A study of history

Each time the world arnis championship is held in the Philippines, I always find time to watch the action and more importantly to see old friends, from different parts of the world.

Many of them are Filipinos, who have been spreading the good news about the sport and teaching foreigners about this indigenous art that has been handed down from one generation to another.

Many of the players found love in the tournament and probably my most favorite couple should be Ramon Rubia and Eva Cañete, who are now blessed with three children – Leah (12), Nicholas (9) and Andreas (5).

This is not about their love story, but more about a passion that Ramon is pursuing, a study on history of arnis and eskrima and the Filipino culture.

Although he is pure Filipino, Ramon’s family migrated to Guam in 1970 where he lived for nine years before moving to California, which he now calls home.

His study on the history of the Filipino martial art is not only meant to help him explain to his students in Orange County and other parts of the US and the world about arnis, but also to connect to his roots.

He told me earlier this week that he is about done with his research and shall hopefully put them all together before the end of the year and hopefully publish the book next year.

There have been many interesting facts that he has shared in our many conversations and he told me that one thing that really interests him most is how the art of eskrima was used by the guerillas during the war where both of his grandfathers fought.

This is also equally very interesting to me since both of my grandfathers also fought in that war and in fact a couple of years ago, I received email from a contemporary of my late grandfather Cirpriano Rosal Quiñones, Sr., telling me that I should write a book about my lolo’s exploits.

Maybe someday I would do that and take the cue from what Ramon is doing. 

One thing that I like about his approach to the study of martial arts is that this is not all about fighting, but more importantly it is about culture.  I hope other martial arts teachers would do the same.

* * *

See you today at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club for the Y101 Skins for Heart event.

Later today, see you at the Cebu Coliseum for the Laban na Banal world championship fight. 

What an exciting and sporty day we have ahead of us.