The 2008 Prince Cup was organized by the Muay Thai Association of Thailand under the patronage of the Crown Prince Vaijiralongkorn and was held from July 28 until August 2 in Huamark Stadium, Huamark Bangkok, Thailand. Around 15 countries participated in this amateur muay thai competition. The Philippines sent its best bets to bring home medals and glory for the country.
As expected, Thailand emerged as the Over-All Champion while Philippines settled as the 2nd Runner-Up with 1 Gold Medal, courtesy of Jonathan Pulosan, 1 Silver, courtesy of Ricalene Aquino and 4 bronze medals. It is Pulosan’s first international muay thai stint and his amazing performance is a big surprise.
In tournaments like this, getting medals sometimes depend on the luck of the draw. In several matches, the Philippines have to face Thailand in semi-finals or quarter finals and thus the RP team would have to settle for the bronze. Had the RP team faced another country, they are sure to bring silver medals and not just bronze medals. Still, the Philippines good performance is an indication that Filipinos excel in combative sports and should be the priority of the Philippines’ sports program.
Beck (fresh from her 3 weeks training at Kaewsamrit Gym in Bangkok) almost fought at the Prince Cup, she got the nod of Coach Billy Alumno and MAP President Robert Valdez, but at the last minute, RP Team Thai coach Ajarn Pudpadnoy disagreed and Beck has to withdraw from the competition. Suddently I found a new drive in my muay thai training, basing on the skill level of the competitors in my weight division, I aim to compete in next year’s Prince Cup, I want to go down in the tournament’s history as the oldest participant or as the oldest competitor to get a medal (even if its just a bronze medal)
Beck with RP team members Jay Olod and Ricalene Aquino in front of Chaleena Hotel. This is the official residence of the participants of the 2008 Prince Cup
Inside the shuttle van on the way to Huamark Stadium, venue of the Prince Cup
The parade of nations, around 15 countries participated in this tournament.
The RP Delegation with the Philippine Flag: From left to right: Jay Olod, Jay Harold Gregorio, Rica Aquino (behind Jay Harold), the Thai lady flag bearer, Jonathan Pulosan, Red Dumuk (MAP Secretary General), Zaidi Laruan, Eugene Toquero and Clint Anawe
Beck with Ajarn Pudpadnoy (RP Team’s Thai coach), Andy Galvez (MAP Vice Pres. and International Referee) and the RP Muay Thai Team.
Me with Romnick Pabalate and Andy Galvez clowning around
No, this is not from the movie X-files. The dome of Huamark Stadium looks like a flying saucer, so Beck and Romnick are acting out like they are being abducted by aliens.
Ricalene going up for her fight against Turkey. She won this match which qualified her for the finals. In her finals match, she went against a Thai Champion. Even though Rica is suffering from dysmenorrhea, she still fought gallantly and only lost on points and settled for the silver medal
Eugene Toquero landing a jab against his Thai opponent who’s a former Lumpinee Champion.
Romnick is a girl magnet. Better be careful, Nick, that pretty lady on your right is Master Woody’s daughter.
Jay Harold missing a roundhouse kick to his Thai opponent.
Ajarn Pudpadnoy and Kru Billy are the cornermen of the RP Team.
Jay Olod evading a headkick.
Jay Olod’s fight is a very close one. Though the Thai won the match, some quarters saw it as a victory for Jay.
RP Team member Jonathan Pulosan (wearing Blue vest) in action against a fighter from Turkey
Jonathan Pulosan winning against Turkey. Jonathan went on to win a Gold Medal by a victory against a Thai fighter.
The lone gold medal winner from the Philippines, Mr. Jonathan Pulosan with team mates Romnick Pabalate, Eugene Toquero and Jay Harold Gregorio.
RP and Ricalene with the “official mascot” of the Thai delegation. This Thai is a one man cheering squad and would play his drum and sing in between rounds. At one time, I heard him sing Orange and Lemon’s “Pinoy Ako”, which is to my big surprise. I later found out that he was in the Philippines during the 2005 SEA Games in Manila and that’s where he learned that song.
