By Jaime Joshua A. Frias II
Contributor

MICHAEL Pabillore was once groomed as a promising athlete for the national karatedo team under the tutelage of his trainer and aunt sensei Victoria Pabillore or Kakay as fondly known in the karate community.

Michael trained with her since his youthful years in the family dojo that Kakay established the Youth Development thru Karate Association (YDKA) at their former residence at Vamenta Blvd, Carmen.

He was groomed to follow in the footsteps of her aunt Marna and cousin Joey Pabillore, both gold medalists in the biennial Southeast Asian Games.

Michael was already making his own name on top after successful campaigns in regional and national eliminations and even became a member of the Philippine team when he represented the country in a Japan tournament in 2002.

But one tragedy twisted his fate, Michael’s dreams to go up suddenly shattered after his die-hard supporter and uncle Mariano ‘Inteng’ Pabillore Jr. passed away when he was 23 years old. He suddenly stopped the sport and decided to work abroad.

“He was the father figure of my life. He was the one disciplining me and sponsoring me in my endeavors and that hurt me well,” said Michael.

Marna had her retirement in 2012 and Kakay and her YDKA diminished from the picture. Their kin was never heard of since then.

It could not be denied that if it runs in the blood, it is in the blood. Who says about playing, when he can spread the gospel of the family-brand karate?

The now 38-year-old Michael made a successful short comeback after winning in Hongkong in 2019 but carried the torch in his family line as he founded the Bushido thru Martial-Arts Development Association.

He has now produced young disciples from Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Valencia, and Tagum City with the help of her girlfriend Crisel Calipayan, who herself was an RP Karatedo Team in 2003.

His sacrifices finally paid off after his wards bagged 20 medals in the 1st Mayor Baste Duterte Cup Karatedo Championship in Davao City last October 22, 2022.

His Malabalay karatekas got two golds, three silvers, and four bronze medals from Hitoshi Alojado (Gold) Evanna Jordan (Gold), Thea Porcia (Silver), Dhane Ganancial (Silver), Weirl Borja (Silver), Rajveer Buscanio (Silver), Mara Rumboyun (Bronze), Prince Loredo (Bronze), Aiza Paglas (Bronze) and Zaic Pimentel (Bronze).

His students from Tagum city brought three golds, a silver and two bronze from Gladiemher Campos (Gold), Lloyd Japet Campos (Gold), Chris Marie Mamparo (Silver), Sophia Claire Viernes (Bronze), Sophie Asplico (Bronze) and Cedrick Tabacon (Bronze).

He has the lone medalist from Valencia with two silvers from Rain Caser.

Michael was given a blessing by Kakay after learning he was training karatedo at the sports center.