Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali named ambassadors for Filipino Martial Arts
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Power couple goals! Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali are the new faces of Filipino Martial Arts for film and TV.
In their recent social media updates, the Kapuso couple Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali happily shared their journey and experiences training in various forms of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA).
A report on the program 24 Oras showed the two stars attending the Katipunan ng mga Bagani event, which was participated in by various Filipino Martial Arts practitioners.
The recognition was officially conferred upon Ruru and Bianca during the said event.
In an exclusive interview with Chika Minute, the pair expressed their experiences in learning and strengthening their skills in the country's traditional martial arts.
Ruru shared details about his training in the field, noting that he began by practicing with weapons before gradually transitioning to hand-to-hand combat training, which he intends to use for his future projects.
“I started with, 'yun nga, mga baston, arnis, but eventually ngayon, kahit empty hands, meaning kahit wala kang weapons, puwede na rin. So somehow, para siyang dirty boxing,” Ruru said.
Following her impressive Arnis performance in Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre, Bianca once again put her combat training on display by demonstrating her expertise in knife-handling.
Bianca shared her happiness over the new “family” they've built while mastering the craft, adding that the experience has taught them valuable life lessons and made them more “purpose-driven.”
“We wanted to learn a new skill, but then as we were going through the process, naging parte na kami ng pamilya ng FMA, how much we've learned and grown as individuals during the study of the system, mas naging purpose-driven na siya ngayon,” Bianca said.
Ruru also highlighted the importance of cultural heritage, emphasizing that their commitment to FMA stems from a desire to honor and protect local traditions.
“Gusto natin 'pagmalaki 'yung sariling atin, mahalin 'yung sariling atin, at ito po ay kasama sa ating kultura so gusto po nating i-preserve 'yun,” Ruru said.
Bianca further emphasized their role as stewards of Filipino culture, noting that their ambassadorship carries a deeper mission for the youth.
“It is also our responsibility to be able to carry this to the next generation that we are representing,” Bianca added.
The Kapuso couple regularly practices Laraw Kali Pamuok. Founded by Lakan Ronnie Royce Base, this discipline serves as the foundation for the impressive stunts and action scenes seen in their latest projects.
Catch Bianca Umali as Sang'gre Terra in Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre, airing at 8:05 p.m. on GMA Prime and 9:45 p.m. on GTV.
You can also watch it online via Kapuso Stream on GMA Network's official Facebook and YouTube accounts. Full episodes are also available at GMANetwork.com/Sanggre.
Related Gallery: Bianca Umali, isinapuso ang pagsasanay ng Pinoy Martial Arts na Laraw Kali Pamuok
