9th NCR Muay Thai Tournament-Mayor Jejomar Binay Cup Friday, Jul 24 2009

As stated in my previous article,  July 18 and 19 is an action packed weekend.   The day after the successful URCC IV(held in July 18),  muay thai fans are treated to a spectacular display of muay thai skills in the 9th NCR Muay Thai Tournament- The Mayor Jejomar Binay Cup.

MAP Makati chapter, under the able leadership of Kru Jun Dellosa staged the said event at the Makati Sports Club in Leviste St. Salcedo Village, Makati City.   This tournament served as both the selection tournament of fighters who have earned the honor of representing NCR in the National Muay Thai Championship to be held in September and the regular every-two-months tournament organized by the association of MAP-NCR chapters.

MAP-Makati Chapter was able to get the support of the Mayor Jejomar Binay and have ensured that this tournament will be another success.

There’s a total of 22 matches with MAP Las Pinas Chapter, headed by Kru Dante Silvestre bringing home the Over-All Championship Trophy.   A new award was introduced in this competition, the Best Coach award and was unanimously given by the judges and jury to Kru Onyok Trasmonte of MAP-Makati.

Results of the 9th NCR Muay Thai Tournament/NCR Selection

1. Jenefer Eborde (QC) vs. Carleans Rivas (Caloocan) Winner
2. Janito Blanca (Makati) Winner vs. Jayson Basa (QC)
3. Jun Rey Granaderos (LP) vs. Danilo Dilag (QC) Winner
4. Jeremias Visa (LP) vs. Rodolfo Magala (Makati) Winner
5. Josue Rivera (Muntinlupa) Winner vs. Mel Joshua Donggod (Par)
6. Rhoda Mae Jimenez (Muntinlupa) vs. Apple Hernandez (LP) Winner
7. Magnolia Hernandez (Muntinlupa) vs. Patricia Aguilar (LP) Winner
8. Niarth Dan Dela Pena (LP) Winner vs. Ranil Sumanlinog (Caloocan)
9. Robert Reyes (Ateneo) vs. Jamael Macute (Makati) Winner
10. Leo Rico (Muntinlupa) vs. Redhen Precilla (LP) Winner
11. Ria Habana (Pasig) Winner vs. Yeelyn Garcia (QC)
12. Christian Barredo (LP) vs. Juan Rase (Muntinlupa) Winner
13. Gibson Ramos (Caloocan) vs. Kevin Lutestica (Makati) Winner
14. Jacinto Rivera (Makati) Winner vs. Kim dichoso (Par)
15. Cristian Pardinas (Cal) Winner vs. Gan Ganhinhin (QC)
16. Ronald Cruz (Ateneo) vs. Eric Aquino (Pasig) Winner
17. John Micheal Bunag (Makati) vs. Ian Pangalinan (Antipolo) Winner
18. Ronnel Luna (Pasig) vs. Stephen Salazar (Makati) Winner
19. Juan Lim (Ateneo) Winner vs. Rosenberg Rosete 9Makati)
20. Warren Beato (Par) vs. Juan Carlo Noveloso (LP) Winner
21. Nino Banatao (Antipolo) Winner vs. Andrew Kagaoan (Ateneo
22. Francisco Ricaforte (Pasig) vs. Patrick Javier (Ateneo) Winner

The tournament banner of the 9th NCR Muay Thai Tournament-Mayor Jejomar Binay’s Cup

The medals up for grabs and will be awarded to the winners of the selection for the nakmuays who will represent NCR in the National Muay Thai Championship this September

A very stylish and grand decoration of the venue.    MAP Makati has elevated the NCR muay thai competition to a higher stage.

Beck made her debut as judge in muay thai.  She has another goal in mind, to be an certified international muay thai judge and referee.  From a nakmuay, to kru, now to officiating team…while I remained as a humble nakmuay. He he he.

MAP Makati Chapter Head Kru Jun Dellosa giving his opening speech

The members of the judges and juries.  On the far right are the individual and Overall Championship trophies that awaits the winners of their matches.

Another view of the venue design and the ring.   These grand arrangements are only seen in professional boxing or MMA matches that are held in exclusive hotels.

