soncen
Yellow Belt
Hello Everyone,
Greetings to all!!! I just want to present our version about the origin of the Balintawak in this forum to the FMA community, hoping to contribute some information that was actually happening to the best of my knowledge and belief that is true and very authentic. I am a Cebuano with residence here in Cebu and I know the history of our Martial art since the beginning when I started training with the art. I myself in the lineage of Mr. Velez was now also teaching the art and I had to inform our students the real story about the origin of our martial art. A lot of people had written an article about the Balintawak where some are not even a practitioner of the Balintawak style and it is understandable when you can go over with some inaccuracies in some of their stories. There is also some of our brother-Balintawak who writes articles in some international magazines and in the Internet believing that the information that they had gathered is all correct. But I think we have to readily understand, as everyone has its own honest agenda in his or her life, have their own self-motivation in doing things for themselves letting others know what they believed is really correct, although in my honest opinion, I cannot just leave it behind and let the wrong information for me to remain uncorrected forever. I am here to share my knowledge but open to accept any correction if anyone honestly found to have inaccuracies in my post.
Venancio (Anciong) Bacon student to Lorenzo Saavedra invented the Balintawak style of martial art. He was the teacher of Delfin Lopez, Vicente Atillo, Timor Maranga, Arnulfo Mongcal, Isidro Bardilas, Lorenzo Gonzales, Alfredo (Pedong) Ouano former Mayor of Mandaue City and Father of the present Mayor Teddy Ouano. Teddy Buot, Arturo Sanchez, Atty. Jose Villasin were student to Anciong in the 1958 to 1960, Willy, Dom and Nardo Fernandez were students in the mid-sixties, Bobby Tabimina is a student to Anciong in the 1970's after learning the basic from Atty. Villasin and Mr. Velez and etc. Atty. Villasin was the teacher of Dr. Dom Lopez, Nilo Servila, Teofilo A. Velez, Sam Buot and etc. Mr. Velez was the teacher of his three sons Chito, Monie and Eddie, Teofilo V. Roma trained with Mr. Velez in 1969, Bobby Taboada, Nick Elizar, Romeo de la Rosa, Wennie de la Rosa and etc. were also students to Mr. Velez. Teofilo V. Roma was the teacher of Santiago Cabahug, Justo Potolin, Jose Villamor, Rogelio Anter and Fiscal Bienvenido N. Mabanto Jr. Raul C. Noynay, Romulo G. Genandoy and myself were student to Teofilo Roma in the second half of the 1980’s. Teofilo V. Roma had his own personal knowledge of the origin of the Balintawak Self-defense because he had been in constant company with Anciong in the last five years of his life. Anciong although a little bit weaker on that period due to his illness was still able to give some good lessons in the “cuentada”, but the most valuable thing they developed was their closeness, and their friendship has extended to a father and son relationship. His son Meliton had abandoned him when he was contacted illness that contributed much in his agony for a long time and his students in the later days of his life became his instant family. Roma together with Mr. Velez and Atty. Villasin had contributed largely for the support of his daily financial expenses and medication.
Lorenzo Saavedraaccording to Anciong Bacon was an expert arnis fighter who joined the secret revolutionary movements that fight against the Spaniards when he was only about twenty years old. He was arrested and incarcerated in jail for about thirty years. While in jail he practice the art of arnis fighting with a fellow prisoner a Frenchman who was expert in fencing to enhance his skill. When he was freed in the year 1900, he taught the art to his two nephews Teodoro (Doring) Saavedra and Federico (Pedring) Saavedra who was then in their 20’s and the news about his skill was spreading all over the province. Gregorio Canete together with his brothers Pedro and Gavino an arnis practitioners themselves heard the news about this man because of his growing popularity and they were convinced of Saavedra’s mastery of his craft when they heard no one among his enemies stood before him in a testing. Gregorio brought his children Eulogio (Yoling), Florentino and Felimon Momoy) to further study arnis fighting under him. In 1920 Saavedra organized the Labangon Fencing Club and in 1929 when Lorenzo Saavedra was already at the age of seventy-seven years old had also taught the art to the young Venancio (Anciong) Bacon son of his close friend who by then at the age of only seventeen years old. In 1932 the organization was renamed the Doce Pares Arnis Club and Eulogio (Yoling) Canete age 31 was elected as the President. Venancio (Anciong) Bacon who stands only at 5’2” and weighs only about 120 lbs. was the best among the entire student of Lorenzo Saavedra, but because he lacks formal education and very young at age, several of his co-members were just taken him for granted although Yoling Canete has nothing to do with the bickering. After the death of his teacher in 1945, the organization was regrouped, but Anciong did not rejoined, he was so upset by the way some officers and members are treating him to be a second-class citizen before, while giving some special attention to new members who lacks the skill in arnis fighting just for the reason only because they had gotten some good academic education.
