Ms. Secopito: Please welcome Mr. Carlo Laserna.

Mr. Laserna: Good morning, I would like to welcome you all to the 1st Filipino Martial Arts Congress. Itong congress na ito, we started this with the idea of forming a consensus among the Filipino martial arts instructors. Ang gusto lang naming mangyari sa huli, pagtapos nito, for everybody to agree on a particular issue about arnis. We’ve invited top arnisadors and the leaders of the Filipino martial art community to discuss the prospects of Arnis this morning. So we’ll take a slight deviation from the program, ang agenda natin ngayong ay yung Martial Arts Congress, which will be a debated discussion about the prospects of arnis, later on we’ll be doing a presentation on the International Festival which the Philippine Sports Commission claims to be the first sporting event held in the Philippines bigger than the SEA Games that will be hosted. Actually, this is an Olympic scale event it will be spearheaded by the UST Martial Arts Club, including all the people here, I would like to welcome you all again to the 1st Filipino Martial Arts Congress and I hope this could be the start of something bright and new for the Filipino martial arts community. I won’t mention the agenda for today but later on we’ll be coming up with the presentations and discussions para kayo naman mismo ang makapagsalita about the arnis community in the Philippines. That will be all. Thank you.

Mr. Macalua: To introduce our next speaker may I please call on Ms. Che Che De Guzman.

Ms. Secopito: Presently the deputy general for Architectural and Engineering sector services, Philippine Tourism Authority. Has been with the authority since 1976 and those from the ranks, the present as heads of the infrastructure sectors and management and development, arnis practitioner in doblete rapillon style, indigenous games and sports event ornanizer. Promoter, national and international, government and non-government organization, broadcaster, producer of “Larong Pinoy” radio program at DZSR, director in Hotel Pampanga, Director Agoo Resort Hotel, Director of Philippine Science and Technology Center, Cebu branch, President and Chairman of the Board of Philippine Indigenous Games and Sports Savers Association Incorporated, BS in Civil Engineering in Far Eastern University, Construction Management Ateneo University where he advanced to Tourism Planning, University of Hawaii, School Executive Leadership Training, Development Academy of the Philippines, Building Constructions in University of the Philippines, Delegate head to the 1997 U.N. Conference and Regional Tourism Development at Bangkok Thailand. Foreign Training and Observed Development and Operation of Major Tourism in Poland, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Italy, France, London, Germany and Switzerland, also in Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Florida, Los Angeles and Nevada. In Asia; Singapore, Bangkok, Japan, also the first Filipino awarded by the USMA as The Millennium Awardee, Instructor of the Year… Let’s all welcome Engr. Jose Dion Diaz.

Engr. Diaz: USTMAC president Mr. Carlo Laserna, our distinguished chairman of this congress, Mr. Ramon Velayo, my friends in the arnis community and the distinguished, Mr. Roland Dantes. The distinguished International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines, Atty. Demaisip, my associate; Master Reyes, one of the legends of Arnis; Grandmaster Jose Mena, my mentor; another expert from Visayas, Grandmaster Jess Fallorina, officers and members of the UST Martial Arts Club, my colleagues in indigenous games and sports crusade, magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

Ako’y natutuwa nung nabalitaan ko na ang mga kabataan ay unti-unti nang nag-rereact sa ating walang humpay na pagsubok na buhayin natin ang ating mga katutubong laro at pampalakasan lalo na ang tinatawag nating arnis. Ito’y isang kayamanan ng ating bansa, hindi natin maitatago sapagkat sa kanyang kagalingan ay ngayong umaani ng tagumpay at karangalan sa buong mundo. Gusto kong congratulate ang mga taga UST Martial Arts Club sa pag organize nitong 1st

National Filipino Martial Arts Congress, na supposed to be para sa aming senior practitioners ng arnis ang mag-aayos nito, ngunit kami na rin ay natutuwa na naunahan niyo, kayong mga kabataan sapagkat ito naman ang aming crusade para sa ating bayan. Bago ang lahat sa mga hindi pa nakaalam sa Philippine Indigenous Games and Sports Savers organization, ito po ang iba sa ating Arnis Philippines. Itong PIGSSAI ay isang asosasyon na binubuo ng mga volunteers na tumulong upang muli nating buhayin at palaganapin at ipagmalaki ang ating mga katutubong laro at palakasan na minana natin sa ating mga ninuno at obligasyon ipreserba at palagnapin at ipagmalaki. Dito natin makakita sa ating indigenous games and sports ang tunay na kultura ng tunay na Pilipino, tulad ng ginagawa ng ibang bansa na kung saan sa pamamagitan ng kanilang katutubong laro at palakasan ay naipoproject nila ang sarili nilang bansa, ang sarili nilang identity sa buong daigdig. Ang arnis ang siiyang pinakahihigit sa crusade ng PIGSSAI sapagkat among the indigenous games and sports dito sa Pilipinas ito ngayong ang nangunguna dahil ito’y world class na, at global practice sa buong daigdig at ito ay hinahangaan, at sa karamihan ng mga martial artist sa buong mundo, laging nadidinig ang kanilang salaysay ito ngayon ang nangungunang self-defense martial art sa buong daigdig.

