AS PREVIOUSLY published, tournaments after tournaments are being scheduled in preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games that will be hosted by the Philippines where our very own Philippine National Martial Arts and Sports is included.
Since its last stint in the 2005 SEA Games, arnis makes its significant presence to showcase the cultural heritage and indigenous origin of a world renowned martial arts with practitioners in almost all countries of the world and adapted as one combat requirement in Special Forces in most armed forces of several countries.
Aside from using it in combat for military and police, arnis also made its way and is continuously gaining popularity in films to include the coveted Hollywood films.
After its kick off in Baguio City where more or less 400 athletes showed up for the 109th Baguio Day Charter National Arnis Championships 2018 on October 5 to 7, three more activities are lined up this month of October.
This weekend, the “ESKRIMA SA MASKARA 2018” will be staged as part of the series of events leading to the arnis event for the 2019 SEA Games at the City Mall Mandalagan, Bacolod City on October 20-21.
Tuhon JayR Denisa, tournament manager and Grand Tuhon Leo Uyanib, tournament director said the event will be open to all arnisadors not only from Visayas but also to all interested teams coming from Luzon and Mindanao who wants a credible tournament to tune-up their skills in preparation for the coveted SEA Games.
They also said the event will be graced by the president of the National Sports Association for Arnis, Arnis Philippines Inc. NSA president Raymond S Velayo.
Velayo said while the Baguio event kicked off for Luzon, the Bacolod event will also kick it off for Visayas as another event will be staged in Capiz, the 2018 Arnis Visayas Open to be held on October 29-30 at the Capiz Gymnasium, Villareal Stadium which aims to screen Visaya’s best arnisadors to be sent in the 2018 National Arnis Encounter on December in Manila.
Velayo added it will be a busy October as another event will take place on October 25-28, dubbed the “Makati Arnis Challenge” to be held at the HPSB Gym of the University of Makati.
A few more activities will follow in November leading to the December selection to make sure athletes aiming for a slot in the National Team for the 2019 SEA Games are well prepared and tuned-up ready to showcase their skills with the hope that their skills are Philippine National Team worthy.