He eventually seceded and goes on into self-practice and for about five years his neighbors would always noticed him with a very estranged movement, occasionally gesturing his arms and body as if he is fighting with an invisible person. This was the time when he was refining his skill and researching for a new technique. He talks about this new technique to all his friends explaining the mechanics of the fight and he convinced them to learn with him. But he was only taunted, nobody believes in him, because he is showing different actuation that was not normally seen on him before. They called him (Anciong-buang) insane as the people believes that he started losing his sanity unable to accept the death of his teacher and remains in the state of mourning for that matter, because he cannot help but on a moment moving his stick to strike in the air, then walk around and continue the shadow fighting he used to do almost everyday and every time people saw him would mock, but there’s only one person who has the nerve to try and heed the invitation to learn with him.
Delfin Lopez a co-member in Saavedra’s group was the first to accept the invitation just only for fun at first followed by several others. But long after when he observed that the system was very sophisticated he take the training more seriously. After learning the mechanics of the fight, he go on challenging anybody especially old members in the Saavedra’s group to test his new skill of fighting. But nobody had allegedly ever stand before him on that moment according to some of his acquaintances and neighbors, some training centers were close due to frequent invasion by Delfin Lopez until then that most of them avoided him anymore for fear of harm, as they observed Delfin on that period was seem to be unconquerable. People concluded him to be a very dangerous fighter on that moment whom, was well known to disperse labor strike. He had made so many enemies, but nobody ever dared to fight him back in a face-to-face, because of his toughness until their was one occasion his enemy shot him at the distance for the purpose to get him dead as Delfin Lopez was becoming so abusive on his skill by his frequent invasion to any newly organized self-defense training centers, or when in any moment he heard about of any person teaching martial art, he would come to try and smack them down. Although he survive on that moment when he was shot, but in one other occasion an unknown enemy stabbed him in the back causing of him instant death.
However, during his time he also had some good friends who are all a loyal friend to him, as Delfin Lopez although was a dangerous to his enemy but he was also a very generous person, a thoughtful and very loyal to his very close friend. One of his friends was Vicente Atillo another co-member in the Saavedra’s group. He demonstrated this new martial art technique and shows to him the mechanics of the fight later on Vicente Atillo was eventually invited by him to also learn with Anciong Bacon. Thus Vicente Atillo too became a member of Anciong’s group (before naming it as the Club 56 in 1956 where large number of student had come to train with him). When Delfin Lopez a bulky person who stands about 5’11” in height and weighs around 200 lbs. thought that he had already learned all the techniques in the Anciong’s art of fighting, challenge his teacher to a duel to test his capability thinking of himself that the skills he had acquired would be enough to overpower the man as he had tested it already in several occasions.But when the fight began, he was waylaid right away receiving multiple lashes all over his body.The fight made him convinced of the excellent skill and superior capability of his teacher and by then he submitted himself again as a student. Timoteo Maranga who stands at 5’10” was a Police major who had also some background in arnis fighting aside from being a wrestling champion had tried to challenge Anciong in a duel prior to training with him, but he suffered an embarrassing defeat when his shoulder bone was dislocated. Maranga trained with Anciong after the healing of his shoulder.
