Hawaii to send top dancers, fighters in 14th Wekaf tilt

TO show its serious interest to host the World Eskrima Kali-Arnis Federation (Wekaf) World Championship in 2018, Hawaii will not only be sending its best stick-fighters but also its top entertainers in the biennial meet’s 14th edition slated July 20-24 at JCentre Mall in Mandaue City.

Gerald Cañete, chairman of the organizing committee, said Hawaii’s dazzling dancers will arrive on July 20 in time for their first performance for the Reception and Opening Ceremony at the JCentre Convention Hall.

The dance group, part of the famous Hawaii Dance International, is headed by Madelyne Pascua, a world-renowned dance instructor.

The group is made up mostly of beauty queens who are also top-notch eskrimadors.

Wekaf Hawaii Eskrimadors, which is headed by David Cordero, the director of Doce Pares Hawaii, will be playing under Team USA. They will be accompanied by Honolulu council member Joey Manahan and GM Robert Garcia.

Garcia is hoping their cultural group will boost their campaign to host the next World championship that will be sometime in July 2018.

With the tournament a few days away, some of the participants coming from 33 nations have already started arriving.

Cañete announced the tournament will be graced by retired Korean ambassador Chung Wha-Tae, who is also the president of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU).

According to Cañete, Chung is inviting practitioners of Filipino Martial Arts to participate in the world martial arts festival scheduled in Korea this September.

The Filipino Martial Arts was introduced during the native Asian martial arts convention in Vietnam this year where Doce Pares International eskrimadros were recognized by other Asian countries.