TO further promote arnis as a national sport and martial arts of the Philippines, Mandirigmang Kaliradman will conduct a Filipino Martial Arts Festival on June 9 to 10 at Abreeza Mall.

Mandirigmang Kaliradman President Herbert Rosalem during the I-Speak Press Conference on Thursday said that this event could help in promoting the art because as of now the Philippine martial arts is considered as a dying art in the country.

"It is sad to say that we really have a colonial mentality, we prefer something that is not ours," he said.

Rosalem also stated that among the ways of popularizing the art is to raise awareness, proper education in Physical Education subjects and to clear up the misconceptions about the art.

"Filipinos are really famous because there are movies that use Filipino Martial Arts," he added. He also added that the famous Koreanovela actor of City Hunter Lee Min Ho, was trained by a Filipino coming from the Philippine Martial Arts Team.

The Mandirigmang Kaliradman is targeting guests from other countries and schools and other martial arts practitioners from other style locally.

Rosalem said that they are also hopeful that many will attend their event because the training and workshops are free for all.

An event this coming November where delegates from Manila, Korea, Cebu, Canada and Qatar will also help in promoting the art to other countries. (Jamille Galido Monforte, FSUU Intern; Geene Aubrey S. Avelino, NDDU Intern; Sheila Mae N. Vallente, NDDU Intern)