Anciong Bacon did not really organized a group as what other writers had published as he once said he lacks formal education and has no experience in administering a group. He is also not comfortable in joining a group to be under the leadership of an educated people whom he believed couldn’t be superior to him in terms of skill. What he had always intended to do all his life is only teaching of the art to those who desire to learn with him, and every time he visited his student for a training session, everyone who heard where he was gone would also come and trained with him. They spontaneously gather from one place to another, way back then before finding a permanent place of their meetings. Anciong would only like to talk about the mechanics of his style and apply it in drill session. His follower was increasing in number, new students were emerging, such notable personalities (aside from Delfin Lopez, Vicente Atillo and Timor Maranga) like Arnulfo Mongcal, Tinong Ybanez, Lorenzo Gonzalez, Dr. Cerna, Alfredo (Pedong) Ouano former Mayor of Mandaue City, Isidro Bardilas, Ovtavius Jefe, Teddy Buot, Arturo Sanchez, Eduardo Baculi, the Fernandez brothers Willy, Dom and Nardo and etc. The training space in every student’s house can no longer accommodate for the training session. Eduardo Baculi offered a larger space at the back of his watch repair shop in Balintawak St., to be their permanent training venue and the group change its name as the Balintawak group, so thus with their new Martial art was called befitting in it and the purpose was to identify it from the Doce Pares.
Atty. Jose Villasin was one among with the students who studied with Anciong Bacon in this new location. Delfin Lopez, who was feared by several arnis practitioner during that period, would sometimes pick him up as training partner. But this man would always make him a subject of mockery, especially when there is a gathering of friends. Delfin would shows up his skills to his invited guest to brag about his deadly skill in self-defense fighting at the expense of Atty. Jose Villasin. When Anciong saw all these misdemeanor of his senior student reprimanded Delfin, but the scolding did not matter to him and he continued to do what he pleases to himself and did not bother to give enough attention to what Anciong had told to him. Grandmaster Anciong, who was upset by this misbehavior of his senior student, began to teach Atty. Villasin all the techniques of combat fighting in a secret meeting session and trained him without the knowledge of everybody. In one other occasion Delfin again invited Atty. Jose Villasin to be as a dummy in a show attended by a small gathering of audience. Amid the clicking of arnis with the application of the techniques he had learned, Delfin who was then unsuspecting of what may happens next was aptly vanquished. It was the time of sweet revenged for Atty. Villasin and a great disgraced to Delfin that in shame awhile after, shouted denunciated words and rushed away. Never again had Delfin try to invite Villasin to be as a dummy after that very shameful occasion in his life. Some notable students of Atty. Villasin aside from his children and Mr. Velez were Dr. Dom Lopez, Nilo Servila and Sam Buot one of the best of his students.
In 1963, Villasin invited his close friend Mr. Teofilo A. Velez to learn also with the Balintawak style. Mr. Teofilo A. Velez by then his mid-30's was strong and bulky and about his height, agreed to try and heed the invitation to learn, but not after a try out with him in a duel. Mr. Velez, who was then an amateur boxer and a practitioner of Doce Pares arnis that he acquired from a certain Santos Denampo, was very confident on his knowledge in arnis and bare hand fighting but he was handily defeated in a so short while and that started his training with Atty. Villasin. Mr. Velez also trained with Anciong until he mastered all the techniques and secrets of the art. As the group was not yet formally organized on that moment, Mr. Velez opened the idea of forming an organization by him self. It was in the mid 60’s when Mr. Velez has granted the permission by Anciong to organize a group in his residence in Sikatuna St., joining the group were only a few of Anciong’s students together with Atty. Villasin and his followers. When the meeting was convened Atty. Villasin was elected President. They called the new organization as the Balintawak Arnis International and most of the members were their own students.
Anciong continued teaching of his own although he frequently visited Mr. Velez house to observe the training while several of his senior students were not joining. Timor Maranga established the Tres Personas now the Cebu Eskrima Maranga, Teddy Buot had gone abroad in the 1970’s, Tinong Ybanez established a group in Lapu-lapu City, Vicente Atillo with his son Crispulo (Ising) Atillo established the NACVAM. Arturo Sanchez open a club gym in his residence at R. R. Landon St., Cebu City, Arnulfo Mongcal teaches the art in his home province in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and etc. Atty. Villasin held the position as President of the Balintawak Arnis International until his death. Mr. Velez made some innovation and introduced the grouping techniques in the teaching method and the integration of their students did not matter to them as the system works out smoothly for they had the kind of good companionship and respect to one another. There is only one thing that they differ in opinion and ideas where Atty. Villasin a loyal follower to Anciong Bacon keep his promise not to publicly teach the art for the reason that it might be copied by other people and Mr. Velez at first had followed the same principle. But on the passing day he changed his mind for he believed that their martial art must be known throughout the world, especially when on that moment their were foreigners taking videos for documentary about our Filipino Martial art and he was one of the invited guest to demonstrate the Balintawak self-defense system. Mr. Velez explained the reason about the change of his mind, but Atty. Villasin was not been so happy of this development. Mr. Velez only proceeded and goes on his own way until a friendly fight of their students between Bobby Taboada and one of the best students of Atty. Villasin took place. In the ensuing fight Bobby won very impressively.
