PHILIPPINE ODYSSEY 2007
By Jay de Leon
On Nov. 21, 2007, I flew to the Philippines out of Los Angeles, California. It was the day before Thanksgiving, and I was a little sad to be missing Thanksgiving in the United States, but greatly excited about the prospect of having a two-week vacation in the Philippines.
Among other events, I was scheduled to attend the celebration of the Ruby Anniversary of my batch at the Ateneo de Manila in Loyola Heights, Quezon City on Dec. 8, 2007. I mention this because you will see several references to a school reunion.
In this article, I will describe my martial-arts related events and experiences during this trip.
Saturday, November 24, 2007, Mandaluyong, Manila
My friend Dino Pineda of Manila was taking private kickboxing lessons and invited me to his Saturday workout with his private instructor, Master Louie Yap, whom he respectfully called “Coach.”
Coach Louie Yap (left) shows Jay de Leon some fine points of YawYan
kickboxing.
Louie Yap was a former ring fighter who fought under both YawYan and kyokushin rules. I found coach Louie to be a very amiable, easy going fellow but a tough customer and a brutal taskmaster. For warm-ups, he had Dino strap on a backpack of weights and kick, punch and knee their unique YawYan striking posts (instead of a heavy bag).
Dino Pineda (left) and Jay de Leon examine striking posts
unique to YawYan. They are like full-length “makiwaras.”
Dino Pineda executing full force shin kicks to the YawYan striking
post. Note backpack with weights strapped to his back.
Coach Louie then showed me some trademark YawYan techniques, after which I went a few friendly rounds with my friend Dino. It was an excellent learning experience as well as a good workout.
Note Dino with a high left guard. He uses it to chop down any incoming
punches - a YawYan full-contact technique.
Chop this right hook, Dino. Coach Louie holds timer for the rounds.
Experience and treachery will always overcome youth and strength.
Sunday, November 25, 2007, KMA Jiu-Jitsu Gym, Manila
I dropped by a jiu-jitsu gym next building to where I was staying. This was the KMA gym owned by Stephen J. Kamphuis, originally from New Zealand who was a friend of my host with whom I was staying. He primarily taught Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Machado style) and kickboxing, as well as judo, yoga and self-defense.
I was able to watch a jiu-jitsu class in progress for a few minutes, and to chat with Steve. Unfortunately, the flash in my camera malfunctioned and all my pictures came out dark. But I thought I would include at least one picture.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007, Sofitel Hotel, Manila
On this day, a former grade school classmate of mine from Ateneo de Manila named Ray Allas graciously hosted a lunch for me at the posh Spiral Restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel (formerly the Philippine Plaza Hotel) in front of the Philippine Cultural Center at Roxas Blvd. in Manila.
The Spiral Restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel on Roxas Blvd., Manila
The Spiral Restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel on Roxas Blvd., Manila
The lunch was attended by several former classmates from both the Ateneo de Manila Grade School and High School. I had not seen some of them since High School; in fact, I had not seen Ray Allas since grade school. A few of them I had seen in previous trips to the Philippines.
Jay de Leon (in plain dark shirt) with former classmates from Ateneo de Manila at a lunch in his honor hosted by Ray Allas (in short sleeve polo barong to his immediate left) at the Spiral Restaurant of the Sofitel Hotel on Roxas Blvd., Manila in Nov. 2007.
Towards the end of the lunch, Master Godofredo Fajardo showed up and we proceeded to the lounge at the hotel lobby for our own conference. Master Godo is my Modern Arnis guro, and is the Commissioner of the Middle East for the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP).& Based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he was home for the holidays but quite busy conducting Modern Arnis business.
Master Godofredo Fajardo (left) of the International Modern Arnis
Federation of the Phil. (IMAFP) meets up with Jay de Leon at
the Sofitel Hotel on Roxas Blvd., Manila in November 2007.
We of course saw each other last year in 2006 at the 3rd FMA Festival in Tagaytay and Manila. Now, more than a year later, we were having our first meeting this trip.
First, he handed me with an Award of Appreciation from the Jordan Arnis Committee from the country of Jordan in the Middle East. This consisted of a Certificate of Appreciation dated Nov. 9, 2007 from the Jordan Arnis Committee duly signed by the head of the committee, Dr. Basel Al-Shair, and a beautiful plaque of the “Petra Rock” of Jordan enclosed in a red velvet case.
Plaque of the “Petra Rock” of Jordan awarded to Jay de Leon of Tipunan
International and International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) by the Jordan Arnis Committee in Nov. 2007.
Petra, meaning rock in Greek, is an archaeological site in southwestern Jordan. It is renowned for its rock-cut architecture.
The “Petra Rock” of Jordan. Photo courtesy of Godofredo Fajardo
of the International Modern Federation of the Phil. (IMAFP).
UNESCO has described it as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage.” In 1985, it was designated a World Heritage Site. It is considered one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.”
Next Page |