August 25, 2008 at 10:47 pm |
Wow! I wish I was around 19 and in my prime!
Congratulations on the RP Team! Congrats to Pulosan.
It’s a shame for Olod. I feel for his loss. I like Jay Olod’s attitude better than Pulosan.
Is there anyway that Sporty Muay will be added in the Olympics in the future?
Congratulations to the Philippine delegation!
August 25, 2008 at 10:58 pm |
May I ask the difference of Jonathan Pulosan’s fight this time than his previous fights before?
August 26, 2008 at 2:12 pm |
Thanks.
Sayang talaga yung match ni Jay. It’s really a very close fight and judges’ decisions are final. We just have to respect it. I want to say this phrase to Jay kaso he might find it corny. I got this from one of my martial arts instructor, “There’s no disgrace in losing. Only in winning with no honor”.
Jay is the quiet type while Jonathan is more of the joker type. Kaya pag di ka sanay, you might find it uneasy being with Jonathan.
That is the goal of the World Muay Thai Council (WMC) and the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur (IFMA) to make muay an Olympic event. But it will take several years before we can make this dream a reality. Remember, even karate is not yet an Olympic sport.
The RP team will again compete next month in Korea for the World Amateur Muay Thai championship. Unfortunately, I can’t go with the team because I think my boss will no longer allow me. He he he.
August 27, 2008 at 1:37 am |
So the RP team will have no R&R. After this fight, they will have to go training again. Will Jay and Jonathan train in Baguio or train at the Ultra?
I wish Prof Floro would at least call ABS-CBN Baguio to interview both Jay and Jonathan as they deserve the appreciation and the spotlight on their success.
.
Maybe I might just email them
It’s important to let the local folks now even the local government. I my self want to ask for support from government officials who are patrons for sport to at sponsor sport muay La Union.
Will Jay and Jonathan participate in the ASEAN or SEA games?
I like Jay and Jonathan both and I like Jay’s quiet attitude and Jonathan being the extrovert but sometimes, just sometimes, in some conversations and unguarded moments of Jonathan, pops out the “I am better than you” attitude. Of course he is good and he has a gold medal to show, but, etc – Anyway both guys are excellent and are friendly.
Yes indeed. Karate has been pushing to be in the Olympics for ages. But I find I prefer Kyokushinkai tournaments more exciting to watch than world Karate competitions. But hopefully IOF might consider sport muay too along with the others. Taekwondo might be removed in the future – Herb Perez (American Coach) exposed several problems which created division even among Taekwondo’s governing body.
August 27, 2008 at 10:43 am |
They were given a week of R and R but now they’re on a fight preparation mode. I think they will be training in Ultra.
Yeah, I think Kru/Prof. Floro should contact some media and present the achievements of the Baguio athletes.
I’m thinking that you might have mistaken Jonathan with Zaidi Laruan. I know Jonathan is from Cagayan De Oro. The two are often mistaken as twins. Zaidi does sort of have that attitude you mentioned but he does it in a joking manner.
My wife trained with Zaidi and Jay at Kaewsamrit last July. And she enjoyed being with those guys.
Like you, I hope that muay will be an Olympic sport one day. The pinoys certainly have a good chance of winning medals in that sport.
Funny you mentioned Herb Perez, he was my idol way back 1992 when I was just starting with TKD. I didn’t know that he’s now the coach of the US TKD team.
August 27, 2008 at 12:17 pm |
Really? Your Idol too was Herb Perez? Me too!
Yes. I’m sorry I got Jonathan and Zaidi mixed up. It is Zaidi who has that attitude.