This event made Atty. Jose Villasin very angry as he told Mr. Velez earlier not to teach Bobby Taboada of the advance lessons of arnis on that moment as he was thinking Bobby was becoming very disrespectful to him when he go with Mr. Velez to be a dummy in an exhibition show. But Mr. Velez had a hard time to accommodate the request of his close friend because Bobby Taboada is like a son to him and he had to give every good thing to all that is very dear to him especially to his most loyal follower. The trouble was worsening when their children Eddie Velez and John Villasin exchange reviling words sending some detestable rumors about their skills through their acquaintances {now had reconciled). In this grieving situation, their friendship was falling on the verge of attrition because the other party does not want to give in and look for a solution to end the conflict, that with which eventually broke them apart and for good.Mr. Velez move residence to Junquera St., Cebu City to keep his family away from the Villasin’s family hoping to patch up things in the future. Mr. Velez continued to teach the Balintawak fighting system to his entire loyal follower. In this moment, he commissioned about twelve of his disciples to teach of their own. Mr. Velez eventually seceded from the organization he help established with Atty. Jose Villasin and formally established his own Organization in April 17, 1982 together with his disciples in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, Philippines.
The new organization was named as the TEOVEL’S BALINTAWAK GROUP by his disciples and Mr. Velez divided the group into twelve chapter club divisions and assigned them to his twelve most trusted Master Instructors in color-coding scheme for identification of their respective area of responsibility. The Chapter Club division in Mandaue City area was formed coded in color Yellow under the headship of Teofilo V. Roma. Nick Elizar was assigned the White Chapter and he organized it in Barrio Luz and now he named it as Nickel-stick Escrima Balintawak, Bobby Elizar organized in Labangon but later merge it with Nick Elizar his younger brother. Joe Cavan in Barrio Inglis was also merge with Nick Elizar’s Chapter, Monie Velez established his own in Guadalupe, Wennie de la Rosa in YMCA, Faustino (Tonying) Patalinghug established in Lapu-lapu City, Eddie Velez organized his own Chapter club division in their house in Junquera St., Central Cebu City. Nene Gaabucayan was assigned the Gold Chapter and established it in Cagayan de Oro City his home Province. Romeo de la Rosa’s assignment was in Sanciangco St. Bobby Taboada was assigned the Red Chapter in absentia as he went to New Zealand way before the formal establishment of the organization. Pacito (Chito) Velez was assigned the Green Chapter Club in Tabunoc, Talisay City after he married and established a resident in the area.
Teofilo A. Velez had really work hard to promote and propagate his innovative style of Balintawak. He encouraged all his followers to continue the teaching tradition to spread out our style by all means in promoting they know how without engaging into troubles with other people but honestly tell the exact story of its existence before he passed away in 1989. Roma, Nick Elizar, Chito and Eddie Velez and some other masters including those that are once upon a time students of Gm Anciong Bacon such as Lorenzo Gonzales whom I know because he was the uncle of Romulo Gonzales Genandoy, the Fernandez’s brothers Willy, Dom and Nards were also helping a lot in providing some vital information, I know them personally because they are the first cousin of my wife. The information that I gathered includes the historical facts about its origin, the story of its pioneering disciples, down to the next generation of followers who benefited the first wave of transmogrification of the teaching method. Gm Teofilo A. Velez instituted innovation specifically the grouping order of instruction that he originally developed with which things most impressed to Atty. Villasin his teacher that later on adopted the system during his lifetime and the honor was only credited to him.
When Pacito (Chito) Velez the favorite son and most trusted follower broke his arms in a car accident, Gm Velez was saddened and very much frustrated about achieving of this great endeavor of him and because of this tragedy, he trained all his disciples giving them all the secrets of Self-defense fighting that he learns from Atty. Villasin and Anciong Bacon thinking that his son would forever be disabled, so that there would be much plenty of his followers aside from his two other sons to succeed in propagating the art for him.
