Ceremonies at the Cabatuan Covered Gym, Iloilo, Phil. for the
1st International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines
(IMAFP) International Tournament, Nov. 23, 2007. IMAFP
officers and guests include Cristino Vasquez, Atty. Salvador
Demaisip, Armando Soteco, Godofredo Fajardo, Roland Dantes
Bambit Dulay, Paolo Motita and Roy de Leon.
Atty. Demaisip called the event a resounding success, and expounded on future plans for next year’s event, the 4th FMA Festival to be held in July 2008 in Boracay and Iloilo City, Philippines. Over several rounds of coffee, we discussed IMAFP affairs including policies and administrative issues relating to IMAFP chapters in North America.
Poster for next year’s event, the 4th FMA Festival to be held
in Boracay and Iloilo City, Philippines on July, 2008
sponsored by the International Modern Arnis Federation
of the Phil. (IMAFP)
At the conclusion of the meeting, Atty. Demaisip had to rush to another meeting. We were then joined by Romeo “Romy” Ballares, a Filipino instructor of Yoshinkai Aikido based in Japan. He was in town training in Modern Arnis with Bambit Dulay. We decided to stay at the restaurant for dinner, now enjoying mostly the camaraderie of brothers in arms.
Dinner at the Aristocrat Restaurant on Roxas Blvd. in Manila
on Dec. 2007. Clockwise, Romy Ballares, Bambit Dulay,
Godofredo Fajardo, Panny Nagen and Jay de Leon.
This was my last significant martial arts activity during the trip. The official school reunion activities would kick in the next couple of days, taking most of my time. I am writing a separate account of my reunion activities, including personal junkets, so you are welcome to read that, if you are so interested.
On Monday, Dec. 10. 2007, I flew back to Los Angeles, California. The trip set me back a few dollars, wreaked havoc on my sleeping pattern and further devastated my already devastated waistline. But as a popular commercial promotes, the memories are priceless.
Till the next odyssey.
Copyright, Jay de Leon 2007
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