Ngunit sa kalungkutan natin ditto sa ating bansa, medyo bakya ang ating tingin sa ating katutubong palakasan, walang k, samantalang ito naman ay tuloy-tuloy na umaani ng tagumpay at karangalan sa buong daigdig, kaya ang PIGSSAI ang ating mga kababayan pati na ang buong bansa na panahon na upang ating bigyan din ang ating indigenous games and sports sapagkat marami na sa ating indigenous games and sport sapagkat marami na sa mga ito ang naagoaw ng ibang bansa dahil sa kapabayaan natin tulad ng laro nating sipa, yan ay isang national game natin ngunit napabayaan natin at medyo nakaligtaan natin ay dinevelop naman ng Malaysia at pinangalanan ito ng Sepak Takraw at ngayon isa na ito sa sumisikat na sport sa daigdig. Kasali ito sa SEA Games at sa year 2004 kasali na sa Olympics ngunit ang umaani ng karangalan ay ang Malaysia, hindi ang Pilipinas.

Ganon din ang ating larong silat na laro ng ating mga kapatid sa Mindanao napabyaan din natin at ito ay dinevelopng Indonesia at pinangalanang Pencak Silat at ngayon at ngayong ay nasali na rin sa mga international sports competitionsngunit ang karangalan ay sa kanila at hindi sa Pilipinas.

Marami pa tayong laro na nawawala sa atin tulad ng yoyo natin, tio ay galling sa Pilipinas, pinasigla natin ito, pinalakas sa buong daigdig. Ngayong ang balita ay ipapasok sa Olympics ngunit Japan naman ang umaangkin na sa kanyang galling.

Tayong mga Pilipino at ating bansa ay mayaman sa katutubong palakasan hindi naman masabi nating napakagaling, ngunit ito ay nakakapantay naman sa ating mga katutubong laro ng ibang bansa. Natuon natin sa ating cultural heritage ang ating mga cultural groups na nagpropromote ng ating Pilipinas at ng ating pagkatao bilang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng folk singing, golk dancing, mga theatricals, mga paintings, ngunit and dating sa buong daigdig ay mixed sapagkat

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kapareho nito ang art din sa Europe, wala itong sariling character, tunay na ito’y distinct na kultura ng Pilipino ngunit sa pamamagitan ng ating indigenous games makikita natin, sa pangunguna ng laro nating arnis, ang laro nating sikaran, ang laro nating “dumog”, marami pa tayong larong Pilipino na sisibol ngayon at sa ating mga native games tulad ng dama, patintero, sungka ay makikita na, ito ay may sariling karakter na Pilipino at bago magpunta ang mga Espanyol sa Pilipinas ay nandito na ang mga ito. Dahil sa mga indigenous games at sports nagtagumpay ang ibang bansa na maipromote nila ang sarili nilang kultura, kung sino sila, kung ano ang kanilang karakter, kung gaano sila kagwapo, kung gaano silang kagaling, kung gaano katatag ang kanilang bansa hindi sa pamamagitan ng folk, folk dancing, kundi sa pamamagitan ng katutubong laro at tayo’y may pagkakataon din nito, tulad halimbawa ng Korea, and unang ginagamit nila sa buong mundo, ipakilala ang kanilang bansa ay sa pamamagitan ng kanilang laro na taekwondo, Japan ay karate, judo at sumo, China, kung fu, ping pong; ang Thailand, muay thai; at Amerika kahit na napakasikat ng bansa ay ginagamit pa rin ang kanilang larong baseball at basketball; at Spain, bullfighting. Tayo rin ay may pagkakataon na maipalaganap natin sa buong mundo ang ating pagkatao, ang ating pagka-Pilipino, magkaroon tayo ng cultural landmark, magkaroon tayo ng identity sa buong daigdig sa pamamagitan ng ating katutubong plaro na hindi kinukwestiyon ito sapagkat kahit isang libro mo basahin, sang okasyon man, Makita ang ating katutubong laro tulad ng arnis ay kilalang kilala na ito’y tunay na Pilipino at na ito’y tunay na Pilipino at tunay na nagpapakita ng ating pagka-Pilipino. Kaya ngayong umaga, natutuwa ako na ang mga kabataan ay nagrereact upang tanungin tayo kung nasan na ang laro nating ba abg kari batubg arnis at kung saan na io patutungo at kung ano ang ating gagawin upang itong makatulong sa ating bansa, sa ating pagka-Pilipino, sa ating industriya sa ating turismo, sa ating pangkabuhayan, sa ating probisyon, itong arnis natin na inimbento ng ating mga ninuno at ipinamamana sa atin. Dahil dito sa umagang ito, at maghapong ito ay sana, makamtan natin ang objective na inexpect nitong mga kabataan, maraming salamat.