Respectfully,
Wilson R. Ceniza
Teovel Balintawak Self-defense Club
Basak, Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines
Greetings to all!!! I just want to present our version about the origin of the Balintawak in this forum to the FMA community, hoping to contribute some information that was actually happening to the best of my knowledge and belief that is true and very authentic. I am a Cebuano with residence here in Cebu and I know the history of our Martial art since the beginning when I started training with the art. I myself in the lineage of Mr. Velez was now also teaching the art and I had to inform our students the real story about the origin of our martial art. A lot of people had written an article about the Balintawak where some are not even a practitioner of the Balintawak style and it is understandable when you can go over with some inaccuracies in some of their stories. There is also some of our brother-Balintawak who writes articles in some international magazines and in the Internet believing that the information that they had gathered is all correct. But I think we have to readily understand, as everyone has its own honest agenda in his or her life, have their own self-motivation in doing things for themselves letting others know what they believed is really correct, although in my honest opinion, I cannot just leave it behind and let the wrong information for me to remain uncorrected forever. I am here to share my knowledge but open to accept any correction if anyone honestly found to have inaccuracies in my post.
Venancio (Anciong) Bacon student to Lorenzo Saavedra invented the Balintawak style of martial art. He was the teacher of Delfin Lopez, Vicente Atillo, Timor Maranga, Arnulfo Mongcal, Isidro Bardilas, Lorenzo Gonzales, Alfredo (Pedong) Ouano former Mayor of Mandaue City and Father of the present Mayor Teddy Ouano. Teddy Buot, Arturo Sanchez, Atty. Jose Villasin were student to Anciong in the 1958 to 1960, Willy, Dom and Nardo Fernandez were students in the mid-sixties, Bobby Tabimina is a student to Anciong in the 1970's after learning the basic from Atty. Villasin and Mr. Velez and etc. Atty. Villasin was the teacher of Dr. Dom Lopez, Nilo Servila, Teofilo A. Velez, Sam Buot and etc. Mr. Velez was the teacher of his three sons Chito, Monie and Eddie, Teofilo V. Roma trained with Mr. Velez in 1969, Bobby Taboada, Nick Elizar, Romeo de la Rosa, Wennie de la Rosa and etc. were also students to Mr. Velez. Teofilo V. Roma was the teacher of Santiago Cabahug, Justo Potolin, Jose Villamor, Rogelio Anter and Fiscal Bienvenido N. Mabanto Jr. Raul C. Noynay, Romulo G. Genandoy and myself were student to Teofilo Roma in the second half of the 1980’s. Teofilo V. Roma had his own personal knowledge of the origin of the Balintawak Self-defense because he had been in constant company with Anciong in the last five years of his life. Anciong although a little bit weaker on that period due to his illness was still able to give some good lessons in the “cuentada”, but the most valuable thing they developed was their closeness, and their friendship has extended to a father and son relationship. His son Meliton had abandoned him when he was contacted illness that contributed much in his agony for a long time and his students in the later days of his life became his instant family. Roma together with Mr. Velez and Atty. Villasin had contributed largely for the support of his daily financial expenses and medication.
Lorenzo Saavedraaccording to Anciong Bacon was an expert arnis fighter who joined the secret revolutionary movements that fight against the Spaniards when he was only about twenty years old. He was arrested and incarcerated in jail for about thirty years. While in jail he practice the art of arnis fighting with a fellow prisoner a Frenchman who was expert in fencing to enhance his skill. When he was freed in the year 1900, he taught the art to his two nephews Teodoro (Doring) Saavedra and Federico (Pedring) Saavedra who was then in their 20’s and the news about his skill was spreading all over the province. Gregorio Canete together with his brothers Pedro and Gavino an arnis practitioners themselves heard the news about this man because of his growing popularity and they were convinced of Saavedra’s mastery of his craft when they heard no one among his enemies stood before him in a testing. Gregorio brought his children Eulogio (Yoling), Florentino and Felimon Momoy) to further study arnis fighting under him. In 1920 Saavedra organized the Labangon Fencing Club and in 1929 when Lorenzo Saavedra was already at the age of seventy-seven years old had also taught the art to the young Venancio (Anciong) Bacon son of his close friend who by then at the age of only seventeen years old. In 1932 the organization was renamed the Doce Pares Arnis Club and Eulogio (Yoling) Canete age 31 was elected as the President. Venancio (Anciong) Bacon who stands only at 5’2” and weighs only about 120 lbs. was the best among the entire student of Lorenzo Saavedra, but because he lacks formal education and very young at age, several of his co-members were just taken him for granted although Yoling Canete has nothing to do with the bickering. After the death of his teacher in 1945, the organization was regrouped, but Anciong did not rejoined, he was so upset by the way some officers and members are treating him to be a second-class citizen before, while giving some special attention to new members who lacks the skill in arnis fighting just for the reason only because they had gotten some good academic education.
