09/02/2016
THE TRUE HISTORY OF AIKIDO IN THE PHILIPPINES
BENJAMIN GALARPE, a Filipino Veteran of the Korean War brought to the Philippines AIKIDO- the Japanese martial arts which he learned in Hawaii and Guam.
In the early months of 1963, Galarpe came back to the Philippines to finish his 4th year studies at the Plaridel High School (sister school of Philippine College of Criminology (PCCr), at Sales Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila. The first student he invited to practice Aikido at his private gym in his apartment in San Andres Bukid, Manila was his classmate and province-mate from Guimaras- Ambrosio (Monching) Gavileño later, relatives of Galarpe- Saing Sequitin, Peping Sambitan, and a nephew, joined Gavileño as students in the San Andres gym . When Galarpe transferred his gym to Sta. Cruz, Manila after 3 months, Ernesto Talag and Jesus Garcia who were also his classmates in Plaridel High School joined Aikido. Some students also enrolled in the Sta. Cruz Aikido Gym later.
THE FIRST FOUR FILIPINO BROWN BELT IN AIKIDO
In September 1963, Galarpe registered MANILA AIKI DOJO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In 1964, Manila Aiki Dojo transferred to Kanlaon street, Quezon City and continued the training of new disciples of Aikido in the Philippines. (This registered name was amended to MANILA AIKIDO CLUB, a few years later.) Galarpe became the official representative in Manila of the MARIANAS AIKI KWAI Agana, Guam, which was later accredited by the Hombu Aikido Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan.
In 1965, KOICHI TOHEI, the Chief Instructor of Hombu Aikido Headquarters, Japan, came to Manila to help Galarpe further promote Aikido in the Philippines. He conducted some Aikido seminars and exhibitions in several places and demonstrated some advanced Aikido techniques. While in Manila, AMBROSIO GAVILEÑO, ERNESTO TALAG, JESUS GARCIA, and SAING SEQUITIN who were already the FIRST FILIPINO BROWN BELT IN AIKIDO were recommended by Galarpe to Sensei Tohei to be promoted to 1st Dan Black Belt.
In 1966, the Four Galarpe Brown Belters received the Original Certificate of Promotion from the Headquarters of Aikido Hombu, Tokyo Japan signed by the Originator himself Morihei Ueshiba. Galarpe was consequently promoted to 2nd Dan Black Belt.
FOLLOWERS OF AIKIDO INCREASED AND MULTIPLIED!
The 2nd Batch of Galarpe students at the Manila Aikido Club Gym included: PEPING SAMBITAN, REDIE BELDA, ATTY. RECAÑA, ATTY. VALENCIA, and EDDIE RETUMBAN. The 3rd Batch included: MART YUNSAY, OSCAR GALILIA, ATTY VIC SALTING and four (4) others from Guam, sons of Galarpe’s Filipino friends who came and took some college courses in the Philippines.
There were some Aikido Instructors who learned Aikido abroad and contributed to its promotion in the Philippines: John Havan – jn Metro Manila, Tadashi Komenoi – in Manila, Jun Batobalani – in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Francisco Valencia – in Iloilo, Johnny Tenegra – in Manila. The last Aikido Instructor was a disciples of Benjamin Galarpe.
GALARPE BEQUEATED THE AIKIDO GYM TO HIS SISTER
In 1968, Galarpe finished his college at Philippine College of Criminology together with Gavileño. (Talag graduated a year earlier.) On this year, Galarpe left for Guam and entrusted the operation of the Manila Aikido Club Gym to his sister, Fely Galarpe; with Mart Yunsay, Eddie Retumban and Oscar Galilia as Instructors.
Also in 1968, Galarpe’s Manila Aikido Club Gym transferred to Republic Market, Avenida Rizal; but transferred again in 1969 to Best Man Bldg. Esperanza St. Corner Quezon Blvd., Quiapo, Manila.
Sometime in 1972, Ceferino Valdez, (Assistant Chief Instructor of Gavileño’s Philippine Aikido Club) assumed the management of Manila Aikido Club and changed its name to Philippine Aikikai HQ. A year later, Valdez died and Manuel (Omar Boy) Camar took over the management of the Philippine Aikikai HQ. Web Master, J.B. Ponce II wrote that, “in 1966, Omar Boy Camar was introduced to Galarpe and undertook Aikido Training, where he was promoted to Black Belt after long years of training.”
GAVILEÑO AND TALAG SHARED AND SPREAD AIKIDO TO OTHERS
In 1968, AMBROSIO (Monching) GAVILEÑO put up his own Aikido Club in Baclaran, Parañaque, and transferred to Quiapo, Manila a year after.
Gavileño initiated the organization of the Philippine Aikido Sports Association, Inc. (PASAI) which was renamed Philippine Combat Aikido Federation, Inc.. This Association started the putting up of provincial chapters. Naga (Bicol) Chapter being the first.
Philippine Combat Aikido Federation, Inc. was later named TAPONDO International Federation, Inc. with Headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. TAPONDO has now 32 strong Chapters nationwide and 10 Chapters abroad.
ERNESTO TALAG, became Chief Instructor of the “Manila’s Finest” Manila Police Department. Among his students included Rey Galang, the founder of the Hagibis combat system- the adopted throwing and grappling art of the Bakbakan International.
Talag also became Chief Instructor of the Manila Hotel Gym. He continued to propagate Aikido as a career Instructor in several private colleges and in some private establishments in Manila and Quezon City.
