Mel Orpilla -  Consultant, Historian, Writer & Photographer
Like to Fight?
Villasin Balintawak Arnis Academy
Villasin Balintawak Arnis Academy 3rd Year Anniversary
celebration at Max's of Manila in Vallejo. Front row: Fred "Junior"
Algar, Alex Algar, GM Ver Villasin, Maile Algar, Mark and Jon
Guzman. Back row: Don Rosario, Sam Tagulao, Mel Orpilla, Carlos
Manlutac and Alex France.
Sign Guestbook View Guestbook
I train in the Balintawak Arnis style of Filipino Martial Arts
under Grand Master Ver Villasin originally of Cebu. The
Balintawak Arnis Academy will be back at the Bayanihan
Center:

Every Tuesday,  1st & 2nd Friday, and 3rd & 4th Thursday
All classes are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bayanihan Center inside the Seafood City Mall located at
the corner of Redwood St. & Sonoma Blvd. in Vallejo.
For more info call (707) 342-4448
Registration is open for Filipino Martial
Arts (FMA) competitors in all age, weight
and skill levels. This will be the first ever
FMA tournament conducted in
conjunction with a major Filipino Festival.
Free to spectators.
    Click here for Registration Form
Email Mel Orpilla
Tatak ng Apat na Alon Tribe
My first book, hopefully not my last. You can buy it at
Costco, Barnes & Nobles, Vallejo Museum Bookstore,
Bookshop Benicia, and online by clicking image.
Click the magazine cover to read my
latest article in Filipinas Magazine
about the Tribe.
Melahnee is my niece in Bauang, La Union, my
father's birthplace. She writes about life in the
Barrio, motherhood, loneliness, and life in general.
Her writings are so eloquently sincere and honest it
touches the soul. Her photos are equally moving
and poignant giving us glimpses of life in Bauang.
Click on her photo to link to her Blog.
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I am an Amang in the  Tatak ng Apat na Alon
(Mark of Four Waves) Philippine tattoo tribe.
Part of our Mission is to give lectures and impart our
knowledge of traditional Filipino tattooing.
I am the first in the tribe to recieve one and maybe the first
in 50 years to have one done anywhere. The four hour
tattoo was very painful but worth the effort.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE TRIBES NEW WEBSITE
http://www.apat-na-alon-tribe.com
Mel Orpilla
449 Gilcrest Ave.
Vallejo, CA 94591
(707) 477-1159
Melahnee Calica Blog