THE Juego Todo and Filipino Martial Arts has envisioned programs that provide quality healthcare assistance, medical benefits, and burial benefits for the FMA Masters, Grandmasters, and Supreme Grandmasters.
“This is a sad reality and heartbreaking to see our FMA Masters, Grandmasters, and Supreme Grandmasters—individuals who devoted their entire lives to preserving and passing on our indigenous martial art and culture—gradually see their health decline as they age,” said Juego Todo founder and CEO Ferdinand Munsayac.
As their health declines, many struggle to get the medical care they need.
“This is also one of the dreams and visions of Juego Todo. Some are forced to rely solely on the help of family, friends, or fundraising efforts just to treat their ailments,” said Munsayac.
Despite all their contributions, it is painful to realize that many of them struggle to access adequate medical care.
Munsayac’s statement:
“We know that our healthcare system faces many challenges and that programs dedicated to our elderly are not always sufficient.
“However, I believe that as a community, we can do something to better care for the people who have devoted so much of their lives to all of us.
“They deserve our respect, gratitude and support. They built our legacy. Let us honor today.
“They are living legends. They are cultural gems and can truly be considered national treasures.
“Without their dedication, much of our tradition and knowledge regarding Filipino Martial Arts might have been lost forever.
“This is not about placing blame on anyone. It is not enough to simply honor them with medals, plaques, certificates, or titles.
“True respect is demonstrated by how we care for them while they are still with us.
“I hope the time comes when no FMA Master has to worry about where to find the money for medicine or hospital bills.
“I hope they feel that they have not been forgotten and that the community they built stands ready to help and support them.
“We aim not only to elevate Filipino Martial Arts as a professional sport but also to build a community that genuinely cares for its pillars.
“We believe that the true measure of an organization's success lies not merely in the number of events held or champions produced, but in how it values the people who laid the foundation of our art.
“If we truly love Filipino Martial Arts, we must also love and care for the people who preserved it for the next generation.
“For a nation that knows how to value its teachers and living legends is a nation that truly respects its own culture.
“Let us show our gratitude while they are still with us—not just in words, but in deeds. And hopefully, through collective action, we can provide our living legends with the dignity, security, and care they truly deserve,”
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Lito delos Reyes.