CNCHS Arnis Team; In Their Shining Armor

Only time could testify that “constant practice makes perfect” is indeed effective. The fruits of one’s labor, the sweat of one’s brows, and the unshaken one’s perseverance savored only then its sweetness when one’s time comes. With so much love in Arnis, Mr. Melicio O. Balberde, the father of CASAS painted the history of Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School and the Municipality of Cabatuan in the realm world of ARNIS in the country. Through then, this is how their ARMOR SHINES:

It was in the school year 2006-2007 when Guro Mel started to train students who are interested in Arnis in Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School. Since then, they hold various demonstrations inside and outside school campus. However, the big break for the team was when they represented Western Visayas in the 2007 PALARONG PAMBANSA-ARNIS EVENT in Koronadal City, South Cotabato on April 22-27, 2007. They garnered seven (6)silver medals in solo and doble baston team anyo despite the fact that they only had few months of training. Only Mike P. Banguiran get the silver medal (1) in the Labanan Competition. The team is headed by their coach, Guro Melicio O. Balberde with his warriors;Mike P. Banguiran, Jeremiah R. Jover, Ryan C. Robles and Jesus M. Valenzuela. This event inspires more the team to propagate Arnis by participating in various Arnis competitions in the city and province of Iloilo.

“Make excellence a habit” as others often say, the team again brought back the bacon for the school and the municipality during the Philippine Olympic Festival-Visayas Qualifying Event on September 14-16, 2007. The team represented the Iloilo Province and was crowned over-all champion with twenty three (23) golds and two (2) silvers in the junior level both boys and girls category. Together with their coaches Guro Melicio O. Balberde and Christian G. Grana, the team members are Jovanie M. Alvariño, Mike P. Banguiran, Jeremiah R. Jover, Ryan C. Robles and Jesus M. Valenzuela; Rhea Barela, Mary Rose Jamandre, Mary Jinnelle Leysa, Sher Margarette Salcedo, Ivane Tabares and Christine Joy Trabado. The more the team savored the greatness, the humbler they become. They never quit practicing and oftentimes aspiring for more to maximize their potentials.

Yes, this is a “dream comes true” for the team. As gold medalists during the Visayas Qualifying Event, the team is qualified to compete for the Philippinne Olympic Festival National Championship on November 12-18 2007 at Brgy Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City. With nineteen (19) golds, five (5) silvers and two (2) bronzes harvested, the team declaired as the over-all champion in junior level both boys and girls category. Indeed, for them this is SOMETHING.

These are things that made the team’s armor shines. However, to each and everyone of us “THE REAL ARMOR THAT REALLY SHINES IS OUR HEART FOR ARNIS”. To be in love to this sport is already SOMETHING for us FILIPINOS.