It would really be good for MAP to have even just a small gym up in Baguio as it would be a physical symbol to help consolidate and establish MAP’s governing authority on Sport Muay there in the Cordilleras. It could also serve as MAP office and HQ for CAR and Northern Luzon. Moreover, Kru/Prof Floro, Kru Velasco, and other MAP coaches could maintain and manage the gym. Kru Brent is moonlighting as a Muay instructor anyway. So why not a MAP gym, then let them manage it? I’m sure the local Muay clubs would then licensed under MAP as they would see that MAP has an office and gym.
August 28, 2008 at 9:44 am |
PHILIPPINE?!
August 28, 2008 at 2:19 pm |
Small world. I would try to copy Herb Perez’s moves when competing in TKD.
As for the gym, establishing a MAP gym in Baguio would be a lot of help and establish its presence in CAR. But I think it has to be the initiative of the local chapter heads. That what we do here in NCR. The most successful model is the MAP-QC chapter wherein they were given a an office and gym by the QC government at Amoranto Stadium. They were also given funding for their programs.
August 28, 2008 at 2:24 pm |
Ghenal,
Di ko napansin yun a. I think thais have problems in pronouncing the letter s. They would call me, Pilipin! Pilipin!
One time, my wife asked a tuktuk driver to bring her to Tesco Lotus. Being an English Teacher, she wants to pronounce it correctly. The tuktuk driver couldn’t understand her. One RP Team member then said, “Tetco Lotut” and the driver understood.
August 30, 2008 at 5:16 am |
Is that so? So the CAR officials have the initiative? Then why doesn’t the prof not ask BCU (the university where he teaches) to give them a venue in the late afternoon to practice Muay and then plan out the training fee? I am certain BCU will be honored to host the place for training and they also have a pool for potential players from its students. All great things begin in small humble beginnings.
The “other” org – with no substantial funds – has been aggressive enough in performing Muay Boran/Krabi-Krabong shows. Sooner or later, if prof doesn’t act now, the other org will be established with a following while MAP Baguio will be left “unestablished” with regards to an office and training place. I just don’t understand yet what’s happening with MAP Baguio – the prof has Kru Brent Velasco, and other team Baguio members, all dedicated people as his workforce. If prof doesn’t have the time then why doesn’t he just give the training management to Kru Brent and prof would just manage the administrative work?
September 1, 2008 at 6:31 pm |
Hi Rayzor,
Yup, all MAP-Chapters are empowered/mandated to promote muay in their locality. I’m afraid I couldn’t answer for Prof. Floro. Perhaps he’s doing some actions which are yet to bear some fruits. Some things just take time to develop. You have very good suggestions, it would be very beneficial to MAP-CAR if they will be implemented.
September 1, 2008 at 9:12 pm |
I apologised if the tone of my earlier post was more of a rant than a suggestion.
The challenged with us here in MAP La Union is that highlander students are the one training to represent La Union. Though they are not permanent residents of La Union. Lowlanders do not want the full-contact aspect of Sport Muay so they prefer Taekwondo. The only “Ilocanos” who are participating are those of mixed-blood or highlanders who live between the border of Benguet and La Union – Kankanaey, Bago (mixed Igorot and Ilocano), and Ibaloi. However their problem is that they do not have any PUBs left going to the interior after 5pm. Since our training starts 5:30 to 8:00pm.
So since the full-time fighters representing La Union are non-La Union residents, the local government is reluctant to fully support us. Nevertheless, we are doing our best to adjust and find ways to promote Muay to the urban populace.
By the way, how much would a Thaismai (cheapest brand) 180cm by 42cm punch bag cost in pesos their in Thailand? My friends opted for the local quality punch bags. So ordering just one unfilled punch bag is a wee bit expensive for me.
September 1, 2008 at 9:13 pm |
Please post the results of Yod and Buakaw’s fight if their fight pushes through. Thank you!
September 2, 2008 at 9:56 am |
I remember speaking to the daughter of the Mayor of a town in La Union (I’m not sure if its Bauang). She said that her father would like to support muay thai in their town. That could be a good start.
