Want to master the lightsaber? This is the group you’re looking for | ABS-CBN
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Want to master the lightsaber? This is the group you’re looking for
Want to master the lightsaber? This is the group you’re looking for
Mark Demayo,
ABS-CBN News
Published May 24, 2018 03:23 PM PHT
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Updated May 24, 2018 06:49 PM PHT
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Not too long ago (3 years to be exact) in this galaxy of ours, Marc Macalua, a local Star Wars geek, set up a Facebook group.
Not too long ago (3 years to be exact) in this galaxy of ours, Marc Macalua, a local Star Wars geek, set up a Facebook group.
He and his friends envisioned it as their own command center of sorts where they can gush about their love for lightsabers, and as a convenient way to organize meet-ups with their fellow fans.
He and his friends envisioned it as their own command center of sorts where they can gush about their love for lightsabers, and as a convenient way to organize meet-ups with their fellow fans.
Nowadays, it has grown to become the Philippine Lightsaber Guild (PLG), boasting more than 6,000 members across the country. They meet once a week to practice wielding lightsabers like a true Jedi, which doubles as a fitness routine for the lot of them.
Nowadays, it has grown to become the Philippine Lightsaber Guild (PLG), boasting more than 6,000 members across the country. They meet once a week to practice wielding lightsabers like a true Jedi, which doubles as a fitness routine for the lot of them.
And much like the Force-wielding artisans they idolize, there's an order to their setup. Macaluaexplained that their structure has 3 main "pillars": choreography, combat and building.
And much like the Force-wielding artisans they idolize, there's an order to their setup. Macaluaexplained that their structure has 3 main "pillars": choreography, combat and building.
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The first one is self-explanatory, focusing more on the performance (think ballerinas or musical theater actors but with lightsabers) and the fitness aspect of their fandom.
The first one is self-explanatory, focusing more on the performance (think ballerinas or musical theater actors but with lightsabers) and the fitness aspect of their fandom.
The routines, they said, take inspiration not just from those seen in the movies, but also from various martial arts disciplines, modern dances and other physical arts.
The routines, they said, take inspiration not just from those seen in the movies, but also from various martial arts disciplines, modern dances and other physical arts.
This is the branch that also appears in pop-culture events such as AsiaPOP Comicon and ToyCon, thanks to their affiliation with the Lucasfilm-recognized lightsaber group, Fight Saber.
This is the branch that also appears in pop-culture events such as AsiaPOP Comicon and ToyCon, thanks to their affiliation with the Lucasfilm-recognized lightsaber group, Fight Saber.
The combat pillar trades in the drama for more authenticity. This is where people get to spar with fellow lightsaber enthusiasts, bringing out their competitive side.
The combat pillar trades in the drama for more authenticity. This is where people get to spar with fellow lightsaber enthusiasts, bringing out their competitive side.
"It's going after the other guy's head," explained Macalua.
"It's going after the other guy's head," explained Macalua.
"So they bring their arnis experience or their kendo or kenjutsu backgrounds. And they play around in a controlled environment to simulate lightsaber combat," he added.
"So they bring their arnis experience or their kendo or kenjutsu backgrounds. And they play around in a controlled environment to simulate lightsaber combat," he added.
The last pillar is composed of fans oriented with the technical side of lightsabers. As such, they're more interested in crafting and repairing those of their fellow fans rather than striking them.
The last pillar is composed of fans oriented with the technical side of lightsabers. As such, they're more interested in crafting and repairing those of their fellow fans rather than striking them.
“Looking at the other groups abroad, how they started, always needed 'yung isang party na mag-aayos ng mga lightsabers," said Macalua. "Kasi eventually masisisra 'yan. Eventually you want to upgrade. You're always going to look for the next acquisition."
“Looking at the other groups abroad, how they started, always needed 'yung isang party na mag-aayos ng mga lightsabers," said Macalua. "Kasi eventually masisisra 'yan. Eventually you want to upgrade. You're always going to look for the next acquisition."
He furthered: "These are the people who are into the geeky, electronic aspect of things. They procure their supplies abroad, then some of them even build their hilts from metal [locally]."
He furthered: "These are the people who are into the geeky, electronic aspect of things. They procure their supplies abroad, then some of them even build their hilts from metal [locally]."
There's even a good bounty to be had in their hobby, Macalua shared, as there are some who have gone to "mass-produce" and "export" their own "unique" lightsabers.
There's even a good bounty to be had in their hobby, Macalua shared, as there are some who have gone to "mass-produce" and "export" their own "unique" lightsabers.
"It's a nice cottage industry right now and 'yung workmanship ng Filipino iba. And these are all self-taught, feeling ko they just went to YouTube, they just went to forums or Facebook groups and asked around because really, there's no school here."
"It's a nice cottage industry right now and 'yung workmanship ng Filipino iba. And these are all self-taught, feeling ko they just went to YouTube, they just went to forums or Facebook groups and asked around because really, there's no school here."
-Enriching one another-
Franco Mapua, one of the heads of the group's "temples" (designated areas where they hold their weekly meet-ups), said that being a member has exposed him to all kinds of people.
Franco Mapua, one of the heads of the group's "temples" (designated areas where they hold their weekly meet-ups), said that being a member has exposed him to all kinds of people.
As a fighter himself, he said he appreciates tweaking his own style just by sparring with those trained in arnis, fencing, hand-to-hand, and even foreign martial arts.
As a fighter himself, he said he appreciates tweaking his own style just by sparring with those trained in arnis, fencing, hand-to-hand, and even foreign martial arts.
"Meeting those types of people who are into the lore, as much as they are into other real-life stuff, that totally enriched the PLG experience for us," he said.
"Meeting those types of people who are into the lore, as much as they are into other real-life stuff, that totally enriched the PLG experience for us," he said.
Although he noted that one doesn't necessarily need to have been trained professionally or have experience to join them.
Although he noted that one doesn't necessarily need to have been trained professionally or have experience to join them.
"One thing I really love about the PLG is that you can come in with absolutely no skill. This is a loving and caring community," Mapua said.
"One thing I really love about the PLG is that you can come in with absolutely no skill. This is a loving and caring community," Mapua said.
"We take care of people. As long as you have the drive to do it, if you have the passion to do it, people will help you get to where you want to be."
"We take care of people. As long as you have the drive to do it, if you have the passion to do it, people will help you get to where you want to be."
JB Casacop, a member of both combat and choreography pillars, supported this point by saying: "Kahit sino puwede mag choreo, kahit may background ka sa dance o wala matutunan mo 'yan."
JB Casacop, a member of both combat and choreography pillars, supported this point by saying: "Kahit sino puwede mag choreo, kahit may background ka sa dance o wala matutunan mo 'yan."
"Hindi siya imposibleng matutunan, promise. Lahat ng sumali dito nagkaroon ng chance to perform and napakita naman nila yung skills nila sa performances."
"Hindi siya imposibleng matutunan, promise. Lahat ng sumali dito nagkaroon ng chance to perform and napakita naman nila yung skills nila sa performances."
Check out more photos of the group below:
Check out more photos of the group below:
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