Yaw-Yan marks 42nd founding anniversary tonight

CEBU, Philippines - The Yaw-Yan ArDigma Martial Arts Federation, Inc. will celebrate its 42nd founding anniversary with another night of fun and fellowship at the Yaw-Yan Ardigma Headquarters along Sanciangko Street, this city. The event promptly starts with a holy mass at 6 p.m.

After the successful staging of the first ever mixed martial arts tournament in Cebu, the whole Yaw-Yan ArDigma organization under the dynamic leadership of Yaw-Yan Cebu ArDigma CEO/Founder and Vis-Min director Master Benigno “Ekin” R. Caniga, Jr. will also fete nine of their fighters who scored a clean sweep during the Cebu Extreme Fight League:The Beginning last Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Led by Lando ‘Alamid’ Nacua who beat French striker Paul Carrere in the main event, the rest of the victorious Yaw-Yan warriors are Roy ‘Agilon’ Bajar, Rexan ‘Matador’ Colong, Ranran ‘Tirador’ Lugo, Earl ‘Texas’ Surigao, Jedial ‘Buhawi’ Alvarez, Joed ‘Agila’ Bulotano, female fighter Angel ‘Lawin’ Sanchez, and the 10-year-old Ken ‘Tonken’ Caniga.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment for Team Yaw-Yan, scoring a 9-0 sweep in the last tournament,” said Master Ekin. “Hopefully more youngsters will be inspired to train Yaw-Yan and be part of this family where they can learn discipline and self-defense at the same time.”

Aside from the get-together of the new and old members of Yaw-Yan, the other highlight of the event is the traditional baptismal rites.

Yaw-Yan was first recognized in 1972 in Sta. Cruz, Manila by Grandmaster Fernandez, the originator of what is considered as the deadliest form of martial arts in the archipelago.

Yaw-Yan may sound Chinese, but the word is coined from the last two syllables of Filipino words “Sayaw ng Kamatayan” or “Dance of Death.”(FREEMAN)