Former Muay Thai national training pool member Danilo Dilag of MAP-QC is jubilant after taking the victory for a gold medal win.

Rodolfo Magala of MAP Makati and MAP Las Pinas’ Jeremias Visa touching gloves at the start of their bout.

The Honorable Mayor Jejomar Binay graced the event.  In his speech, he was surprised to find out that muay thai is already a popular sport and is pleased that this is already the second time that such a tournament was held in his city and has pledged his continous support for muay thai.

The Honorable Mayor J. Binay leading the awarding ceremony to the winners of their respective matches.

From left to right:  MAP President Mr. Red Dumuk, MAP-Chairperson on Committee on Women in Sports and coach Beck Cantillero, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, MAP-Chairperson on Grassroots Development and National Team Head Coach Kru Billy Alumno and MAP Makati Chapter Head Kru Jun Dellosa

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URCC XIV Aggression Wednesday, Jul 22 2009

July 18 and 19 is a fight-filled, action packed weekend.     Last July 18, the premier Mixed Martial Art event in the Philippines,  staged its 14th installment, dubbed,  URCC IVAggression.   This was held at the A. Venue Events center at Makati Avenue, Makati City.   There’s a total of 10 matches with 2 titles on the line, with 2 main events and one superfight.

Hybrid Yawyan’s Vicente Pajaro successfully defended his URCC Heavyweight title against Elorda MMA’s Panchito Estrada, winning via Armbar.  In the co-main event, Caloy Baduria pounded Cuban Remand Lazaro into submission.   Unarguably, the best fight of the evening is the main event, the Superfight between the reigning and undefeated URCC Welterweight Champion, Eduard “The Landslide” Folayang against Guam’s AJ Aguon.  The Pinoy MMA hero maintained his winning streak as he eked out a Unanimous decision win over the invader from Guam.

The following are the results of URCC XIV Aggression:

Match  Winner                                          Loser                    Result

1           Jet Lumawag                             Joel Taon              Ref  Stoppage

2.         Charles De Tomas                     Franz Altarejos      Ref Stoppage

3.         Erwin Focad                               Lando Espinosa      Ref Stoppage

4.         Badong Domasian                    Richie Redman        Tap out

5.         Eric Kelly                                     Robert Buminaand      Submission

6.         Reggie Amarante                      Raymond Carlos          Ref Stoppage

7.        Mike Natividad                          Ruben Sumido              Tap out

8.        Vicente Pajaro                           Panchito Estrada         Submission

9.        Caloy Baduria                             Remand Lazaro            Submission

10.      Eduard Folayang                       AJ Aguon                       Unanimous Decision

Beck and I were extremely excited over this event as we personally know 4 competitors, Charles De Tomas, a former member of the training pool for the Philippine Muay Team, Eric Kelly, my former fellow Yaw-Yan Ardigma gymmate, Ruben Sumido, former member of the RP Muay Thai team and lone gold medalist from the Philippines in the 2007 Asian Indoor Games and of course, the URCC Welterweight Champion, Eduard Folayang.

In the previous URCC, Beck and I were just shrieking fans supporting the fast rising MMA star, Eduard Folayang.  But it is indeed a very, very small world and last summer,  we didn’t know that we have a very, close common friend, Pastor/Kuya Eric Ortega and we were introduced formally.  Now, Eduard would send us text messages from time to time.   In this URCC, Beck and I are now one of the friends of a very down to Earth, unassuming, and most importantly, God-fearing MMA athlete.    Congrats, Eduard for retaining your title!

Note:  My persistent problem in photography is taking action pictures inside with dim lights.  The photos are taken are very, very awful, to say the least and none of them are worth of being posted here, except for those pictures with Eduard Folayang, because…these are not action photos. He he he

The ring girls sashayed on the ramp on their way to the ring.

The URCC Heavyweight Champion, Vicente Pajaro retaining his crown.

AJ Aguon on his way to the ring

Will somebody give me one of these t-shirts?

In the last few minutes of the 2nd round, Eduard Folayang suffered a cut on his eye brow due to an accidental head butt.     Despite the cut and being bloodied, The Landslide still fought bravely to secure a unanimous decision victory.

