My search of the Malay Archipelago for exotic fighting arts recently led me to Paranaque, Philippines where I had a private training session with Grandmaster Roberto Labitan Labaniego (Mang Bert). You may have seen Mang Bert before, as he was featured in the Filipino Martial Arts film “The Bladed Hand”.

Roberto Labaniego

At 74 years old, Mang Bert has been training in Arnis and Eskrima since the age of 12. Born June 6th, 1940, Mang Bert comes from a poor family from a small town called Mambusao on the Visayan Island of Panay. Although Mang Bert’s father, Costodio Labaniego did not have much in the way of financial resources, he was rich in his knowledge of the Filipino Martial Art of Largo Mano Arnis.

You see, Costodio Labaniego was part of the Filipino Resistance Movement, who fought with bolos (swords) in guerrilla warfare campaigns against the Japanese amid the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. A hero in the conflict, Labaniego had two hand-to-hand confrontations with Japanese soldiers. In both incidents, he utilized Arnis tactics and a bolo to kill the Japanese soldier targeting the adam’s apple on the heart side. He suffered a bullet wound to his foot.

In 1952, after the war, Costodio Labaniego began teaching Largo Mano (a long range style of Arnis) to his boy, Bert. According to Mang Bert, at that time, the only known styles of Arnis were Largo Mano, Espada Y Daga and Cinco Teros. Fast-forward 63 years. Even at 74 years old, it’s obvious that Mang Bert has been training since he was a small boy when you witness his smooth, sharp and graceful movements.

In 1986, Mang Bert began training with his other teacher, Grandmaster Ben Lima (Mang Ben), the founder of Lightning Scientific Arnis International. Mang Ben taught Mang Bert traditional Espada Y Daga techniques.

Mang Bert gravitated to these methods because he prefers the close range tactics of Espada Y Daga over the long range strategies of Largo Mano. He explains that you cannot use Largo Mano tactics in close range like when in a Jeepney (the main method of public transportation in the Philippines).

For Mang Bert, Arnis and Eskrima are not only about defending yourself and your family but also about making friends from at home and abroad. This becomes apparent when you meet Mang Bert and experience his kind and gracious attitude toward sharing his art with others, locals and foreigners alike.

I had a fascinating and enlightening lesson with Mang Bert! We covered the stance, the footwork, the 14 angles of attack, and the first 3 movements and how to apply them at close range with a stick.

Look for my next post, where I’ll profile Maestro Arnold Narzo of Kalis Ilustrisimo Repeticion Orihinal, as promised last time.