I understand why some people don’t want the full-contact sport of Muay. I think it is just a matter of exposure. That’s one of the challenges I faced when I was organizing the just-finished muay tournament in Mandaluyong and I’m looking for sponsors to support the said event. Good thing I have my blog and told them to view this blog and they will see that it is not really a brutal and painful sport and that even kids and females do actually compete.
September 2, 2008 at 9:57 am |
I don’t think I will be able to go to Bangkok for Yod’s fight. Too much work in the office. Kaya I will get the info from my friends at Fairtex. But I will keep you posted.
September 2, 2008 at 10:31 am |
That might be in Bauang! Since that was the previous venue of the last MAP tourney here last May.
One problem would be my credentials. I really have to save up really fast for training for coach in Ultra. I recently got married last July 4 and myself and my wife are dedicated volunteers here in the Children’s home we work and minister in. So it will be a challenge to save for training. But nothing is impossible once the mind, goal and actions are set.
September 2, 2008 at 6:56 pm |
Yeah, I read in your blog about your wedding. I was meaning to send you a message to congratulate you. By the way, thanks for the kind words in your blog. Really, I’m just an ordinary guy who likes to live life to the fullest.
If you don’t mind me asking, are you a Baptist? My wife is a baptist kasi and one of my wedding ninong is a pastor in Aurora Hill.
I understand the challenges you’re in. Part of the instructor’s training is how to raise funds for your chapter. If you’re here in Manila, I’ll try to arrange for a meeting between you and the chapter head of QC. He started out really small, until his wards got the notice of the QC City Hall and they are now funding his chapter.
September 2, 2008 at 8:13 pm |
Well thank you for accepting the link
! I did not know that you went to my website!
I just spoke the truth about you in my humble opinion. Since, your life and what you have achieved and achieving is just an example for us to follow. Because you are not where you are without all the good virtue that is hiding in all of us Filipinos. I must say that I admire you for that.
I know some successful Filipinos from their humble beginnings and their eventual success in life but became mayabang when they reached their current status in life. But I admire you as your attitude is not like one of those people.
So your successful life is an encouragement to me that someday, despite the circumstances and disappointments, I might make it too! But I don’t know if I have Thomas Edison’s tenacity to continue despite so many failures. But I must say that it is all worth it.
As for my faith, I am a born-again Christian, a Pentecostal
With the Baptists and other Protestant denominations we share the same doctrine of being “born-again”.
Regards to your beautiful wife and daughter!
I was able to download the ebook you referred to me. I just don’t know how to pronounce or what the phonetic and intonation the Thai words are.
Will you be going to the MAP tournament in Baguio?
September 4, 2008 at 11:47 am |
Well, I just made a friend online so I just figured I have to know more about my friend
Thank you very much for the kind words. I think that as you grow older and meet people who are more successful than you are, you will become more humble. The people I know who would brag about their achievements usually live in a cocoon.
Achievements and awards are just the icing on the cake. The main thing is that you enjoy what you do, be good at it and be sure that the things you’re doing are aligned with your beliefs and values.
My daughter once studied in a Pentecostal school, Maranatha Christian Academy in Makati. But she has to transfer when we moved to another house. Thanks. Regards too to your lovely wife. Hope both of our families will meet sometime in the future.
That ebook will be very helpful to your training and teaching of muay thai. As for the pronounciation, I’m also a newbie in the Thai language.
Can’t go to Baguio, too much work in the office. Several MAP officials will be going there, so is Ajarn Pudpadnoy. If you get to meet him, you can tell him that I’m your friend.
September 4, 2008 at 12:40 pm |
Wow! Thank you! I am honored to be your friend!
We were hoping that the schedule would be Sept 6. But this time, I do not know if team La Union could make it to Baguio as they kept changing the dates of the tourney. I think the date of the tournament is now September 8. The majority of our fighters have their classes until 6pm and the senior students get dismissed at around 7pm.
We sent a letter to their college to ask them to be excused but the college office replied that they are graduating students and their subjects are majors.
