SarGen lady fighter bag “silver” in MMA nat’l games

"SILVER" Fighter – Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino warmly welcomed First P-noy National Games mixed martial arts silver medalists Lovely Quibatin, 18, a resident of Brgy. Kiblat and BS Criminology student of Holy Trinity Collegein Gen. Santos City, during her recent visit in Malungon, Sarangani. (Isagani Palma).

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY - A lady “Pencak Silat” fighter from the neighboring province of Sarangani was named silver medalist during the recent National Games mixed martial arts (MMA) competition in Bacolod City.

Lovely Quibatin, a 3^rd year BS Criminology student of Holy Trinity College was second placer after nailing down her chabacana (Zamboanga City) rival on a six take successive downs, or 18 point shots in the 55-60 kilogram division during the first-ever P-noy National Games held in Bacolod City and Negross Occidental province on May 20-29, 2011

The 18-year old Quibatin of Brgy. Kiblat, Malungon is expected to be on her stance again for the SarGen (Sarangani-Gen. Santos City) team under the Philippine Team’s class-B division on September.

“Guided with respect and discipline, my Physical Education guru Alfred Tango-Bascon recommended me at Suntao Je gym in Gen. Santos City where I was taught of proper Pencat Selat combat skills. I do not know how I (won) made it. All I can just remember was I just did what my instructor told me and devoted myself to all the MMA’s training policies,” said Quinbatin, who presented Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino the awards she got in all her previous tournaments during a recent visit in Malungon town.  

Quibatin, a 2009-2010 Special Program of Employment of Student (SPES) beneficiary of Malungon town was on her junior year in college when discovered by a martial arts basic instructor.    

“It is really of great honor for us Malungonians to have this kind of a Lovely fighter, not only of the MMA capabilities, but in struggling for academic victories. Hopefully, the guts and bravery that this young girl have shall serve as an impressive example to all of those who are given the chances to learn by the local government,” Constantino said.                     

Mixed Martial Arts (Pencak Silat), is a native Asian martial arts that was developed in Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.        

It is a fighting style with hundreds of diversifying methods that focuses either on strikes, joint manipulation, throws, bladed weaponry, or some deadly combinations, provided on how it is being applied.

It is one kind of MMA sports that is included in the Southeast Asian Games and other region-wide competitions, but its fighting techniques defend on how the fighter is being trained and sharpened by various organizations such as the Ikatan Pesilat of IndonesiaMalaysia (PESAKA), Persekutuan Silat of Btunai Darussalam (PERSIB) and the Persekutuan Silat Singapura (Persisi) of Singapore.   (IPSA), Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan of

Experts said mixed martial arts allows competitors to draw upon techniques from a wide range of martial arts; strikes with the hands, feet, elbows and knees are allowed, along with throwing and grappling techniques usually drawn from wrestling, judo and Brazilian Jujitsu.    

        

Meanwhile, Constantino said the local government is always up to support not only Quiblatin, but all sports-minded people of the younger generation. However, the chief executive still encourages students to focus on their studies in a bid to have a well secured and stable employment in the future. (with reports from MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).