He eventually seceded and goes on into self-practice and for about five years his neighbors would always noticed him with a very estranged movement, occasionally gesturing his arms and body as if he is fighting with an invisible person. This was the time when he was refining his skill and researching for a new technique. He talks about this new technique to all his friends explaining the mechanics of the fight and he convinced them to learn with him. But he was only taunted, nobody believes in him, because he is showing different actuation that was not normally seen on him before. They called him (Anciong-buang) insane as the people believes that he started losing his sanity unable to accept the death of his teacher and remains in the state of mourning for that matter, because he cannot help but on a moment moving his stick to strike in the air, then walk around and continue the shadow fighting he used to do almost everyday and every time people saw him would mock, but there’s only one person who has the nerve to try and heed the invitation to learn with him.
Delfin Lopez a co-member in Saavedra’s group was the first to accept the invitation just only for fun at first followed by several others. But long after when he observed that the system was very sophisticated he take the training more seriously. After learning the mechanics of the fight, he go on challenging anybody especially old members in the Saavedra’s group to test his new skill of fighting. But nobody had allegedly ever stand before him on that moment according to some of his acquaintances and neighbors, some training centers were close due to frequent invasion by Delfin Lopez until then that most of them avoided him anymore for fear of harm, as they observed Delfin on that period was seem to be unconquerable. People concluded him to be a very dangerous fighter on that moment whom, was well known to disperse labor strike. He had made so many enemies, but nobody ever dared to fight him back in a face-to-face, because of his toughness until their was one occasion his enemy shot him at the distance for the purpose to get him dead as Delfin Lopez was becoming so abusive on his skill by his frequent invasion to any newly organized self-defense training centers, or when in any moment he heard about of any person teaching martial art, he would come to try and smack them down. Although he survive on that moment when he was shot, but in one other occasion an unknown enemy stabbed him in the back causing of him instant death.
However, during his time he also had some good friends who are all a loyal friend to him, as Delfin Lopez although was a dangerous to his enemy but he was also a very generous person, a thoughtful and very loyal to his very close friend. One of his friends was Vicente Atillo another co-member in the Saavedra’s group. He demonstrated this new martial art technique and shows to him the mechanics of the fight later on Vicente Atillo was eventually invited by him to also learn with Anciong Bacon. Thus Vicente Atillo too became a member of Anciong’s group (before naming it as the Club 56 in 1956 where large number of student had come to train with him). When Delfin Lopez a bulky person who stands about 5’11” in height and weighs around 200 lbs. thought that he had already learned all the techniques in the Anciong’s art of fighting, challenge his teacher to a duel to test his capability thinking of himself that the skills he had acquired would be enough to overpower the man as he had tested it already in several occasions.But when the fight began, he was waylaid right away receiving multiple lashes all over his body.The fight made him convinced of the excellent skill and superior capability of his teacher and by then he submitted himself again as a student. Timoteo Maranga who stands at 5’10” was a Police major who had also some background in arnis fighting aside from being a wrestling champion had tried to challenge Anciong in a duel prior to training with him, but he suffered an embarrassing defeat when his shoulder bone was dislocated. Maranga trained with Anciong after the healing of his shoulder.
