Cebuano eskrimador joins Mexico tourney

CEBU, Philippines - A son of prominent eskrima master and former world champion left yesterday for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to compete in the 11th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championship scheduled on July 19 to 24.

John Eric Mosqueda, 22, the son of Engr. Eric Mosqueda who was a champion during the first World Championship in 1989, will join the 47-man Philippine Team to the biennial tournament that gathers the best stick-fighters from all over the world.

Mosqueda will compete in both forms (sayaw) and sparring events together with five other qualifiers from Cebu. They were selected by the coaching staff after coming out victorious in four qualifying tournaments.

The other members of the Cebu team are Harold Talledo, Batoy Cañete, Reynand Alfar, Darwin "D' Dreat" Cruz and Estace Martinez.

They are now undergoing the final phase of training under the watchful eyes of Master Eric Mosqueda and four-time world champion Percival Pableo, both nephews of Supreme Grandmasters and WEKAF president emeritus Diony Cañete.

The entire Philippine delegation will be led by Master Gerald Cañete and Engr. Michael Cañete, International Vp and director of WEKAF.

After the Mexico World Championships, the team will participate in the two tournaments in the USA before returning home on August 15. They will also conduct seminar-workshop in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Las Vegas. (THE FREEMAN)