This article was published March 2004 on the website of Pekiti Tirsia Europe:
From Uli Weidle's travel diary:
15th Travel to Philippines:
Dec 2003 – Feb 2004
Christmas and twice New Year
Arrival in Manila
December 2003, when I arrive at Manila Immigration, it all starts with the realisation that my passport is quite full. I have to get a new passport because there is no room for new visa stamps. But in the Philippines, such problems are easily solved. And after immigration, a reunion with my Filipino friends is just around the corner.
Christmas and Otso-Otso
Christmas is always a special time in the Philippines. Religion and family are highly valued, and so Christmas is a meaningful time for most Filipinos. With this in mind, my first impression that the most prominent Christmas song is Otso-Otso comes as a somewhat unexpected surprise. Otso-Otso is everywhere and all the time. For example, a taxi driver jokingly describes his way of winding through traffic as Otso-Otso (8-8)! As well as being an apt description of driving in Manila, Otso-Otso is a dance and a song so catchy that it could become a more successful export item than the Philippines-born Love-Letter Email Worm was in its heyday. For those willing to take the risk, our bibliography at the end of this article contains a link to Otso-Otso. Be careful when listening to this song, because after three listens there is an increased risk of madness! :)
Meets and Misses
Seeing my Filipino friends from the Manila Pitbulls and the Submission Dungeon again, especially Jay, Rommel and Danny, is something I looked forward to during the whole flight. It is good to see them all in good health and enjoying their lives. It is just a shame that I missed my friend Leslie Buck from Texas by a few days. I would love to see him again, but there will be another time for us to meet.
When I ask about my friend Danny, I am told that he is in the mountains for a special tournament. He is representing his tribe as a fighter in a competition that involves fighting with spiked sticks and no protective gear. I later learn that Danny won the tournament, but decided to spend a few more days in the mountains before reappearing in the business world of Manila.
New Year's Eve and Special Action
My first impression on New Year's Eve: We are at war; firecrackers and other explosives are being used to stop an invasion of the Philippines. In fact, I wouldn't have been surprised to read this headline in the next day's newspaper. The election gun ban came into effect on 15 December. The gun ban is to last until 9 June. This means a general ban on weapons - no guns, no knives, even for people who otherwise have a licence to carry. But that doesn't seem to stop some Filipinos from shooting anything that goes bang.
_and_Family.jpg "SAF Cpt Cautiver with family")
Well prepared by my New Year's Eve experience, I start my exchange training with the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicutan. SAF is the anti-terrorism special operations unit of the Philippine National Police. A few months ago, Rommel was assigned to train them. And he does a good job! The unit has a good mix of morale and commitment. Everyone in the unit understands the need for and value of the training. The training takes place outdoors. It starts at sunrise in the early morning and continues into the scorching midday heat. Even during water breaks, the commandos gather in small groups to share and review the training material.
The commanding officer is Captain Cautiver. He leads his men by example, showing genuine enthusiasm and taking every opportunity for additional training and understanding. It is always a pleasure to meet men like him. I am pleased that a good interpersonal relationship has developed based on shared training experiences and technical discussions. I look forward to deepening this experience at our next meeting.
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With Grandtuhon in Bacolod: Pekiti-Tirsia in Action
Big surprise: Pekiti-Tirsia has its own weekly TV show in the Philippines. The title is: "Pekiti-Tirsia in Action"! Grandtuhon invites me to the premiere. It is not my first time to appear on TV, but I am still not used to it. It is somehow funny and a bit irritating to see myself on the TV screen while answering questions to the camera.
In the first programme, Grandtuhon invites masters of various Filipino martial arts and brings them together with eminent citizens for a lively discussion. The discussion will focus on the importance of Filipino martial arts to Filipino culture and the younger generation. During the show, film clips of Grandtuhon's activities in Europe and the USA and of the training of the AFP (Armed Forces Philippines) will be shown. I myself will talk about how the Filipino martial arts and especially Pekiti-Tirsia are appreciated in Europe and how the European Pekiti-Tirsia practitioners appreciate the exposure to the Filipino culture and the life-enhancing philosophy as taught by Pekiti-Tirsia. During the show the phone lines are open. The calls received prove that the impact of the show is tremendous. After the show many offers to support the activities of Pekiti-Tirsia are received by the broadcasting company.
I train with Grandtuhon in Sibat and Tri-V with emphasis on counter strike variations and refinements. During my time in Bacolod I am able to meet with a senior student of Professor Vinas, and I have another warm meeting with Master Patcheko. The time with him proves that his "taifunic power" is still strong!
In the second and third edition of "Pekiti-Tirsia In Action" the show will feature live questions from the audience. According to the broadcasting service, the interest in the series is very high - the viewership doubles with each broadcast. One of the feedback from the first show was the request to show more of the practical concepts of Pekiti-Tirsia. So the producer moved the show to the big studio. In the second show Grandtuhon and his nephew Rommel Tortal demonstrate the basic principles of Pekiti-Tirsia. Seeing them in action is always a great experience.