Anciong Bacon did not really organized a group as what other writers had published as he once said he lacks formal education and has no experience in administering a group. He is also not comfortable in joining a group to be under the leadership of an educated people whom he believed couldn’t be superior to him in terms of skill. What he had always intended to do all his life is only teaching of the art to those who desire to learn with him, and every time he visited his student for a training session, everyone who heard where he was gone would also come and trained with him. They spontaneously gather from one place to another, way back then before finding a permanent place of their meetings. Anciong would only like to talk about the mechanics of his style and apply it in drill session. His follower was increasing in number, new students were emerging, such notable personalities (aside from Delfin Lopez, Vicente Atillo and Timor Maranga) like Arnulfo Mongcal, Tinong Ybanez, Lorenzo Gonzalez, Dr. Cerna, Alfredo (Pedong) Ouano former Mayor of Mandaue City, Isidro Bardilas, Ovtavius Jefe, Teddy Buot, Arturo Sanchez, Eduardo Baculi, the Fernandez brothers Willy, Dom and Nardo and etc. The training space in every student’s house can no longer accommodate for the training session. Eduardo Baculi offered a larger space at the back of his watch repair shop in Balintawak St., to be their permanent training venue and the group change its name as the Balintawak group, so thus with their new Martial art was called befitting in it and the purpose was to identify it from the Doce Pares.
Atty. Jose Villasin was one among with the students who studied with Anciong Bacon in this new location. Delfin Lopez, who was feared by several arnis practitioner during that period, would sometimes pick him up as training partner. But this man would always make him a subject of mockery, especially when there is a gathering of friends. Delfin would shows up his skills to his invited guest to brag about his deadly skill in self-defense fighting at the expense of Atty. Jose Villasin. When Anciong saw all these misdemeanor of his senior student reprimanded Delfin, but the scolding did not matter to him and he continued to do what he pleases to himself and did not bother to give enough attention to what Anciong had told to him. Grandmaster Anciong, who was upset by this misbehavior of his senior student, began to teach Atty. Villasin all the techniques of combat fighting in a secret meeting session and trained him without the knowledge of everybody. In one other occasion Delfin again invited Atty. Jose Villasin to be as a dummy in a show attended by a small gathering of audience. Amid the clicking of arnis with the application of the techniques he had learned, Delfin who was then unsuspecting of what may happens next was aptly vanquished. It was the time of sweet revenged for Atty. Villasin and a great disgraced to Delfin that in shame awhile after, shouted denunciated words and rushed away. Never again had Delfin try to invite Villasin to be as a dummy after that very shameful occasion in his life. Some notable students of Atty. Villasin aside from his children and Mr. Velez were Dr. Dom Lopez, Nilo Servila and Sam Buot one of the best of his students.
In 1963, Villasin invited his close friend Mr. Teofilo A. Velez to learn also with the Balintawak style. Mr. Teofilo A. Velez by then his mid-30's was strong and bulky and about his height, agreed to try and heed the invitation to learn, but not after a try out with him in a duel. Mr. Velez, who was then an amateur boxer and a practitioner of Doce Pares arnis that he acquired from a certain Santos Denampo, was very confident on his knowledge in arnis and bare hand fighting but he was handily defeated in a so short while and that started his training with Atty. Villasin. Mr. Velez also trained with Anciong until he mastered all the techniques and secrets of the art. As the group was not yet formally organized on that moment, Mr. Velez opened the idea of forming an organization by him self. It was in the mid 60’s when Mr. Velez has granted the permission by Anciong to organize a group in his residence in Sikatuna St., joining the group were only a few of Anciong’s students together with Atty. Villasin and his followers. When the meeting was convened Atty. Villasin was elected President. They called the new organization as the Balintawak Arnis International and most of the members were their own students.
Anciong continued teaching of his own although he frequently visited Mr. Velez house to observe the training while several of his senior students were not joining. Timor Maranga established the Tres Personas now the Cebu Eskrima Maranga, Teddy Buot had gone abroad in the 1970’s, Tinong Ybanez established a group in Lapu-lapu City, Vicente Atillo with his son Crispulo (Ising) Atillo established the NACVAM. Arturo Sanchez open a club gym in his residence at R. R. Landon St., Cebu City, Arnulfo Mongcal teaches the art in his home province in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and etc. Atty. Villasin held the position as President of the Balintawak Arnis International until his death. Mr. Velez made some innovation and introduced the grouping techniques in the teaching method and the integration of their students did not matter to them as the system works out smoothly for they had the kind of good companionship and respect to one another. There is only one thing that they differ in opinion and ideas where Atty. Villasin a loyal follower to Anciong Bacon keep his promise not to publicly teach the art for the reason that it might be copied by other people and Mr. Velez at first had followed the same principle. But on the passing day he changed his mind for he believed that their martial art must be known throughout the world, especially when on that moment their were foreigners taking videos for documentary about our Filipino Martial art and he was one of the invited guest to demonstrate the Balintawak self-defense system. Mr. Velez explained the reason about the change of his mind, but Atty. Villasin was not been so happy of this development. Mr. Velez only proceeded and goes on his own way until a friendly fight of their students between Bobby Taboada and one of the best students of Atty. Villasin took place. In the ensuing fight Bobby won very impressively.
