Post by Chris Ravenna on Feb 6, 2019 11:56:40 GMT -5
February 7, 2019
9:45 pm
A lamp gave light to Chris on the desk he was working. He had a few sheets of paper layered on the wooden top. Chris began to detail an account or a personal entry which he treated as a diary or an essay. He closed his eyes to ponder over the things he should jot down of his literary piece. He then looked at his wrist filled with bruises and pain marks. It gave him an idea: General Antonio Luna.
Picture of General Antonio Luna
The most brilliant Filipino General in the Philippine-American War era, General Luna was famous for his knowledge on military tactics and his plan, the Luna Defense Line. He served his duty as the Supreme Chief General of the Republic Army in the Philippines until his death in 1899. His fierce and stern reputation made the Philippine soldiers calling him as Heneral Artikulo Uno (a Tagalog for General Article One; a reference to an infamous code stating that “all who refuse to follow his orders shall be executed without the benefit of a trial in a military court”.) It also the decisive factor of his end when the soldier under his fellow General Aguinaldo assassinated him in the churchyard. His demise led the Filipinos’ defeat against Americans in 1901.
As Chris finished writing his summary on his life of the Fiery General, he then proceeded to state his lessons coming from him. The first thing he came up from his mind was discipline. It expressed how important it was to him and his former companion and close friend, Serena. Without it, his strikes weren’t stiff, and his precision would be weak. The second he mentioned was the General’s selflessness. Chris noted Luna’s education indicating that he could have been a most skilled Filipino doctor or stayed as a propagandist. But he left the luxuries of the European life and joined the war. Chris related his experience in his loss against Nikki Vaughn and how his exile from Salem taught his a lesson about honor. The last one who could recall was patriotism, one who loved his country. Just as stated in the second part, Luna accepted his fate that one day he would die for his motherland. Somehow, Chris had him thinking about the incident earlier. The time where the trio triggered him to go offense even if it killed them. It was because the group mocked Chris’ country, his motherland. He asked himself if it was patriotism.
A question remained bewildered in Chris’ mindset. His eyes began to weigh him down signaling him to go to sleep. He decided to continue his writing at some other time. He switched off the lamp and hopped into his bed to rest.
February 8, 2019
A Cheap Local Hotel in Seoul, South Korea
11:37 am
“Are you sure that Action Wrestling agreed to give you a part-time deal?” Lolo Tasyo stated.
“Correct, Lolo. I thought that I was going to be in trouble, but it went fine in the end.” Chris Ravenna answered. It was the first time that both discussed in English. They were both Filipinos that were supposed to speak Tagalog in their conversations. What could’ve moved them from doing it so?
“I don’t understand, Chris. You were getting wins at the end of last year. Now 2019 welcomed you with consecutive losses. Is that the reason why you decided to limit your appearance there part-time?” A friend of Chris asked. He was Anthony Noir, an American and one of the former coaches of Chris Ravenna. Anthony left the Household Dungeon, Chris’ gym after Anthony finished what Chris requested.
“Well, you could say that. Eron Hunter told me about my limits on competing around the world. That’s why I decided to shift my appearance in Action Wrestling to part-time. Other reasons for partaking the MAX-Japan tour was a learning excursion. I’m planning to gain knowledge the technique coming from my opponents and tried to adapt it. After this, I might pursue MMA for stiff conditioning.”
“Are you serious?” Anthony gasped reacting to Chris’ plan in the future.
“If Lynx called it as something like ‘too much on my plate’, I treated it as another training simulation to practice my kickboxing and wrestling skills,” Chris responded.
“I’m surprised that you’re pursuing professional wrestling and mixed martial arts at the same time. Aren’t you worried that Eron may be right all along?”
Chris paused for a moment, for maybe Anthony has a point. However, Lolo Tasyo stepped into their exchange of questions and answers. “Chris, do you remember what you told me that there’s a promotion where it held monthly?”
“Yes, I remember.” Chris answered, and Lolo Tasyo respond, “There’s your answer. Professional wrestling and mixed martial arts are two different things. The second one is where he should focus on how he used his kickboxing and Dumog skills in the arena. The next phase is where he should learn how to adapt these fighting disciplines in application to professional wrestling.”