A very buffed Eduard Folayang.  Damn, I wish I have those pectorals and abs.

Beck posing with Eduard Folayang and the rest of the Lakay Wushu Team

The two pictures below are for our common friend, Pastor/Kuya Eric Ortega.    The four of us, Me, Beck, Eduard and Jay all look up to Kuya Eric and regard him as a very close Christian brother.  Pastor Eric is one of our wedding Godfather, while Jay San Pedro, Eduard’s manager will be married soon and Pastor Eric will solmenize the ceremony.

Eduard and his manager, Jay San Pedro

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RP’s Yellow Belt Promotion Saturday, Jul 11 2009

After about two months of consistent training, RP passed her examination and earned her yellow belt in karate with the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK), the leading proponent of karatedo in the country.     I hope RP would continue training and never lose sight of her goal of getting a medal or a trophy in an international competition.

RP doing the two-step sparring.

RP proudly displaying her yellow belt.  Her cousin Aprille was in Manila for training with her company and was able to join us for the afternoon.

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GIG Run 2009 Saturday, Jul 4 2009

Beck and I suddenly found a new love and registered to join the GIG (Green is Good) Run 2009 which was held at UP Diliman campus last June 28 .  This is my second 10k and should have been her first, but a few days before the said event, flu struck her which we almost thought that its the dreaded AH1N1, fortunately its not.    This is also RP’s second fun run, her first is the previous week’s Olympic Day Fun Run.

The one thing I dislike with running events is that they are held so freakin’ early in the morning.  Stricken with insomnia, its needless to say that I’m not a morning person.  So Beck, RP and I were late for the race.    When I reached the starting point, the 10K run has already started and so I have no choice but to join the start of the 5K.  Fortunately, there’s only a 10 minute difference, which means that I could still overtake some of the slow runners of the 10k.  Anyway, I could just deduct 10 minutes from my official time to determine my actual running time.

My goal for my second 10K  race is to finish it within 60 minutes.    The route of the race started near the front of Palma Hall at Roxas Avenue,  go around UP Campus via Magsaysay Avenue,  E.  Jacinto Avenue, to the College of Science Grounds,  to Quirino Avenue,  back to Roxas Avenue going towards the UP oblation, then right turn to Osmena Avenue, past to the College of Music then right turn to Roces Avenue and another right turn back to Roxas Avenue.  10K runners must do 2 laps of this route while the 5k runners will only do 1.    The 2.2K costume right is just one lap around the Academic Oval.

Since I started the race late, I had a sense of urgency to run fast to make up for the 10 minutes  I lost.    Running around UP is very pleasurable, with its tree-shaded roads, the only downside to this race is that the drinking stations have ran out of water (when I already running for my 2nd lap) and for the last 3kms of the race, I am dying of thirst.    Again, I fell short of my target time of finishing the race under 60 minutes.  My official time is exactly 1 hour and 10 minutes, so deducting 10 minutes for my late start, it took me a full 60 minutes to finish 10 kilometers.    No choice but to train and try harder next time.

RP posing with Zorro, they both joined the 2.2k costume race.

We were surprised to see MAP Vice President Andy Galvez in this race.    He finished well ahead of me in this race, well he is a strong runner because he joins the RP team when they train every morning.

RP crossing the finish line

Beck, RP and Andy

The organizers of GIG run 2009, the UP Mountaineers.   They organized this event as a fund raiser and also the create awareness on the need to protect the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan.

Anubis is also beginning to enjoy these races because its also a chance for him to run outdoor.

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Ajarn Pudpadnoy’s 58th Birthday Friday, Jul 3 2009

The first time Ajarn Pudpadnoy celebrated his birthday in the Philippines is by staying at his room and drank a few glasses of red wine.    Being in the country for just a few months, and having some difficulty speaking in English, he has no friends to celebrate his birthday with.    But that was 2008.  This year, Ajarn already calls the RP Muay Thai team and the officers of MAP as his family and he invited them to a simple celebration of his 58th birthday at Khao Pad restaurant in Julia Vargas Ave. Pasig City.

The officers and coaches of MAP together with Ajarn Pudpadnoy and his wife.

A very sweet moment.  Ajarn Pudpadnoy kisses his wife.

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