Accidental Hero

Accidental Hero-Not the movie. I have been busy this past week since I traveled to Coron / Cullion Palawan last November 30. Then back after 4 days I had to attend on a two days of Meeting. Arriving home late, I have to finish my month end report and beat the deadline.
Thank God! I was back in my real world.

When I was about 7 years old I used to play “Tiraduran”. A shooting Game wherein we used big rubber band placed between our thumb and first finger. We placed a rolled piece of paper (bended at the center that serves as a bullet) on the other end of the rubber, then pull it as far as you can stretch, and then you release it to hit your target. I was good at hitting my target that most of my playmates want to pick me as their teammates. During the “War”, we wear our “Kevlar” cardboard for body protection and develop the 2^nd generation bullet in which we inserted a wire to enhance its ballistic performance and for maximum impact. As you can see, we were a Natural Born Killer.

In one encounter, my friend Iyong tried to hide in one of our neighbor’s door. I was positioned on the other side of street using a street light post as a cover (about 3 meters separate us). Tensions were high as if we were in the real urban warfare. It was a standoff; I was patiently waiting for him to expose himself from his cover. Then, Bingo! He exposed his face to find me aiming at him and fired mercilessly. But wait it wasn’t him it was “Seho” or “Sepu” (Master) came out form cover instead of Iyong. Damn! I hit the Wrong target.

Upon realization, my playmates scampered in different direction while I remain standing still, wary of what happened. I don’t know what to do, either to make my escape or approached my “wrong target” and ask for an apology. I must have urinated in my pants for I was so scared.

I still remember at that time when a few drunkard make a mistake of sticking up (Hold up)or extort money from our Seho, and all of them ends up with broken extremities and bitten so hard that they forgot their name and was out of disorientation.

He made a gesture that I come to him. I slowly and timidly approached him. He told me to call all my friends and we would all talk. I have to literally drag all of them just to please my “Seho”. I discreetly tried to look for the sign of damage or markings my “bullet” had on “Seho” but didn’t saw any (If we were hit we would surely have a swollen skin). This “Seho” must have a “Carabao” skin or thick skin that the bullet only bounce and never left a mark. ” He told us to go with him in his Karate club instead of playing our game wherein we could hurt a lot of people. He told us it is free of charge.

We were overjoyed by the thought of being a member in his Karate club wherein only full-blooded Chinese are accepted. All of us friends have half-Chinese blood so we accepted without second thought. All my friends gave their Chinese names because it will be written on big blackboard mounted on the wall. Only my elder sister and older brother studied in Chinese school so I had none, my father inscribed on a piece of paper my Chinese name. There it was written “Lu Lamon” a new member. Now you know there is no letter “R” in the Chinese language. How my friends thank me for our fortune is beyond description.

The Club:

The left side of the room was covered with big thick mirror that you could see the opposite side when you are facing the mirror. The end center of the room is where the altar and the drum gong and cymbals are placed. Above it is a loaf with glass door where Lion’s head are place. Each Lion’s head have separate cabinet. The right side of it is where the different martial art weapons are placed. There were punching bags, gallons of bottles that contain medicine for aching muscles. There’s a lot of stuff including a wooden assembly that simulates a human body. The whole setting can be compared to old Jackie Chan karate movies. Foam cushions are neatly folded on the side to be opened when needed.

Our first day was like an orientation. Nothing spectacular happened. Just sit in a wooden stool watching those other member having their practiced lesson. “Seho” told us about having a lot of patience, discipline, endurance and other traits needed to be able to succeed. The most important according to him is practice, practice and more practice. Although finding hard to speak “Tagalog” we could understand him. There are times he can’t translate a word he would call his son (who becomes one of my best friend) to translate to us.

On our second day, we were made to light a Chinese candle, bow three times and placed the candle in the altar. According to “Seho”,-”That candle is your practice session for today. You will remain in “Kiya Bese” (Foot wide apart by about 11/2 feet, in a squat position, both arms clip on both side of the waist with closed fist) position until it died down or run out”.

“What!” Oh my God. What have we entered to? I now felt the angry look of my friends who only a few days ago called me an accidental hero. Being an obedient child we followed and tried to be as calm as possible. I closed my eyes wishing a stong wind would blow off the light of the candle. My tiny muscles now aching I tried to get up when “Seho” made me turn sideway to my left, still in squatting position but this time my right foot slightly straight, pointed to the left. Still with closed eyes I can now imagine I am facing my left side occupying my mind with flying fish, flying bird when I heard a loud thud followed by another. Slowly opining my left eye (I am in font of the row), I saw my four friends down at the floor but still in “Kiya Bese” position. Are they sleeping or are they allowed doing it with their backs on the floor?

Then I hear loud clapping. We finished our “burning candle ritual”. I should stand up now but I can’t. It feels like I was placed in a tub full of ice and my muscles aren’t responding. “Seho” smilingly helped me by pressing certain points in my body.

Every night for a whole 2 months that was our routine and kind of bore us already so I ask his son why we are not taught anything except to “squat”. Right there and then he told it to his father.

Seho approached one old member and asked to do a “Kiya Bese” position, (while calling our attention) he stand with his two feet on the man’s lap, jumps, and make a lot of effort to destabilized his position but nothing happened. It kind of amazed us how the man withstood all those distraction. How strong were his legs, arms and focus. He was able to make a point without saying anything. If were as strong as the man, our practice lesson should begin. Can you imagine that?

Going Home

Going home after closing the gym, “Seho” always bring us to this eatery where we took our snack. Just beside Delicious Restaurant, I was able to eat different kind of rice cake (Puto) including a delicacy called “Malayco”. Tea is the only drink that we could order and it is free.

Remember the late Roberto Gonzales (He Stars a lot of Karate films) and the film “Digmaan ng Karate”, some scenes were shoot in that karate club. I am too shy to join so all my friends were the one who played those instruments.

I and my friends were able to experience holding the Lion’s head getting those “ampao” by using a pole, a big “Bilao” or just by riding on the back of fellow member (if the height of ampao is not high). One time while on top of a pole holding the Lion’s head, and a long firecracker that was hanging and tied near the ampao felled down. All except one remain holding the pole that nearly caused me to fall down. Seho run for rescue and soon others followed suit. They were reprimanded for carelessness.

To give you an amazing display of acrobatic skills, talents, resynchronized movements of people in handling Lion Head , please watch this youtube video.

There are a lot of times that firecrackers are thrown at us and we have to bravely face it and evade the harm by using the Lion’s head and our fast feet. Perhaps that’s the main reason why strong legs are required to all of us.

I felt sad nowadays upon seeing the lackluster performance of this younger generation in using the Lion’s Head in their getting of “ampao”. It is maybe because it became commercialized or the their lack of proper trainings.

I am now thinking had I not stop attending my karate lessons after graduating from Elementary school I could have been a Filipino Bruce Lee, Jet Lee or Jackie Chan?

Who knows? Dreams are free isn’t it? Dream, Dream, Dream, Dreaaaams… as the song goes.

Part of missing file. Posted December 11th, 2007