Tribute to the Living legacies of arnis .......

Tribute to the NARAPHIL Grandmasters
by Junch Martinada

In 1989, the NARAPHIL Board approved the project proposal of Dr. Leo Estepa (NPAC Executive Director) to stage the Grandmasters Cup Arnis Tournament to honor the “Living legacies” of arnis.

Out of the nine NARAPHIL grandmasters only three heeded the call for it and launched the project in cooperation with the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc., Liping Maharlika Inc., Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club and some private corporations like Del Bros, U-Freight and individual kindhearted persons.

It was planned as a biennial tournament in addition to the annual national team tournament of NARAPHIL. The three grandmasters were: GM Benjamin L. Lema, GM Jose G. Mena and GM Antonio Ilustrisimo.

2nd "Mang Nonoy" Mena Grandmaster's Cup
Arnis Tournament
(March 1993)

1st "Mang Nonoy" Mena Grandmaster's Cup
Arnis Tournament
(September 1992)

1st Maesto Lema Grandmaster's Cup
Arnis Tournament
(August 1991)

1st Kali Ilustrisimo Grandmaster's Cup
Arnis Trounament
(December 1991)

Grandmasters giving complimentary to one another. GM Antonio Ilustrisimo awarding GM Benjamin Lema his Plaque of Recognition for his contribution to the Filipino martial art. The award was a compliment of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc. headed by their Executive Director - Atty. Apolonio Anota.

"The Legacy left by our forebears .......... shall run into the blood of the generations to come"