The challenge for arnis

In spite of summer vacation, the Palarong Pambansa, and simultaneous events for military dependents, the Enersel Forte National Youth Arnis Festival opens today at the SM Megamall activity center.

It was a very challenging event to put together for the organizers, more so in the face of all the distractions for the children who will be participating in the two-day event. Nevertheless, thanks to the sponsors who supported the event, the first big arnis event in the country is taking place.

“This is part of our commitment to the Filipino children,” says Jay Lacnit, president of SEL-J Pharma, manufacturer of Enersel Forte, which has virgin coconut oil.” After our strong support for motocross, we wanted to do something specifically for children.”

After President Gloria Arroyo signed The arnis bill into law in December of 2009, the Department of Education issued a memo that the native martial art be taught in all schools. However, because of the problems inherited by TESDA from the previous administration, the agency has not been able to finish drafting the manual for implementing rules and regulations for the sport. Since arnis is a specialized combat sport, P.E. teachers would need to work hand-in-hand with established instructors to better teach the sport and avoid injury to students.

Meanwhile, arnis masters and teachers have been going about their own business, serving their own constituencies. As a whole, the sport has been inching forward, thanks to the efforts of many clubs, and Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation in Cebu and the Philippine Council of Kali Escrima Arnis Masters in Luzon. Between the two, they have valiantly tried to keep the fractured communities of the sport together.

Luckily, SEL-J Pharma and its sports group have thrown their support to the sport, joining traditional sponsors Smart, Harbour Centre, Stix and Chris Sports in providing a venue for kids to learn the sport and compete in it. Many for the first time. In addition, SEL-J will also be giving out free samples of Enersel Forte to every single participant.

“We are very grateful to all our sponsors, because without them, the kids would not have this great venue to channel their energies into,” says tournament director Rey Dominguez. “They are the future of the sport.”

Despite his busy schedule, Sen. Migs Zubiri, author of the arnis law, has pledged his support to the event, as well. Zubiri was a former national player who knows firsthand what it is like to battle other countries and even suffer injury for the love of a sport. He fought from his time as a congressman until he rose to senator to get arnis recognized as the national sport and martial art.

This writer has also requested the MVP Sports Foundation through its chairman Manny Pangilinan, president Al Panlilio and executive director Chot Reyes, to include arnis as the ninth sport that their foundation will support. The foundation is still getting organized, and making sure that any support it gives to its selected sports will not be short-term and be allocated properly.

Meanwhile, despite the storms of problems, controversy and lack of support swirling around them, for the next two days, Filipino children will be able to participate, worry-free, in the sport that they love, surrounded by family and friends in their favorite mall. It makes all the organizers’ sacrifice worth it.