The changing landscape of PH martial arts

Now you will hear sports like sambo, jiu-jitsu, and even no-gi grappling.

a quota of 50,000 Afghan refugees is to preempt on our right to choose the number Afghans we are obligated to accept with us wondering whether the US is willing to match the number it imposed on us as a lackey.

The whole of Latin America from Mexico to Argentina are watching just how the US have been stringent in holding and detaining questionable immigrants along its border.

Many of them have been languishing for years without the possibility of being allowed entry into the US.

If the US cannot de-clog its swelling number of immigrant applicants, it is with more reason why we should not comply with their dictate of accepting questionable immigrants.

They do not owe an iota of service and gratitude to this country.

Maybe they served as interpreters and/ or spies for the US forces during the occupation, but not for the Philippines.

Examining the records just how we messed ourselves into this interventionist policy of the US, it would seem the country rather promised to accept the 50,000 Afghan as refugees.

Such act is unconstitutional, not to say illegal.

The allocation given to countries constitute a gross interference in our internal affairs by a permanent member of the UN security council.

Right now, there are millions of Mexican immigrants awaiting to have their immigration papers processed.

In their desire to pass this stringent sanitation, many cannot hope to pass through this US policy.

Professor Clarita Carlos, the former national security adviser of the President, is also opposed to the idea of accommodating Afghan refugees.

She said that giving entry to the to the Taliban is risky and an added cost to our security problem.

She added it was the US that provoked the war in the name of democracy and recruited many traitors to defend their cause not knowing they will end up losing the war characterized by their abrupt pullout of its troops like what they did in Vietnam in 1973.

Americans knew that many of these Afghans enlisted themselves as interpreters and have little knowledge about freedom and democracy but are mainly seeking employment hoping they will be absorbed as immigrants after the fall out.

This recommendation by Ambassador Romualdez to allocate potential terrorists is similar to his suggestion of lending some areas we allocated to the US as military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

The fellow does not seem to understand the concept of sovereignty of the State, that foreign military bases, even if they are on lease or for rent, cannot be the subject of further sublease by the state.

Such must comply with the Constitutional requirement.

In which case, the Philippines cannot just lease to Taiwan, Japan or South Korea any of those bases designated under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

(rpkapunan@gmail.com)

In the recent Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, combat sports like boxing, taekwondo, kickboxing, judo, jiujitsu, wushu, and even the lesser known vovinam and Kuhn kmer, have contributed heavily to the Philippines medal haul. In the 70s, martial arts were just for the movies.

Action stars like Reye Malonzo, Trobador Ramos, Ramon Zamora, and Roberto Gonzales, to name a few, were either black belt holders in karate or, at least, have trained in the popular Japanese martial arts.

Karate was synonymous with martial arts during that time and boxing was for the hardcore fighters wishing to ply their trade in the professional stage of prized fighting. That was the time when you either

No wonder, Benguet is acknowledged as the martial arts capital of the Philippines become an actor as a karate artist or a professional boxer. Then in the next decade, came out Monsour Del Rosario who became the face of taekwondo and a popular actor after winning championships in international tournaments.

In the late 80s, taekwondo surpassed the popularity of karate in the Philippines. In fact, these days, taekwondo is arguably the most participated in martial arts tournament among young enthusiasts.

The Ultimate Fighting Championships in the United States has unleashed a new breed of sports discipline—Mixed Martial Arts.

The active growth of martial arts has given Philippine sports a big boost as more athletes join combat sports to represent the country in the international arena.

At the professional level, Philippine MMA history would not be complete without mentioning the name Edward Folayang, who was among the earliest big names in MMA.

The former MMA champion in the One Championship has opened the door for more opportunities for young aspirants.

While he’s still active, Folayang has opened a new gym in Benguet, along with his colleagues from Team Lakay, naming it the Lions Nations. He aims to pass the torch and continue the fire burning for Philippine martial arts. Philippine martial arts have never been more robust and the opportunities a gogo. By the way, Benguet is the only province in the country where the schools offer athletic scholarships for students practicing nonOlympic combat sports like wushu aside from karate and taekwondo.

No wonder, Benguet is acknowledged as the martial arts capital of the Philippines.