Mulao Barangay Council and Yaw-Yan Ardigma Launch First Martial Arts Festival in Mountain Area
The Mulao Barangay Council, in collaboration with Yaw-Yan Ardigma Martial Arts Inc., is set to host the inaugural Boss Junaz Martial Arts Festival on March 17, 2026. This landmark event will take place at the Sitio Lumanoy Covered Court in the mountain barangay of Mulao, Liloan, Cebu, marking the first time such a martial arts showcase has been held in this remote area.
Barangay Captain Junaz Azarcon Highlights Long-Term Vision for Youth Engagement
During a press conference on March 13, Mulao Barangay Captain Junaz Azarcon expressed gratitude to Master Ekin, also known as Benigno Caniga Jr., for his support in bringing this event to fruition. Azarcon emphasized that the festival aims to provide live exposure to martial arts for youth in mountain communities, potentially inspiring them to pursue the discipline. He noted that this initiative has been a long-time plan, with hopes of fostering greater interest and participation in martial arts among local residents.
Main Event Features Amateur MMA Bout Between Jomhel Yabo and Jeremy Roigt
The festival's main event will showcase an amateur mixed martial arts fight between Jomhel Yabo of Lapu-Lapu Strikers and French fighter Jeremy Roigt from Survival MMA. Yabo, who is the nephew of former ONE Championship veteran Jimmy Yabo, acknowledged the pressure of his first fight but remained focused, describing Roigt as a "frenemy"—an opponent inside the ring but a friend outside. Roigt echoed this sentiment, appreciating Yabo's perspective and vowing to give his best performance.
Roigt's participation came about unexpectedly; he was initially in Cebu for a short vacation but extended his stay after meeting former ONE Championship fighter Roel Rosauro, who encouraged him to compete in the festival.
Diverse Martial Arts Lineup and Demonstrations Planned
In addition to the main MMA bout, the festival will include:
- Four other MMA bouts
- Ten kickboxing and muay thai fights
- Two Brazilian jiu-jitsu contests
The event will also feature demonstrations of various martial arts disciplines, such as pencak silat, capoeira, Vovinam, and arnis, highlighting the cultural diversity of martial arts. Youth practitioners from the area will be featured, adding a community-focused element to the festivities. The event is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m., offering a full afternoon of athletic competition and cultural display.
Future Plans for Expansion to Liloan Town Center
Looking ahead, Azarcon and Caniga have ambitious plans to expand the festival if it proves successful. They envision hosting a larger martial arts showcase in the Liloan town center, potentially incorporating a cage for enhanced spectator experience. Caniga stated that the goal is to scale up the event, making it a more prominent attraction in the region and further promoting martial arts in the community.
