UP Beta Sigma SOMA Center Opens

by Raffy Hidalgo

The UP Beta Sigma SOMA Center was finally inaugurated Saturday Nov 20 2010. The ribbon cutting ceremonies were led by SOMACEN Director Dennis Belmonte86. The ribbon was cut by Dil resident GP Josh Caringal 07 and OBBF President Jason Justo 92.

Welcome Banner

Ceremonial Ribbon

Dil GP Josh Caringal 07, SOMACEN Director Dennis Belmonte 86 & OBBF President Jason Justo 92 cut the ribbon

More than 30 residents attended. They couldn't wait to get their hand on the 2 heavy bags, the makiwara board, the speed bag and the martial arts weapons (nun-chako, 3-segment staff, swords, 9-segment steel whip - JC"s favorite at one point, arnis and others). When the Center finally opened, they were rolling on the mats in no time. The treadmill was on full speed and was running for the next 3 hours. They worked the bags and started sparring with and without body armor.

The Brods pour in...

Migs Alo 03 leads the prayer

SOMACEN Director Dennis Belmonte 86 presents the SOMACEN to the Brods

Jay Policarpio 88 is acknowledged for raising the SOMACEN  seed fund from the Residents Cup 2

Group shot of UP Beta Sigma Residents and Alumni

Despite being in slacks and polos, Dennis86 (Pronus Supinus P2), Migs Alo03 (Pronus Supinus P3), Harry Temperante97 and Leo Robel95 (both Pronus Supinus P1) got down and dirty exchanging techniques with the knowledge-hungry residents.

OBBF was represented by Jason Justo 92, Dennis Belmonte 86, Lloyd Dizon 87, Nonoy Tagaro 77, Philip Marfil 81, Ron Justo 88, Jay Policarpio 88, Bino Aguinaldo 88, Ying Palafox 87, Binji Pangaibat 90, Manoy Gomez 92, Leo Robel 95, Mon Mamaril 97, Harry Temperante 97, Bruno Villanueva 01, Migs Alo 03 and myself.

SOMACEN Administrators Rafael Hidalgo 86, Leo Robel 95, Dennis Belmonte 86,

Migs Alo 03 & Harry Temperante 97

Administrators is joined by OBBF President Jason Justo 92, 4th from left

 (the UP BS SOMACEN is the last project of Jason's term)

                                Support the UP BS SOMACEN                                                                   Mats

UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Martial Arts Legends

                                                  Heavy bags                                                              Speed bag

                                        Armor                                                                                  Martial arts weapons

                                Full wall length mirror                                                 Makiwara board, with a fat lug in the foreground

         Resident rolls to either test the mat or how hard his head is              Resident Miel Udtohan 05 tests the arm of another resident

                       Left pic: Luigi Topacio 10 tests the Tae Kwon Do armor. Later he spars with Nonoy Tagaro 77,

                        a veteran of the Philippine National Tae Kwon Do Championships. He handles Nonoy quite easily. 

                       Right pic: Harry Temperante 97 demonstrates with Johnny’s favorite weapon - the 9-segment steel whip.

                              Leo Robel 95 spinning the nun-chucks                          Jason Justo 92 spins them just as well

The event was honored with the presence of distinguished alumni who responded to the announcements: Chito Tapawan 72, Gerard Alo 72, Raffy Tomeldan 75, and Rene de Rueda 64.

In his speech, Center Director Dennis86 thanked those who contributed the seed fund, UPBSFI, UPBS SoCal, UPBS NorCal, OBBF and individual alumni. He also thanked the brods who joined him at the Center every evening for the past 3 weeks - renovating, repairing and installing equipment: Nonoy 77, Philip 81, Raffy 86, Migs 3 and brothers, Melvir 02, Harry 97, Manman Dejeto 02 and Leo 95.

                            Resident on the speed bag                                                       Miel 05 tries to test the tonfas on Harry 97

                      Miel 05 checks his form in the mirror               Ron Justo 88 responds to Miel with the famous nipple pinching technique

Jomar 08 tests the Center Director, Dennis 86

            LB Resident Chav Alo 06 waiting for a demonstration from his elder brother Migs 03. And tests him some more.

“Ganda ng uniforms noon. Sana may ganyan rin kami.”

Bruno Villanueva 01 misses the Master

                           Harry 97 in kung-fu form                                         Jason 92 confident in his bladed duel with Rafael Hidalgo 86

                  Ying Palafox 87 with midsection roundhouse                                    Jason 92 goes for a roundhouse head shot

                   Raffy 86 limited to the low roundhouse kicks                                               Leo 95 spots for Ying 87

Jason 92 ponders… “If the legends were really here, they’d say that we’re lousy.”

                               Ying 87 spots back                                                                Harry 97 on the 3-segment stick

                          Harry 97 on the nun-chucks                                   LB resident Alo & Dil resident Dogwe ride Raffy 86’s straddle

      Harry 97 shows Miel 05 combination defense and offense                          Jomar 08 discusses technique with Dennis 86

Resident pounding on alumnus

                   Jomar 08 & Dennis 86 not just talk but do                                                          ...and do again.

      Raffy 86 in knife hand block form while residents look on                                    Jomar 08 & Dennis 86 still at it

                                           Alumni pounding back                                      Luigi Topacio 10 on the roof deck

Fellowship

                Left pic   Residents and alumni mix it up this time with food and beer on the rooftop of the Center.

                Right pic: Rene de Rueda 64, Dennis 86, Raffy Tomeldan 75 & Allan 09.

             Jason 92, Binji Pangaibat 90 & Philip Marfil 81                          Ying 87, Jay 88, Josh 07, Nico Fernandez 07 & Chito 72

                                 Rene 64 & Ron 88                                                 Center Administrators Migs 03, Harry 97 & Leo 95

Resident dorbs: “Soyabeans yung Center”

    Chito Tapawan 72, Dennis 86, Philip 81, Ron 88 & Jason 92                     Raffy 86 & Bino Aguinaldo 88 in the foreground

                     Harry 97, Leo 95 & Gerard Alo 72                                                         Rene 64 & Raffy 75

         Nonoy Tagaro 77 in the foreground. And making excuses to Raffy 75 why Luigi 10 made it look easy during their sparring.

              Standing: Dope Cobbarubia 05, Harry 97, Jonas Villareal 05, Philip 81, Manny Gomez 92, Charles Co 06 & Jomar 08.

              Sitting:    Chito 72, Dogs Dogwe 06, Ying, Ron 88, Jason 92 & Raffy Tomeldan 75.   

        Mon Mamaril 97, Jay Policarpio 88 & Bino Aguinaldo 88                            Binji 90, Nonoy 77 & Raffy Tomeldan 75

                       Harry 97, Raffy 86 & Raffy 75                                                        Jason 92, Miel 05 & Mon 97

   Dennis 86, Errol 09, Jason 92, Harry 97, Raffy 86 & Raffy 75                Jason 92, Harry 97, Raffy 86, Raffy 75 & Mon 97

          Allan Montecastro 94, Jason 92, Ron 88 & Raffy 75                        Leo 95, Jay 88, Raffy 75, Chito 72, Jason 92 & Bino 88

Cheers, Cheers, Cheers!!! Long live the UP Beta Sigma SOMA Center!!!

Dennis also said that the Center was inaugurated in Johnny's memory and offered it to be the permanent home of the JC SOMA/Pronus Supinus Program.

Cheers are in order!
Raffy 86, 11-22-2010

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