Master Antonio Ilustrisimo
Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo (1904 - 1997) was the Grand Master of Kali Ilustrisimo, a Filipino martial art bearing his family name.
Born in Bagong, Bantayan, Cebu in 1904. As a boy he studied eskrima from his father. At the age of nine he decided to travel to the United States, and stowed away on a boat he thought was headed for America. In actuality, he arrived in Mindanao, in the Southern Philippine islands.
Antonio Alulud Ilustrisimo was one of the most well respected eskrimadors of the Philippines; He is famed for winning countless duels and street encounters, as well as serving as a guerrilla against the invading Japanese forces during World War II. GM Ilustrisimo was never defeated in combat, and earned great respect as a result of his brave exploits against the Japanese.
In 1976 Antonio 'Tatang' Ilustrisimo accepted his first students Antonio Diego and Epifanio 'Yuli' Romo. After Tatang's passing in 1997, The primary students of Grandmaster Ilustrisimo are known as the 5 pillars as follows: Master Tony Diego, Master Epifanio 'Yuli' Romo, Master Christopher Ricketts, Master Rey Galang and Punong Guro Edgar Sulite.