“Strong Style Wrestling!” Anthony finally comprehended.
Chris nodded and shifted their discussion back to its real agenda: his opponents for the Toukon Road Tour in Pacific. On February 9th, he will team up with Bam Markham and Genji Ikeda to fend off against Jacob Hammerstein, Lynx and Thunder Mask. On 21st, Chris will face Lynx, now known as Eron Hunter for the Max-Japan Junior Heavyweight Championship. The winner would go against James Edwards on the 23th as the defense of the title. Chris knew both Hammerstein and Eron Hunter. But still, they advised gathering more information about those competitors.
They finally concluded at the meeting and proceeded with Chris’ training session. They decided that Anthony Noir will be Chris' new sparring partner replacing Serena due to her absence. Noir was a former mixed martial artist with Muay Thai as his fighting background.
6:45 pm
Chris found himself a chair to sit on and grab a paper containing a printed article. It tells about a life of another national patriot like General Luna. But unlike Luna, he was an unsung hero that the public framed him as a criminal. He went by the name of Macario Sakay. Lolo Tasyo suggested Chris give a chance to read his life because his personality and principles may be related to the person itself. He began to study the summarized short biography of Macario Sakay.
Macario Sakay de Leon was born on 1870 in Tondo, Manila. His working-class background consisted of being an apprentice at Kalesa shop, tailor, barber, and an actor. The dramas he played inspired him to be courageous, disciplined and have a deep love to his country. Sakay joined the Katipunan, a secret group of revolutionaries against the Spanish Empire in 1894. He continued fighting along with his comrades against the Spaniards until the declaration of Independence from Spain’s 333 year-rule on 1898.
But when the American bought the Philippines from Spain in the Treaty of Paris, another foreign rule imposed on the land, Macario Sakay resumed his patriotism in hopes to regain independence. On 1901, the first president of the Philippines and chief of the revolutionary army, Emilio Aguinaldo surrendered to the Americans ending the Philippine-American War. However, some of the heroes refused to give up, and one of them was Sakay. He and his army retreated to the mountains directing guerilla warfare against the Americans. Later, the foreign government issued an edict known as the Brigandage Act of Nov. 12, 1902. The law declared that all acts of resistance under American rule was considered as banditry.
Picture of Macario Sakay (third from the left seated) and his Katagalugan Republic.
Sakay was a criminal in the eyes of the American rulers, but to those of knowing him hailed him as a hero. He established the Tagalog Republic around 1902 making him as a president and generalissimo in placed of Miguel Malvar. Sakay based his ideology on the original Katipunan concept by Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the faction. Sakay continued fighting against the American rule until 1906 when a labor leader, Dominador Gomez convinced Sakay to surrender for the establishment of the national assembly, “a gateway to freedom” in exchange. Little did Sakay knew that it was the time that Gomez would betray him leading his capture by the Americans. September 13, 1907, marked as a day of execution under the Brigandage Act.
The amazing about Sakay is that he stuck to his ideology until his death. Chris found it astounding that Lolo Tasyo was right that he had to read the article. He saw the parallels between him and Macario Sakay.
Historians did speculate that could either be because of his short-temper or his burning love of his country. Chris showed layers of unmannered conduct like using native profanity and shouting in anger. Most people didn't know that he acted this way asking for respect for his countrymen. His brute manner displayed as intimidation for his country just as a lion threatened his enemy to protect his kin.
Sakay kept dreaming of a nation filled with love for God, people, country and nature. Chris, though recently woken up from cultural globalization, saw the future of his native culture. Soon, no one will appreciate the history of their kind nor the contribution nor the sacrifice made by the patriot. All would disappear like dust in the wind. He was determined to preserve and appreciate what their fallen heroes left them. He made this vow fulfilling it until his death.
Chris knew that it was his fate. He holds a burden of a national fighter. His attitude may be brash to anyone especially those who are against him. But deep down, he saw himself not as a hero just like his ancestors, but a soldier of the nation not out of hate but for love.