In the third show the audience explicitly asks to see me. To satisfy this request, Grandtuhon and I give an impromptu demonstration of knife fighting and empty hand tactics against knife. Grandtuhon is bloody fast, and as we are both using live blades, it is an exciting demonstration. After the show, as I walk around the town, I am approached by several people who have seen the show.
Rommel asks me to accompany him back to Manila. A production team from the BBC is waiting: They are coming to the Philippines to produce a documentary on Filipino martial arts and culture. Rommel wants me to go with them to meet the contact person. The training in Bacolod was tough. To help me recover quickly, Grandtuhon arranges a ginger massage. The healers who give the massage explain to me that the local ginger is different from the foreign ginger. The procedure is painful, but it works. My body felt like it was on fire inside for almost a day. I have so much new energy!
Manila for the second time
After arriving in Manila, I meet up with the Manila Pitbulls for a training session. Inky, the contact person from the BBC, is also there. When we arrived at the training ground, the Pitbulls asked me if I had trained with Grandtuhon. I answer by showing them my open hands. No further questions.
Danny is also there. He has some snapshots, secretly taken from his hip, that show the fights in the mountain. On the pictures are fight scenes and in the background are Filipinos in traditional costume. As Danny explains, the tournament was part of a larger event that was not primarily about individual victory. Each of the eight fighters represented a tribe and the fights were part of a ceremony designed to bring the fighters and the tribes closer together. Apparently there was a rivalry between the tribes that had cost many lives in the past.
The elders decided that a special ceremony should be held to end this rivalry, and that this ceremony should include fights that would be conducted as short, high-intensity fights with no rules, no protective gear. To resemble sword fighting, sticks were used with a nail sticking out a few millimetres on each side, so that it was a relatively safe way of fighting with edged weapons (as far as the phrase "relatively safe" can be applied to any way of fighting with edged weapons). The old people supervised the fights. The pictures I'd seen showed it to be a bloody affair, but when I met Danny he had no visible scars. Maybe they used a good Himag? I will have to ask next time. According to Danny, the ceremony was successful and the atmosphere between the tribes and the fighters after the fights was very good. I would have loved to have been there, but some things are not possible.
Danny shows me his latest collection of knives. The knives are really beautiful and some of them are really extraordinary designed. I take some home for my friends in Germany.
Bacolod again: The BBC, the Mayor and Year of the Monkey
Grandtuhon wants me to be there for the BBC filming. I fly to Bacolod with Rommel. There I meet Dog Brother Nick "Pappy Dog" Papadakis, who arrived in the Philippines a few days ago to make a video production about Filipino fighting culture for National Geographic.
We meet the BBC team and a delegation from the Department of Tourism at the airport. They have come from Cebu and enjoyed the Sinulog celebrations. It all seems to have been very hectic, because as we chat I get the impression that they don't really grasp the meaning of Pit Senyor. I'm told they filmed Doce Pares, Black Eagle and Balintawak - several systems in one day. In Bacolod they will stay for three days. During this time they will cover Pekiti-Tirsia.
But first we follow an invitation of the mayor of Bacolod. We are warmly welcomed and have a good conversation with the mayor. It is interesting to hear from her how she sees the current situation and the future development of the region. 
Of course, the winning mask of the last Maskara Festival is also presented. The Mayor offers her support for the film project and, being curious about Filipino Martial Arts, announces that she will try to visit the set to see how the film is shot.
Movie making
Grandtuhon wants me to be involved in the making of the film as an actor, but understandably the BBC team don't want European-looking faces in the film. This is fine with me. I can relax and use my digital camera to do a private 'making of'. What came out was amazing and I was glad not to be tied to being an actor in front of the camera. It allowed me to enjoy the whole event without distraction.
As always with Grandtuhon, everything is improvised and unrehearsed. Grandtuhon used his contacts to bring people from the mountains to Bacolod and persuaded them to demonstrate some of their special skills on camera. The mountain people perform magic, rituals, incantations and martial arts. Grandtuhon and Rommel show practical Pekiti-Tirsia and traditional training methods. I can well imagine that this could have been the training Grandtuhon received from his grandfather.
During an unrehearsed sword fight in a river, Rommel gets a cut on his forehead. A little Himag oil quickly heals the cut and the show goes on. Grandtuhon and Rommel show sibat, iron ball training, training in water and training on coconut shells. There are also shots of Hilot, and Grandtuhon's blacksmith documents the forging of a knife poisoned with spider and scorpion.
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China Connection – Year of the Monkey
While experiencing Western New Year in Manila, I celebrate Chinese New Year in Bacolod. With the help of some friends it becomes a memorable time and during the New Year celebration I get some interesting insights into Chinese martial arts and Ving Tsun.