I feel for the students. They did not even received any congratulatory remarks or appreciation from their college when they won silver and bronze medals during the April POF.
But I will try to go to Baguio as schedule permits. As I teach here in the home in our
ACE school.
Anyway, I am currently looking for new recruits near the nearest government University DMMMSU here in San Fernando City. It is the wish of
Kru Sumingwa (MAP LU) for us to expand. But that
will come as soon as I get a license.
But I have a pool of young kids (from the Home
) that I teach. I just showed them an article of JangJao of fairtex. The 11yr. old Muay Thai kid and they are very much encouraged.
One time during the MAP tournament in Bauang. Romnick kept chiding – in his always joking attitude – Sir Billy that he had an opponent in me. I was so embarrassed as the usual Romnick with his loud voice kept haranguing Sir Billy with his joking suggestion. I really need to go down to 67 or 70!
September 4, 2008 at 12:55 pm |
Its an honor for me as well.
Yeah, one fighter from Mandaluyong signed up for the tournament but have to back out when they changed the date to Sept. 8.
I feel for the students too. But its not their loss, its the college’s. They failed to see the potentials of the students and the significance of the POF. We just have to work harder to make these officials realize that muay is a legitimate sport recognized by the PSC and POC and that their students has the potentials to be RP team members.
Do you have a picture of Jangjao? I saw two kids from Fairtex Pattaya (one even came to my birthday celebration) who are already fighting. I only know their nickname, not their fight name.
Did you know that Kru Billy won a Bronze Medal in the 75 to 80 kgs last Prince Cup? He could have won at least the silver medal had he not faced Jonathan Camara (Lumpinee Champion, European Champion and ISKA Champion) in the first match. He eventually won the gold medal.
September 4, 2008 at 9:16 pm |
We will try to find ways for Muay to get recognize here. Hopefully, we could ask the local government but the process is really daunting but not impossible.
When Kru Billy was aleady in Muay, we were just beginners competing then in Kickboxing in CAR and LU.
Then our Sensei Romel Ateo-an, came upon Catoy of IAMTF back in 1999, then we upgraded to Muay Thai. But did not learn much as there was no full course just drills. Then Catoy said that we could train if we could pay P2,000 each and be hopefuls for the Philippine Team, etc. We worked and trained really hard for it without only to have our hopes dashed to be hopefuls in the Philippine Team. We did not know then that there was an ongoing “war” between organizations on who would be the head of national Muay. At least now, MAP is established.
Kru Billy is a very skilled heavyweight and yet at his age, he was able to win a Bronze. Still a formidable opponent. I wouldn’t want to meet him in the ring. I do not know if he knows Marcos Marconi from Baguio City a real heavyweight but fast kicboxer and a popular one during his heydays in the late ’90s. I think that will be a good match up with Kru Billy
I wouldn’t mind to spar with him though as I always thought of sparring with very experienced fighters as very educational for me in helping me improve. I do not think of sparring as an event on who is better but as a part of training that would measure my ability and level. So it would be an honor to spar with experts and very skilled fighters.
About Jangjao here is the URL.
http://www.mymuaythai.com/archives/jangjao-fairtex-rising-star/
September 5, 2008 at 6:16 pm |
You did muay thai much, much earlier than me. I only started in early 2004. Way back 1999, I couldn’t do any martial arts because of my work.
That’s the common problem when an “unknown war” happens between rival organizations. One of my guiding principles whenever I attend MAP Board Meetings is “the welfare of the muay students and fighters should be the priority”.
Kru Billy still hasn’t lost his touch. The good thing though with Kru Billy is he adjust his muay thai on the skill level of the person he’s sparring with. Do you know Ronald Bingwaoel? He’s my idol, for me he’s the best kick fighter ever. Too bad he’s already in the US.
That’s a good mindset when sparring. I always tell newbies that they should spar with the intention of improving their game, not to hurt their training partner.