This event made Atty. Jose Villasin very angry as he told Mr. Velez earlier not to teach Bobby Taboada of the advance lessons of arnis on that moment as he was thinking Bobby was becoming very disrespectful to him when he go with Mr. Velez to be a dummy in an exhibition show. But Mr. Velez had a hard time to accommodate the request of his close friend because Bobby Taboada is like a son to him and he had to give every good thing to all that is very dear to him especially to his most loyal follower. The trouble was worsening when their children Eddie Velez and John Villasin exchange reviling words sending some detestable rumors about their skills through their acquaintances {now had reconciled). In this grieving situation, their friendship was falling on the verge of attrition because the other party does not want to give in and look for a solution to end the conflict, that with which eventually broke them apart and for good.Mr. Velez move residence to Junquera St., Cebu City to keep his family away from the Villasin’s family hoping to patch up things in the future. Mr. Velez continued to teach the Balintawak fighting system to his entire loyal follower. In this moment, he commissioned about twelve of his disciples to teach of their own. Mr. Velez eventually seceded from the organization he help established with Atty. Jose Villasin and formally established his own Organization in April 17, 1982 together with his disciples in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, Philippines.
The new organization was named as the TEOVEL’S BALINTAWAK GROUP by his disciples and Mr. Velez divided the group into twelve chapter club divisions and assigned them to his twelve most trusted Master Instructors in color-coding scheme for identification of their respective area of responsibility. The Chapter Club division in Mandaue City area was formed coded in color Yellow under the headship of Teofilo V. Roma. Nick Elizar was assigned the White Chapter and he organized it in Barrio Luz and now he named it as Nickel-stick Escrima Balintawak, Bobby Elizar organized in Labangon but later merge it with Nick Elizar his younger brother. Joe Cavan in Barrio Inglis was also merge with Nick Elizar’s Chapter, Monie Velez established his own in Guadalupe, Wennie de la Rosa in YMCA, Faustino (Tonying) Patalinghug established in Lapu-lapu City, Eddie Velez organized his own Chapter club division in their house in Junquera St., Central Cebu City. Nene Gaabucayan was assigned the Gold Chapter and established it in Cagayan de Oro City his home Province. Romeo de la Rosa’s assignment was in Sanciangco St. Bobby Taboada was assigned the Red Chapter in absentia as he went to New Zealand way before the formal establishment of the organization. Pacito (Chito) Velez was assigned the Green Chapter Club in Tabunoc, Talisay City after he married and established a resident in the area.
Teofilo A. Velez had really work hard to promote and propagate his innovative style of Balintawak. He encouraged all his followers to continue the teaching tradition to spread out our style by all means in promoting they know how without engaging into troubles with other people but honestly tell the exact story of its existence before he passed away in 1989. Roma, Nick Elizar, Chito and Eddie Velez and some other masters including those that are once upon a time students of Gm Anciong Bacon such as Lorenzo Gonzales whom I know because he was the uncle of Romulo Gonzales Genandoy, the Fernandez’s brothers Willy, Dom and Nards were also helping a lot in providing some vital information, I know them personally because they are the first cousin of my wife. The information that I gathered includes the historical facts about its origin, the story of its pioneering disciples, down to the next generation of followers who benefited the first wave of transmogrification of the teaching method. Gm Teofilo A. Velez instituted innovation specifically the grouping order of instruction that he originally developed with which things most impressed to Atty. Villasin his teacher that later on adopted the system during his lifetime and the honor was only credited to him.
When Pacito (Chito) Velez the favorite son and most trusted follower broke his arms in a car accident, Gm Velez was saddened and very much frustrated about achieving of this great endeavor of him and because of this tragedy, he trained all his disciples giving them all the secrets of Self-defense fighting that he learns from Atty. Villasin and Anciong Bacon thinking that his son would forever be disabled, so that there would be much plenty of his followers aside from his two other sons to succeed in propagating the art for him.
Respectfully,
Wilson R. Ceniza
Teovel Balintawak Self-defense Club
Basak, Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines
