martial arts community as they strive to keep the art alive. For the main organizer, Guro Adrien Pierre Quidlat, Executive Secretary of Rapido Realismo Kali International Association Inc. it is time that the Filipino martial arts community give them something back. September 12, 2015, Rapido Realismo Kali International Association Inc. teamed up with Isla Mandi-rigma Kali- Kali De Leon and Abenir Kalis Filipino Fighting Art, in order to host the “Mandirigma: Filipino Warrior Methodologies - A Fund Raising Seminar” in order to raise money and help both Guro Gani and Guro

Joemar. The seminar was held at the Baypark Hoops Basketball Court, Malate, Manila. The event was open to all: practitioners or non-practitioners, regardless of style, affiliation, or athletic ability. While its primary goal was helping the two said instructors, it also aims to foster camaraderie within the Filipino martial arts communi-ty and to introduce Filipino martial arts to a wider audience. A total of thirty three participants from different organizations, from students to professionals attended the said event, braving the tropical afternoon sun and later, the sudden thunderstorm.

Maestro Bong Abenir Founder and Headmaster, Abenir Kalis Filipino Fighting Art Intricacies of Sword & Dagger

At 12:00pm, the seminar was kick-started by Maestro Bong Abenir of Abenir Kalis. With an Ilocano-made short sword in his right hand and a knife of similar style in his left hand, he introduced the participants to his sword and dagger techniques. Maestro Bong, always light on his feet, easily evades an overhead diagonal strike, parrying it with his sword and pushing the attacking hand away with his dagger as he moves out of the line of attack. Immediately, he counters and checks his

opponent with his blades, expertly maintaining dis-tance and control. This is the first in a series of tech-niques that he shared for the afternoon. After a few more execu-tions, Maestro Bong instructed everyone to pair up and try the move for themselves. As the participants try to execute the same move-ments, Maestro Bong and his senior students move around the area, correcting errors and praising successful executions. Maestro Bong ended his presentation with a light sparring session with one of his students, both using wooden swords and daggers.

Next to present was Grandmaster Henry Espera, founder of Rapido Realismo Kali International Association Inc. For his portion, he asked the participants to set aside their sticks and daggers as they would focus on his version of dirty boxing which he calls “Sabakan.”

Grandmaster Henry called upon one of his students to demonstrate his techniques. He expertly parries and catch blows from his partner while inserting quick jabs to vital spots in between, before ending his movements with either a controlling technique or a set of heavy blows meant to knock the opponent out of the fight. Every now and then, he would execute the similar movement with a stick, giving everyone the idea on how his techniques are translated from stick movements. As with the previous presenter, Grandmaster Henry asked the par-ticipants to pair up and try it for themselves. He went around different pairs, adjusting them for the correct posture, correct movements and suggesting variations that the participants can do. Very soon, some participants who are versed in Filipino martial arts began exploring the option opened up by Grandmaster Henry’s technique.

Punong Guro Henry Espera Founder & Grandmaster, Rapido Realismo Kali Int’l Association Inc. Sabakan - Filipino Dirty Boxing

After Grandmaster Henry comes sir. Roland Isla, head of the Isla Mandirig-ma Kali, the Kali De Leon wing in the Philippines. With a stick in both hands, sir. Roland started with the introduction, “for this sem-inar, these sticks are sticks, not swords.” He then began to demonstrate his concept of double stick fighting. At the center of it is the idea that both weapons should be used for the simultane-ous block and strike and not just plain blocking. He started demonstrating his

concept with one of his students as his partner. Like the previous teachers, Sir. Roland paired up everyone. This time, he asked everyone to form two lines with their partners. The participants started with the basic heaven-six sinawali or double sinawali all-up. Using that as a springboard, he inserted his idea of simultaneous block and strike, telling the participants to look for a par-ticular rhythm while drilling. He would then move the line so that the partici-pants can experience having different partners. Sir. Roland continues to teach other drills, building up from the heaven-six framework. His portion ended with a free-flow of double stick techniques between the participants and their partners.

Then comes one of the beneficiaries of the seminar, Guro Joemar Obejas.However, at the middle of his demonstration of Silat techniques, rain begins to fall. For a moment, the at-tention was diverted to keeping all the equipment dry.The rain did not stop Guro Joemar from teaching. He moves away from the attack, parries, occupies his opponent’s space and execute either a take down or a lock. Later, he would also demonstrate Silat kicking and ground-fighting techniques.

Sir Roland Isla Chief Instructor, Isla Mandirigma under Kali De Leon Wielding Dual Weaponry

Dalubhasang Guro Joemar Obejas Vice-President, Rapido Realismo Kali Int’l Association Inc. Body Wisdom through Silat movement

Batikong Guro Isagani Abon President & Training Director, Rapido Realismo Kali Int’l Association Inc. Realities of Knife Defense & Tactics

As the thunderstorm falls harder, one of the beneficiaries, Guro Isa-gani Abon, stepped in. Due to the event grounds being wet, he apolo-gized for not being able to let the participants experience his training at that day. Nonetheless, he proceeded with opening the audience to the realities of a knife encounter. At this point, the main organiz-er himself, Guro Adrien Pierre Quidlat, saw action by being Guro Gani’s partner. He started his portion by clarifying that knife drills are not what you would usually experience in a knife attack. Drawing from his experience in the streets, he demonstrated an aggressive and de-termined knife attack, accentuated by verbal assaults, to his partner. What followed is a series of brutal, fast, and hard attacks as his partner tries to defend himself and take control of the situation, which ended with both of them on the ground. Gritty, dirty, and frightening, Guro Gani explains that in a lot of situations, you won’t even see the knife. Afterwards, he began explaining his idea, starting from awareness of an incoming attack to pre-emp-tively overwhelming the attacker with strikes before the attacker can even draw his weapon, then escaping the situation. Guro Gani ended his portion with an invitation to the current participants to train with him.

Seminar Comes to a End As the seminar closes, both beneficiaries, Guro Joemar Obejas and Guro Isagani Abon thanked not just the attendants but also those who donated for the cause. Guro Joemar settled for a few words of gratitude while Guro Gani extended thanks as he tells his story. In the midst of a dying rain, the seminar ended with a series of group photographs and informal chat among participants. It was a day for camaraderie among different Filipino martial arts groups. Only this time, the day is offered to a higher cause.

Musical Entertainment

(Left) Rafael Blanco playing the Sarunay and to the (Right) Ron Solis playing the hand drum

Rapido Realismo Kali International Association Inc.

www.rapidorealismokali.weebly.com abenirkali.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/islamandirigmakali

Abenir Kalis Filipino Fighting ArtIsla Mandirigma Kali- Kali De Leon

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