Manila Again: BBC meets SAF, Guro Jun, Mano-Mano
Soon after the filming in Bacolod is finished, Rommel and I return to Manila. The BBC team wants to do more filming there. They are interested in Kali Illustrissimo, Modern Arnis and the Pekiti-Tirsia training of the SAF Commando and the Recon Marines. Rommel is in charge of arranging security for the team.
Once the BBC team arrives in Manila, they have extensive filming with the SAF, including filming at the Special Action Forces Hogan's Alley (firing range for house-to-house and indoor combat). They are particularly interested in the subject of sentry elimination and all methods of silent entry into guarded areas for the purpose of hostage rescue. This, of course, involves a lot of knife work.
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Meeting Guro Jun and Mano-Mano Tournament
In time for the BBC filming at the SAF, Guro Jun de Leon arrives with some of his Canadian students. This is my first personal meeting with Guro Jun. I have met his representative in Manila, Roland Isla, on several occasions. He and others have told me many good things about Guro Jun. When I meet him, I understand why. It is interesting that one of Guro Jun's students is training Vin Diesel. Filipino Martial Art is trendy in Hollywood and it is expected that Vin Diesel will show more Filipino fighting techniques in his upcoming movies. We have a good time and agree to stay in touch.
One day, I get a spontaneous invitation to a big mano-mano tournament. When I arrive, I notice that security is provided by members of the Submission Dungeon. I know I'm safe here and don't have to worry about getting a good seat. The rules of the tournament are similar to K1. The fighters in the tournament come from different styles: Muay Thai, Yaw Yan, Taekwondo, Kali and others. The level of some of the fights is remarkable: the fighters show very good footwork and extraordinary moves. Sometimes they struggle to follow the rules. Unfortunately, my schedule doesn't allow me to stay until the end of the event.
A trip to the mountains
Danny invited us to his country house in the mountains. What a nice change from Manila! On the way there, we almost have a nasty accident - but thanks to the driver's heightened Kali reflexes and perhaps the help of guardian angels, we are lucky to escape with our lives. Once there, we have a great time. Danny proves to be an exceptionally good host - it is almost as if he wants to show that the traditional values of hospitality, concern and care are more important than ever. Nick "Pappy Dog" Papadakis, Rommel, Grandtuhon, Jun de Leon and his Canadian students are also there. It is just a great time: training, sunshine, fresh mountain air, the catfish from Danny's own fishpond ready for harvest and an abundance of fresh fruit. It is a Kali feast! After the long time in Manila this is a very welcome break! Grandtuhon spontaneously teaches some dumog and Danny asks me for some stick and body weapon training.
Manila: Oakwood second time, Submission Dungeon, Boracay
Back in Manila, I read in the newspaper that another group of conspiring military officers had been discovered and arrested. This brings back memories of the Magdalo/Oakwood incident that caused quite a stir during my last stay in the Philippines. This time, however, the conspirators were arrested without much fuss before they could engage in any public activity. This year's elections have the potential to be very interesting.
In Manila, Grandtuhon is conducting a Pekiti-Tirsia training in the Submission Dungeon: The training starts at sunrise and after a short warm-up session led by Danny, Grandtuhon teaches Dumog. It is painful and the dungeon guys are totally enthusiastic. Me too, of course! As Grandtuhon has to leave for a business meeting, the group continues training the material shown until midday. After a short break Danny asks me if I would like to teach some material. Actually I had other plans for the afternoon, but I spontaneously agree to a short training session. I train each person individually on the subject of their particular interest; we all have a great time because everyone trains with an enthusiasm that makes us all forget about everything else. The enthusiasm of the people is such that we continue training until late in the evening. During a short break, one of the participants approaches me and shows me a training stick that I had signed during a workshop the year before. I don't know what to say - I am deeply touched.
At the end of the workshop, another participant came up to me. He is a young Filipino who has been training Muay Thai for a long time. He had lived and trained in the USA and had now returned to his homeland to find the true Filipino martial art. After the workshop we talk for a long time.
After training, Danny surprised me with a free three-day stay at Club Panoly, Boracay. So I finally get three days of beach holiday in my almost three months in the Philippines. Thank you Danny!
Good-Bye-And-See-You-Again-Party from the Manila Pitbulls
Unfortunately my time in the Philippines is limited and my responsibilities as Managing Director of Pekiti-Tirsia Europe require my presence in Europe. The Manila Pitbulls are organising a farewell party, traditionally hosted by Buddie in his place. Guro Jun and many others are also there. The Pitbulls tell me that this party - like the others before - is not a "farewell" party, but a "have a good trip and come back soon" party. I like the idea! And I like the party! If there weren't already so many reasons for me to return to the Philippines, the delicious food that Buddy's wife Jesca prepared for the party alone would be reason enough to come back many more times. Once again, the food reinforced my already made decision to come back soon. Grandtuhon will be in Europe in May and my next trip to the Philippines is already set for July.
Web-Literature:
Otso-Otso:
- You Tube: Otso Otso Music Video
- http://www.gotpandesal.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=61
- http://www.superpilipina.com/video_01/video_01.htm