CEBU, Philippines — It was a poignant moment for the Doce Pares family last December 30 at their international headquarters along Eagle Street in Sto. Niño Village, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City as they celebrated the 89th Founding Anniversary of Doce Pares without their strongest pillar and longtime president Supreme Grandmaster Atty. Dionisio “Diony” Cañete, Order of Datu Lapu-Lapu (ODL), who passed away last August.
“Our celebration is completely different without my dad this time. We really missed his presence,” said Philippine Eskrima Kali-Arnis Federation (PEKAF) Vice President Master Gerald Cañete, son of the late Diony Cañete. “But we’re determined to continue with our yearly get-together to pay tribute to my dad and nurture his legacy.”
As the club’s vice president, the United States-based Grandmaster Arnulfo “Dong” Cuesta automatically assumed the post that was left vacant upon the death of Diony Cañete.
Through virtual set-up straight from the US, Cuesta presided over the club’s special gathering where he was officially installed as the new Doce Pares president after being voted en masse to the lofty position during their annual election of officers.
“Thank you for your support as we endeavor to keep our organization strong and keep the legacy of SGM Diony Cañete strong,” said Cuesta, who vowed to come over to Cebu to personally oversee the two major events of Doce Pares - the 1st SGM Diony Cañete Doce Pares Training Camp on April 18-13 and the2022 World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championships on July 18-24.
Others elected were Grandmaster Eric Mosqueda as Vice President, Grandmaster Michael Cañete as Corporate Secretary, and Master Gerald Cañete as Finance Officer.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros makes up the Board of Directors together with Albert Ablan, Angel Veloso, Ernest Evangelista, Rico Tautho, former Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos, Manuel Abesamis, Joseph Burt Cañete, Cesar Tabotabo, Wendell Cañete, and Cinbeth Orellano.
Doce Pares was established on December 30, 1932 with GM Eulogio “Ylong” Cañete as its the principal organizer and founding president. Its mission and vision is to promote arnis, the only known traditional Filipino Martial Arts (FMA).
Atty. Diony Cañete, Eulogio’s youngest son, was largely responsible not only for developing but also innovating the Filipino stick-fighting art until it evolved as one of the highly respected and most popular martial arts in the world with 40-plus member countries from both hemispheres of the globe. — EBV