A Tausug scholar, a Cebuano ethno-archaeologist and Cebu arnis grandmasters will discuss the ancient Cebuano weapons in a forum honoring Chief Dagami, warrior of Gabi (now Cordova, Cebu).

UP-Diliman Institute of Islamic Studies professor Darwin Absari will tackle how Moro bladed weapons were widely used in the archipelago, including Cebu, in precolonial times.

Ethnoarchaelogist Dr. Jocelyn Gerra will expound on Cebuano toolmaking, especially of the “pinuti” that is still being produced today by bolomakers of Basak, Cebu City.

Arnis Supreme Grandmaster Dionisio Cañete will trace the origin of the Cebuano martial arts while other Arnis/Eskrima/Kali grandmasters of Cebu, San Diego and Los Angeles, California will give messages and demonstrations on the different styles of the indigenous martial arts.

Cordova Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Daniesse Sumagang, one of the forum co-sponsors, will also give her message during the event that will be streamed live on the Facebook page of Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel, this Sept. 26, Saturday, 2 p.m.

The virtual forum, with limited physical participants, is in celebration of the 4th anniversary of Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel’s Hardin Dagami, named in honor of Dagami, the chief of Gabi who led a resistance against the Spanish occupation of Cebu in 1565.

A trivia quiz with prizes awaits the virtual and physical participants. A limited number of participants will be admitted at the Hardin Dagami Roofdeck.

Partnering with Palm Grass for this online/limited participants live event are the Cebu Provincial Museum (Museo Sugbo), Cordova SK Federation, Diyandi Heritage Center, Hambin Inc. (Hamiling Binilin) and arnis organizations: Doce Pares, Doce Pares San Diego, International Martial Arts and Boxing Academy (Los Angeles), Lapunti Arnis de Abanico International, Cacoy Doce Pares, World Nickelstick Eskrima Club Balintawak Style Inc., Dacayana Eskrima, Pilipino FMA- Eskrima/Kali/Arnis- Lapunti/Doce Pares/Balintawak/San Miguel, Troma Balintawak Arnis, Estokada de Campo and Tyke Abella Eskrima. (PR)