To promote arnis, is to promote Filipino culture: Cordero

LEARNING the Filipino martial arts is no longer a problem. But instilling Filipino culture into practitioners of the Filipino martial arts poses the biggest challenge for the organizers of the 15th World Eskrima Kali-Arnis Federation (Wekaf) World Championships on July 19-23 next year in Mahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii.

For organizer David Cordero, Wekaf Hawaii will not have a hard time drawing participants but how to incorporate FIlipino culture into the event, especially since there will be Hawaiians who are of Filipino descent.

“Hawaii population is about one million and about 300,000 are of Filipino descent. Many Filipinos like the sacadas, sugarcane plantation workers, were drawn to Hawaii. They were our grandfathers and fathers. But only a few of them introduced the younger generation to eskrima and the culture behind it. Hosting the World Championships is our way to promote Filipino culture, unity, friendship and sportsmanship. That is why we are very excited about the upcoming tournament,” said organizing committee chairman Cordero during the official launching of the event Thursday night.

Cordero is joined by the president of Doce Pares Hawaii Robert Garcia, James Repunte, Dan Alconcel and Mary Llanos Corder, the publisher of the longest running daily in Hawaii, Fil-Am Courier.

“Everybody in Hawaii is excited. A lot of countries will be coming to compete and we are hoping that through these world championships we can also reach out to the other regions such as Guam, Samoa, Mariana Islands. Hawaii is deeply rooted in Arnis,” added Garcia.

The launching was also attended by Wekaf chairman emeritus SGM Dionisio Cañete, Wekaf Philippines vice president and Pekaf board of trustee Gerald Cañete, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon S. Fernandez and Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) commissioner Allan Delantar.

SGM Cañete believes that Wekaf Philippines can now send a bigger delegation following the formation of the new Arnis group, Pekaf, which is headed by Sen. Migs Zubiri, and support from the government through the PSC and the CCSC.

“Before the government support came, we only reached out to 41 countries to learn arnis. But now, with the support of the government, we can get at least 130 countries in three years,” said the older Cañete.

As for the Philippine team competing in the Hawaii championships, Cañete said they are looking to send at least 60 fighters as they aim to win back-to-back titles. “This is made possible through the help of the government,” Cañete said.

Fernandez, for his part, has promised an all-out support to the Philippine delegation to the World Championships coming from the PSC, while CCSC had also promised to do their share in hopes of sending a strong delegation. (RCM)

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