Tales from Cebu SOMA & TK Training '07

                                                           ...by Freddie Fajardo, UPLB'64    

Brods,

Just got back to LB last night with the rest of the brods that just concluded the 10-day SOMA training under Brods Johnny Chiuten and Jopet Laraya. Except for Brod Jojo A., who left in the afternoon of Nov. 4 due to work commitment, we had a pleasant trip back home aboard Superferry 5. All in all, there were 15 resident brods (6 Diliman and 9 Los Banos), and 3 alumni (Ollie, Jojo, and myself) that attended the training. The training consisted of Phase II Tai Chi Chuan (Yang family 108 long form) and Phase IV-Arnis 2 (Pronus-Supinus Style).

From day one of the training, our itinerary always started with Tetada Kalimasada exercise at 5:00AM, breakfast at 7AM, SOMA at 8AM, lunch break, SOMA again at 2PM, dinner, then SOMA once more at 8PM till 11PM. The no smoking and no alcohol policy was strictly enforced for the duration of the training. Of course, I had to invoke my senior citizen status on the no alcohol policy coz I needed to drink at least 3 bottles of beer to put me to sleep kasi hindi ako makatulog - namamahay ako sa ibang lugar. So that's it - SOMA ang mga brods from sunrise to sundown.

We only had a one day respite last Nov. 2 when we had a day tour of Cebu City. The brods particularly had a great time at the Taoist Temple - kodakan here and kodakan there. Had lunch savoring the famous "pochero" meal at Abuhan restaurant where the brods for the first time had a taste of SMB but the quota was one bottle only so bitin pa rin. The brods had a shopping spree at Tabo-an where danggit, dried pusit, dried mangoes, chicharon and other Cebu delicacies were sold at much lower prices. Jojo A. treated the brods to a sumptuous dinner at a seafoods restaurant where the brods were allowed to drink one bottle of SMB - so bitin na bitin pa rin sa TOMA ang mga brods.

Lots of stories to tell pa but I need to catch up on my sleep and work. Am sure Brods Ollie and Jojo have truckloads of stories to tell too.

Cheers,
Freddy '64, 11-06-07

              Beer aboard Superferry 12 enroute to Cebu City         * My cabin mates GP Jericho Gascon (LB), GP Migs Alo (Dil), and OllieJ

                  Superferry 12 docks at Cebu Port                                     Brods after taking a swim at the beach a few hours after arrival

                 Portofino Beach Resort in Lapu-Lapu City- venue of SOMA and Tetada Kalimasada every morning at 5:00 AM.
 

                                                 Sunrise Tetada Kalimasada practice at Portofino Beach Resort

                                                        Brods pose after their jogging, with rainbow in the background

                                                                                Brods perform Tai Chi

                                                                 Brod Jopet Laraya'63 conducts arnis training

                                                             Brod Jopet and the Brods after the arnis training

               Brods with TK National Pelatih OllieJ pose in front of oblation at UP College Cebu during their day tour of Cebu City

                                                                      Brods practicing in front of Taoist Temple                                                             

              Brods enjoying their lunch of "pochero" at Abuhan Restaurant and seafoods dinner with one bottle quota of SMB only

                JC demonstrates technique to GP Migs Alo                          The "Tiger" keeps a sharp eye on the Tai Chi form of the Brods

           Brod Johnny Chiuten's fast, powerful fist forms, deceptive arm movements are anchored on the philosophical foundation that

                                           "force should not be met with force, it should be merely be re-directed".

                          Brod JC's tough, flexible foot work and quick feet whirling are his trademark and always puts emphasis on

                                                             the cross stance which is the "mother of all acts".

                            Tetada Kalimasada and Tai Chi on board Superferry 5 - the first public appearance of the Brods