INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
A more united arnis organization is expected to emerge following yesterday’s First National Arnis Congress at the Philippine National Red Cross Multi-Purpose Hall in Mandaluyong City.
Various arnis organizations all over the country attended the event, which was graced by Senator Miguel Zubiri, who filed the Senate bill that pushed to make arnis as the country’s national sport.
“We at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) had received various complaints that there were some division in the various arnis organizations. So, we had this congress to unite them since arnis is a very popular and one of the biggest sports in the country,” said PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, who attended the congress along with PSC Chairman William Ramirez.
Fernandez said the PSC invited Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Arnis Philippines President Raymond Velayo, but they did not show up. “This is a unification move by Senator Zubiri. Members and leaders of the various organizations spoke in unity that gave Zubiri a mandate, a free hand to form a new arnis federation,” said Fernandez.
As chairman, Zubiri will choose 15 board members coming from various arnis organizations. “The officers will function on interim basis. They will create the federation’s by-laws and the implementing rules and regulations.
They were given six months to one year to do that and after that an election will be held,” revealed Fernandez, who will lead the oversight committee.
Fernandez said it is just fitting that Zubiri was appointed to unify the organization as he himself was a victim of politicking when he was an arnisador.
Fernadez said Zubiri was disallowed to become a part of the national team and was consequently denied from competing in the Southeast Asian Games in the 1980s when he took part in an arnis competition in Cebu put up by World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation chairman emeritus Dionisio “Diony” Cañete.
“We really have to come up with a united arnis organization. Because right now, when they hold tournaments, they have different disciplines and styles. Now, if they unite, we will come up with uniform disciplines. When everything is finalized, we are planning to hold a world championship,” said Fernandez.
Last year, Cebu hosted the 14th Wekaf World Championships that attracted hundreds of stick-fighters from at least 30 countries.