Karate kids

Sensei Winnie Abbu de la Rosa is arguably one of Cebu’s best karatedo instructors. Winnnie, who is in-charge of developing future karate kids through his association, the Okinawan Shodukan Shorin Ryu, asked me to  conduct karate exhibition tournaments for the kids 15 and below, in the, malls.  This will inspire the kids says Winnie, who left for Dubai the other day and will be away for two months.  I’m just excited being a karate 1st Dan myself, getting my black belt in 1972.  I belonged to the  defunct Commando Self-Defense Karate Club  (Shorin Ryu) founded by Latino Gonzales, father of Roberto who stared in the Tagalog karate flicks like “ Hari ng Karate.”  We even had cameo roles, performing the katas in the background.  Roberto’s leading lady was Josephine Estrada.  Some of the club’s members were the late Johnny Carranza, Tito Aquino and Omar Camar.  Movie actors Tony Ferrer and Bernard Belleza, occasionaly drop at our club in Echague, Quiapo.  I told Winnie we will invite world champion Mike Stone who is now based in  Panglao, Bohol.  Mike is undefeated in 91 tournaments and is a friend of Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee.  I visited Mike in Bohol last month and he told me his plans to build a martial arts museum in his lot.  In fact, he just arrived from Seattle,  Washington upon the invitation of Linda Lee, widow  of Bruce, to open the Wing Luke Museum where Bruce Lee’s memorablia are displayed.  Mike is also a Shorin Ryu disciple.  This will be a great experience for the kids.

Elvis still rocks

Even if he’s been dead for 37 years, Elvis still rocks and rolls.  So last Saturday, Elvis now reincarnated in Elvisaya, performed to a big crowd at Robinsons Fuente in a show dubbed “Christmas with Elvisaya and Friends.”  The crowd was treated to over two hours of Christmas, standards and rock and roll music from Cebu’s top singers including CCTN’s Amie Filomena, a former Awit and Metro Pop winner and Cebu’s Frank Sinatra, Jhun Villahermosa.  Amie’s powerful voice almost shattered the glass panels while Jhun made the people relaxed with his cool Sinatra’s hits, mostly swing. Host  Sam Costanilla brought the house  down with his jokes.  Elvisaya, the main act, made the crowd dance especially Rick and William who hail from America and Canada,  respectively.  The event which was a smashing success, was supported by Casa Ilongga which celebrated its 33 years in the business, Datche, Summit Circle, Metrografix and of course, Robinsons Place.

DID YOU KNOW?

Women were not allowed to participate in sprinting events until 1928 were  they were allowed to race 800 meters.  So all competitions for women  then were limited to 200 meters.  There wasn’t a women’s Olympic marathon until 1948, 10K  until 1988 and a 5K until 1996.

•But just to inform you that women are not really the weaker sex, in 1994 and 1995, Ann Trason placed second over-all at the Western States 100-Miler (160km), a California trail ultramarathon.

•The  Boston Marathon didn’t allow women to enter the race until 1972 as they have to meet same qualifying standard as men of 3:30.  Eight women ran, led by Nina Kuscsik who won in 3:10:26.