Gen. Ibrado’s fun golf event

Lt. Gen. Victor ‘Bong’ Ibrado, commanding general of the Central; Command (Centcom) had a very sporty way of celebrating his birthday last Monday.

It actually started last Thursday with the fun shoot at the Centcom Firing Range and was capped by the fun golf event inside the camp on Monday.

In the golf tournament, teams of four players each composed of one player, who knows the game, and three others who are beginners, plowed through the five holes laid out around the parade grounds and went through the layout twice for a total of ten holes.

While some teams appeared to have been very serious about it, there were many who really had so much fun.  Yes it was fun for many, including those who almost got hit by the wayward shots while seeking shelter under the trees.

Gen. Ibrado of course is not just a “Special Forces” guy.  He is also a sportsman at heart and his favorite sport is mountain biking.

I did hear him encourage the officers of the Centcom take up golf for fun an exercise as the few holes laid out around the camp would be a good place for them to spend time at during athletics.

At the gathering Monday night, several people from the sports community were there particularly golfers led by Matias ‘Tito Bombi’ Aznar III.

More power to you Gen. Bong and I wish we will have more military officials like you!

* * *

Last Saturday night, the Doce Pares Hall of Fame enshrinement was held at the ballroom of the Holiday Plaza Hotel along F. Ramos St.

It was a gathering of many familiar faces from the many arnis competitions and Doce Pares events that I have attended.

The guests came in all shapes and sizes and nationalities, but what would make you very proud to be a Filipino is that the man at the center of the stage, who was being honored was our countryman Grand Master Ciriaco ‘Noy Cacoy’ Cañete.

Among those in attendance were the father and son tandem of Dr. Carlos Patalinghug and Carlos, Jr., who I had a chance to pose with for posterity.

Carlos Jr. owns a gym in the United States and takes pride in the fact that they have produced many world champions from among their students.

I think it was also his gym that put more pep into the sayaw or form competition in arnis tournaments.

Here is one of those pictures I took after the event with Carlos Jr. and his dad flanking Noy Cacoy and beside them is Grand Master Richard Bustillo, who is a master in Jet Kune Do.