I think Jangjao is based in Bangplee, and not in Pattaya. There’s another kid in Pattaya, about the same age as Jangjao who’s already fighting. And boy, what awesome skills this young kid has. I would tease him to my daughter. And I would tell him, when you’re the world champion, please don’t forget my daughter. He he he
September 6, 2008 at 11:19 pm |
Indeed I did Muay Thai first but it was not quality training every week. My Sensei was not even generous to teach techniques and the clinch as he was learning from Catoy and I understand that as a Sensei, he wants to master Muay first then probably teach it to us. But that never happened as he was not always around and we just ended up doing drills. Did not even know proper clinching and kneeing techniques. So I searched on my own and silently studied without telling the senior fighters – they were mayabang too. But come sparring time – Hehehehe – that’s when I tried what I learned if it worked or not or if my execution was correct or not. It was that way for some years. Until a British (I hope he comes again) volunteer worker came for a month here in the children’s home and he taught me clinching in Muay Thai. Unfortunately his trip was short and so I really had to search someone knowledgeable and had “real” training in Muay Thai and not “quacks” of Muay Thai. Until early this year I came upon Kru Noel Sumingwa to train in Muay but he made me assistant coach but all I had was just snot-knowledge of Muay. Not to mention that I had to allow several years for my knee injury to heal and from those years of not much activity, from 67kg, I became 85kg!
So I hope you could teach me someday and I am sure I could learn a lot from you. So I hope everything goes smooth for me that I could train in October, if not, hopefully I have enough by then for next training.
But we were fortunate enough to win gold (winner by default) Hehehehe – and silver and bronze last MAP tourney in February of this year. And in the POF we won silver and bronze. But I was disappointed as some of those fighters who won bronze did not apply the game plan and what they’ve learned in training (they’re really hard-headed) and they got bronze because there was a shortage of competitors in their weight division.
With you, even if you had a just four years of training, but you had QUALITY training and the best instructors. So you are really fortunate and I envy your training
Those Thai kids are really awesome. So I let my kid students watch clips of MT kid-fights on youtube. I am sure they are future potentials. As they have natural skill and they’re tough. So I hope I can get them into kiddie tournaments that they could have more experience.
Hehehe! Did you inform your daughter of what you said to that Thai kid? Hehehe!
September 8, 2008 at 11:02 pm |
I forgot about Ronald Bingwaoel. My, he is such a good kicker. He loves stair running and then does kicking exercises after each flight of stairs. That guy has good kicking endurance. We used to go watch his Wushsu/Sanshou fights. He is an exciting fighter.
Finally he made it to America. I hope he does well over there.
September 12, 2008 at 10:54 am |
Like you said, I am just fortunate enough to be living within 15minutes from Ultra. And started muay thai when MAP is already established. But our beloved sport have to thank guys like you who are the trailblazers sothat guys like me who came after you, have an easier access to muay thai.
Just be more patient with your wards. Still a good start, with all the medals they brought hom. Its actually also my problem because I have the tendency to go on my own and not follow what my cornermen are doing.
Really thanks bro for your kind words, but I don’t think I’m qualified to teach. Though we can share some notes on training and fighting
.
I really hope to meet you at the Instructor’s training this October. My wife will be joining this upcoming batch. Please send me a message if you will be signing up so I can meet you.
Do you already have kiddie tournaments in Baguio? Here in NCR, many are surprised that kids as young as 5 years old are already competing. And fortunately, the public perceived muay is just another combative sport like karate and TKD and not a bloody martial art that movies display it to be.
Yup, we would tease my daughter to Pem (the thai kid) when we were at Fairtex.
Do you have any news about Kru Ronald? Aside from Kru Billy Alumno, he is the fighter whom I want to be.
December 24, 2008 at 2:49 am |
No, I haven’t heard any news from Kru Ronal or have seen him since he went to Manila. I was more of an admiring fan but I did not know him personally. We just “spied” on him when he used to train for figths, etc.
