It has often been said that the ties that bind a group are based on its traditions. This is particularly true in the case of the Black Belt Exams in Bakbakan Philippines. It has been more than four years since the last exam was taken. This year, the tradition continues with two candidates, Miguel Costas and Carlos Loinaz, who took the exam.

There was another candidate, Carlos Silos, who was supposed to take the exam too but an accidental injury during training intervened and he promises to take the exam next year.

The exam is the culmination of the candidate's dedication and his role in Bakbakan, and its only requirement is to Survive! Each candidate must face 8 black belt members in a full contact sparring consisting of 3 excruciating minutes. There are no 3 minute breaks, just a minute. And once the exam starts, it will not end until the candidate has passed, or has failed.

In the case of Miguel and Carlos, both have been with the club for more than 5 years and were raring to take the exam. On their own and under the supervision of Master Topher, both trained hard, going through numerous sparring sessions months before the exam. They supplemented their work outs with long running sessions to gain greater endurance. The thousands of kicks, series, punches and one-on-one sessions with the Master will finally be put to the test.

The day itself was also a gathering of old friends who have been busy with other things as well. Miguel Zubiri is a Congressman; Ben Litonjua is a junior law student; Raffy Ladao, a successful executive. I myself traveled from Mindanao, where I am now based working for the family's farm estate, to be there for that day. Master Topher and Dodong had also just got back from a successful seminar in Korea where they taught the Korean Special Forces. It was nice to see everybody there. One of the great moments was the arrival of the most Senior of the Blackbelters, Rene Manas '77, who also participated in the exams.

When the exams started, the whole room fell into a hush. One by one, the blackbelters sparred with the candidates, dishing out whatever kicks and punches they could muster up. And if you think this was a hazing ritual, guess again, as it was not, for after each blackbelter gave his all to the candidate, he would in turn, cheer him on and give his advice. There were times that we blackbelt seniors thought that the candidates would never last. But thanks to the seconds (Dodong, Boy Garcia, and Darlo), the candidates managed to regain their breathe and come back again for the next round.

On the last round, the excitement in the room reached its peak as the final 3 minutes of each candidate was about to start. Some of the lady Bakbakan members were even getting emotional. All the blackbelts were cheering the candidates on. Last 30 seconds—20— 10… and then TIME! At those words, a big cheer from the room echoed to the corridors and everyone rushed to the candidate to congratulate him on this test and for passing it.

After all the shouts and cheers, the last ceremony is performed before they are finally welcomed. This is the belting ceremony. Master Topher initiates this rite, starting with the highest dan to the lowest dan. And like a proud father welcoming his sons to this elite group, the Master strikes the stomach of the new blackbelter with enough force to remind him of what he has earned, and displays a lot of love in welcoming him to the pact. For these two new blackbelters are numbed with pain from their grueling 8 rounds and all they feel is their rebirth into this clique.

The night ends with a great dinner wherein a reunion of sorts is made and people talk about the old and the new. Present also are the new members of Bakbakan, women and men alike, encouraged by what they have witnessed and, for some, hopeful that they may be invited to partake in a future exam.

The blackbelt exams are not mandatory and cannot be requested nor applied for; they are held only upon invitation from the Master himself. Master Topher must be confident and sure that the candidates, in this case, Miguel and Carlos, correctly and truly represent the ideals, spirit and brotherhood of Bakbakan and, and most importantly , its Masters.

My best memory of this exam was the sight of Master Topher watching his "sons" pass their own trials, and with a sly smile, enjoying the moment when they both made it. It is a testament to the Master that he has succeded in teaching a person the way of Bakbakan.

© 2001 Bakbakan International, Raul Guerrero.