To the Western mind, Tuklas-Pakay may seem a strange and indirect way of testing a man's character and honor. Let us clarify the questions that arise as to why such a test is needed or conceived. First, we must understand the cultural background that gave birth to this test.

In the East, to be accepted as a student in the martial arts is a privilege and an honor. It is an opportunity not given to everyone. It means acceptance. It also means responsibility.

The more revered the system, the more unusual the tests. The great warriors of old knew that it is easy to test the physical abilities of a candidate. The ability to withstand and endure progressive physical demands is proof of one's physical capacity and strength of spirit. But these two do not yield the truth behind a man's intentions, it does not reveal the quality of a man's character. Neither does it mirror a man's honor and values.

In Tuklas-Pakay, the candidate is tested by the awarding of that which he ultimately works for, trains for, and strives for. A recognition and certification of his training and skill. However, the candidate's mentors are fully aware of the inadequacy of the candidate's training and skill level commensurate to the recognition being given. The mentors conduct this test before they continue the training. They make sure that before they fully bestow their art's hard-earned and battle-proven skills, knowledge and techniques to the candidate, they must first open his heart and discover the very essence and color of his soul.

An honest candidate is expected to decline the award, recognizing deep within that the level of training received and the skill acquired is not commensurate to the recognition being given. In declining, the doors barring his entry to the higher levels of training are opened - his honesty and humility unlocking a whole new world.

A presumptuous candidate, however, easily feels that he is entitled to the award and therefore accepts it. Little realizing that in doing so, his journey, which was merely beginning, has suddenly ended. He cannot conceive that his knowledge and skills are too inadequate to warrant the honor he covetously grabs. Because of his self-centered fixation, he is unaware of the possibility of higher and continuing training. Blinded by his pride and complacency, he fails to notice that established binding and official requirements necessary to his appointment are missing. Or that his "official" certification is wanting an essential signet and requisite registry inscription. Or that the form is different from all others. With his failure, there are no longer any "others" against whom he could compare his documentation or progress. With his censure, he is no longer welcome nor privy to any of the organization's activities - training, social or otherwise. In later years, he ruminates over why he was never made to participate in what he eventually discovers and learns are the rituals of acceptance and ascension. He fails to fathom why his claim to affiliation, rank or certification is met with ridicule and dismissal.

The honest candidate continuous to progress in his learning, all barriers having been completely removed. Whatever he learned prior to his test has now become insignificant. These were mere stepping stones, barely scratching the surface of the world of knowledge and sharing that is now open to him. In being accepted, he not only enjoys open communication and brotherhood with his superiors and peers, but even his own ensuing students are also treated accordingly, an official and trusted lineage having been established. His "test" certificate will eventually be torn-up and replaced, in time, by true and official certificates of membership, recognition and rank along with all its accompanying rites and requisites.

As for the disgraced candidate, he is shunned, ridiculed and ignored. His certification represents nothing at all, for it is a worthless piece of paper representing nothing. His knowledge is confined to his limited period of training up to the test, up to that moment of truth and exposure. He has become an outcast and, unfortunately, so are his resulting students. For he has nothing of the art to give to his followers except the limited and insufficient knowledge gained prior to his failure and its resulting ultimate and irrevocable rejection.

Are there people who failed the test but continue to announce themselves as "teachers" of the art? Yes, there are. They persist in doing so for they have no idea of what lies beyond the threshold of their incomplete and superficial knowledge of the art. There is no need to condemn nor ridicule them, for their own lack of character, honor and skill will be their worst enemy. With or without Tuklas-Pakay, they will fail again and again with other organizations, with other arts. It is the only consistent and predictable thing in their life. It is with such people that Tuklas-Pakay both failed and succeeded. It was successful in uncovering the selfish and sinister intentions of their heart. But it failed miserably in trying to test their character. For, sadly, there was no character at all ...to test.

The ritual of Tuklas-Pakay (i.e., a test of character precipitated by the giving of a pseudo-certificate) was conceived and originally implemented by Senior and Charter Member Rolly Maximo. Record shows that to-date only 2 candidates have failed the test. One, realizing that the doors to further training and recognition was closed by his own hand, no longer includes Bakbakan and Kali Ilustrisimo in his bio. In the end, this candidate became honest with himself. The other, however, continues to claim that he is a certified "Senior" instructor and member of Bakbakan and Kali Ilustrisimo in his impressive collection of "official" lineage. For the record, this candidate's total logged training time with both Bakbakan and Kali Ilustrisimo during his week's stay at Bakbakan HQ is only 3 days. That is the sum total of his Bakbakan and Kali Ilustrisimo training and knowledge for which he claims "Senior" and "Instructor" status.