I do hope he comes back to the Philippines from time to time.
December 26, 2008 at 3:29 pm |
Whenever he trains, I’m a wide eyed kid who’s astounded with his moves.
Hope he comes back to the Philippines. He’s sort of a legend in Ultra. Old timers would tell stories to newbies about his skills.
December 27, 2008 at 3:47 pm |
How about Melchor Menor? Can MAP invite him too for a seminar?
December 30, 2008 at 12:08 am |
Just uploaded some photos of my kid students at my website. You can browse them if you want. My senior kid student, Alfredo, though is having his holiday vacation. He is a lot more bigger now than he was last May in his debut fight. I love teaching him, as he compensates his weakness in strength to techniques. But he is a lanky kid and I’m sure he will learn to develop his power as he grows older.
January 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm |
I’m not sure if Melchor Menor has some contacts with MAP, but I sure hope he does consider holding seminars here…for free. He he he.
Congratulations to your ward. I’m sure you’re very proud of him. How old is Alfredo? Your students are really young, what’s their average age? They look like freshmen high schoolers even elementary students. To further encourage you and your students, RP team members get scholarships from STI. They still have several years to further hone their skills to make it to the team.
January 2, 2009 at 7:34 pm |
By the way, its nice reading about your simple Christmas vacation. Actually, my plan is for my family to have our Christmas dinner in your children’s home. But I still hope that I would be able to drop by at your place someday. I want my daughter to meet a lot of kids and my wife wants to meet people who are Christians and are working for the Lord.
January 2, 2009 at 8:23 pm |
Thanks for browsing! Alfredo is around 14 yrs old and since May he is growing fast, along with Marcon who is also 14 yrs old, has a very good mind and has high grades in his academics. Aaron and Maureen are sparring partners. I am more strict with them when it comes to drills particularly techniques. Unlike with the older college students that sometimes they whine, it gets on my nerves and Kru Noel’s. But the kids, they trust you and then slowly after a few months they realize their skills are improving. No whining, no complaining, they just do what you order them to do because they know that what they’re drilling and practicing is good for them. They have a sense of purpose and focus quickly in their workouts and have fun doing it. Aaron and Maureen though are itching to test their skills. I hope MAP Baguio will hold kiddie Muay tourneys this coming February in Baguio that my wards can participate and test themselves.
January 2, 2009 at 8:31 pm |
It’s good to know that STI supports and has scholarships for the Philippine Team. It’s a good guarantee.
It would be such a pleasure to meet you, and your wife and kid. Like I said, you are always welcome any time.
It’s different with ministry as we focus on the ministry we are called by the Lord to minister too – to serve others before ourselves. It’s such a comfort to know that we are making a difference in these kids’ lives and that we are helping shape their future.
January 2, 2009 at 8:34 pm |
I hope Melchor Menor does it for free! That would be something!
If not Mel, then I hope Kru Vince Sobrano does more and more seminars. It would be fun to learn from him too.
January 2, 2009 at 8:35 pm |
Does MAP conduct Muay Boran classes too?
January 7, 2009 at 10:15 am |
Same reason why my wife prefers to teach high school students (she’s an English Teacher at Speechpower) rather than college students or professionals.
I hope so too, because I think that is the best way of developing future national athletes. Like all skills, it takes time to develop one’s prowess in muay thai. Have you made a plan or goals and objectives for your chapter this 2009? I’m thinking that you and Kru Noel can take the leadership and initiate tournaments for junior muay thai players. I can always relay to the MAP HQ if there’s any assistance that you need.
Hopefully, other academic institutions would follow STI’s example and also offer scholarships to deserving Filipino athletes. And I think they can align it with their Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
Regarding Kru Vince Soberano, there’s somebody who regularly drops by at my blog can answer your question. Paging, Richmond, paging Richmond. He he he
I don’t know with other chapters but MAP Ultra has muay boran classes but not on a regular basis.