Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Eskrima academy opens By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
SHOWING that it is indeed the trailblazer of change, the Doce Pares opened the first-ever martial arts school, the Academy of Eskrima Martial Arts Incorporated that is registered, approved and recognized by the government through the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
In other countries, their local martial arts are taught to schoolchildren by competent teachers. The teachers need to go through a series of trainings before they can actually teach the craft. And this is what Doce Pares has in mind in putting up the academy.
“What was once an ordinary club has evolved into an educational institution. Now arnis is being organized by an academy, which is under the educational system of the Philippines,” said Silvano Maranga, Tesda Region 11 director, who attended the launching yesterday at the NS Pension.
“This form of martial art that was started by the sons of Lapu-Lapu is very rich in history and culture. It teaches skills that came from our ancestors. And it is good to know that we will be assured that it will be handed down to our younger generation,” Maranga added.
Realization
For Dionisio Cañete, the man behind the academy, he feels that it is the realization of a lifelong dream.
“I’ve had this dream since the early 70s and it finally came true,” said Cañete, who brought the art to Hollywood in 1975, upon the invitation of the company that brought Bruce Lee to the world. “I demonstrated the sport twice and they all said that a lot of people would want to learn the sport because it is unique. And that challenged me,” Cañete said.
Curriculum
Cañete had actually already has a curriculum that he teaches, especially to foreigners who want to teach the art to their own countrymen. Having the license from Tesda gives the certification more credence. The graduates from the academy will be given the license to teach eskrima—a profession that is widely in demand abroad.
Doce Pares has membership that spreads to over 30 countries.
“As of now, the only proof that teachers have are the certificates that they will get from training with arnis clubs. The certification that they get from us makes it a more reliable proof for them to teach,” said Gerald Cañete.
So strong is the demand that even before the school opened, a number of foreigners, who are in the country to train for the world championship later this month, are already enlisting themselves to the program. (MCB)
