Aguinaldo, Ifugao - Just like other successful athletes, sports is not just a pastime for Airman 1st Class Ric Bimmano Maanao of Aguinaldo, Ifugao. It is crucial to his success in the field of martial arts and to becoming a uniformed personnel.
Maanao, a member of the Philippine Air Force, excelled in the karate world since college. His sport is more than just a hobby for him or a way of releasing stress; it became a key in pursuing his tertiary education since he was awarded a full scholarship grant for his numerous accomplishments in karate.
During his college days, Maanao became a well-known personality in martial arts, receiving a lot of honors that attest to his skill and dedication. Eventually, he became a member of the Philippine National Martial Arts Team and represented the country in major competitions like the South East Asian (SEA) and ASEAN games.
From a Philippine martial arts team member from 2011-2016, Maanao became the national team coach from 2016-2019 until he pursued to become a member of the Philippine Air Force.
His passion for martial arts persisted even after he joined the Air Force. On October 14, 2024, he competed in the Philippine Uniformed Service Sports League in Pasay City and took home the gold medal.
Maanao's karate prowess transcends national borders as he once showed when he won a bronze medal in the second dan division of the 21st National Martial Arts Karate Do Exchange Tournament International held in Tokyo, Japan in 2023.
Despite his present service in the Philippine Air Force, Maanao is still very willing to share his experience with aspiring young martial artists. He even goes out of his way to interact with children, urging them to practice martial arts to improve their skills and character.
As a testament to his skill and the respect he has in the martial arts community, Maanao was assigned the responsibility of training presidential escorts in Malacañang.
In his interview with the media, Maanao shared that behind his duties as a defender of the country, he also wants to teach young children about martial arts. He barely desires to encourage young people to concentrate on their own personal growth.
“To all young kids who want to be in martial arts, especially karate, focus on your goal and you will achieve it. It will help you to be a good player and a good leader someday, and also it will be your path to have a work like me,” he added.
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