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THE MODERN ARNIS REMY PRESAS MEMORIAL CAMP Like most of the delegates, my son Mitch and I started the week by checking in at one of the rendezvous points, the Palms Plaza Hotel in Manila, Philippines. In our case, due to family and business obligations, we had already been in the Philippines almost three weeks, along with my mom, my sister Cris and my daughter Paulina. Leaving the rest of the family at the family residence in Pangasinan (northern Luzon, about four hours drive from Manila), Mitch and I checked in early at the Palms Plaza Hotel on Friday, July 7, 2006. Over the weekend, we met other delegates who had checked into the hotel, as well as some visiting arnis masters who had simply dropped by to socialize. This included the very popular and jovial Yuli Romo of Kalis Ilustrisimo fame who ended up giving lessons at the nearby Rizal Park at the Luneta. Mitch and I also joined a group city tour which included tours of historic Rizal Park and the walled city of Intramuros. On Monday, July 10, 2006, the first bus left the hotel for Tagaytay City, Cavite, about an hour and a half’s ride from Manila. Tagaytay is a scenic, popular tourist destination. It sits right next to Taal Volcano, which fortunately remained dormant and quiet during our stay there, as it has for many years. A full copy of this article with a photo gallery may be found in the e-book “Philippine Odyssey 2006” now available at the online store, or you may click on the icon below.
THE 3RD WORLD FMA FESTIVAL GALA NIGHT On Friday evening, July 21, 2006, the 3rd World Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) Festival ended with a bang and a flourish with a Gala Night at the ballroom of the posh Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. To be more specific, it ended with a cacophony of sounds—the clicking of bamboo sticks, Filipino music, laughter, the pulsating drumming of Paul Zialcita, speeches and live choral songs. While guests socialized and dined, the ambiance was set by a choral group of a cappella singers, a champion vocalist from Amadeo, Cavite, and several ethnic dances featuring dancers in colorful costumes, including the Muslim-inspired “singkil.” DEMONSTRATIONS AND AWARDS Honored guests from a spectrum of government and sports bodies officially kicked off the festivities with welcoming speeches. A full copy of this article with a photo gallery may be found in the e-book
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