Mr. Macalua: Thank you for the very inspiring speech… the president of Arnis Philippines, Mr. Ramon Velayo will now give us another inspirational talk.

Mr. Velayo: Welcome, Mr. Velayo. Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat mga kapatid sa larangan ng laro at katutubong depensa, mga dangal na panauhin. Mga kaibigan ngayong lang akong na-brief na magkakaroon ako ng isang inspirational talk. Bibigyan ko nalang kayo ng inspirational talk by saying na meron tayong potential as a nation to do a lot of things and we know that. Although the state ng ating bansa, economic wise and ciguro political wise needs a lot of improvement. Pero we know na may pag-asa. Siguro ang inspiration natin is that we have the potential, kailangan lang natin na gamitin ang resources that we have. Alam natin yan, ang problema natin sa bansa.

We can do better, but because of certain constraints that have to be realized, at alam natin ang mga constraints na ito that are political as well as economic. Ang problema na ang implementation. What is the inspiration that I say. First is that we change, we cand do something for arnis by trying to focus on our objective. Nasabi na sa atin ng unang speaker si, Engr. Diaz and I agree with him that there is room for improvement. Napaka-impatient ng iba sa atin katulad ni Engr. and I don’t blame him. Maraming problema ang ating bansa and I would like to explain that it is possible if only we can unite. Katulad ng isang tingting it cannot do its

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work of sweeping and cleaning up if you do not bundle them up together. Pag sama-sama tayo, focus together we can do much work. The task indeed is very big. Let me just give a brief history of Arnis Philippines.

We started with the same question na tinatanong sakin ni Engr. at ni Mr. Laserna earlier. And I remembered myself when I was younger. Mr. Laserna, who would like to involve himself and Engr., sana maraming katulad nila. Marami pang tao diyan na gusting tumilong. Unfortunately, sabi ko nga, marami tayong potential pero may setbacks din tayo. I don’t like to talk too much about our setbacks. I would like to leave those behind. Ang mga negative na nangyayari sa Pilipinas at alam natin ang mga yan, we don’t need to mention, that the problem that we are posed is trying to do it our own way, mahilig tayong magsolo. Ang kailangan natin siguro and magsama-sama. Yan ang dream before, pero wala ang makagawa ng ganyan noong araw because there is no proper avenue.

Siguro later in this discussion later you would like to come up with a resolution an I would like to give my two cents worth. I advise you to become open-minded, even if the truth hurts let’s put it as an input because no one is perfect, no association is perfect. We should put the facts together and with the facts we can now move on, siguro part of your studies in political science, Mr. Laserna, for and individual to study his strengths and weaknesses and come up with an action plan. And siguro from there you can move forward. Kanina inexpress ni Engr. tungkol sa identiy in order to get that identity, yung years ko sa Philippine Olympic Committee, during PAAF pa, I had been active with numerous sports organizations for actually free, I was an officer of the Bodybuilding Association, an officer of the Judo Association, and of course I got involved with arnis. I would like to tell you that the objective was arnis to the world. Tama rin ang gusto naming nuong araw, and we hired an advertising person because we were advised to be more professional then and we were advised on the history of the Olympics.

Ladies and gentlemen when I attended the Olympic Council, I was asked, “Do you know where cycling came from?” I truly didn’t know. Archery? I asked where because I was perplexed. Cycling came from Germany. No one says, cycling from Germany. Of course you know where judo came from, Japan. Taekwondo came from Korea. These countries surrendered their art to the world. They didn’t lose their identity, but it was promoted and will continue to exist. I have met the guy who popularized sepak takraw, sipa to us, in Thailand and Malaysia because I was part of a big group of people from many sports, the Olympic Committee. The Judo Association and Taekwondo Association both locally and internationally also but in my researches, we found out that there are so many solutions. One is education, second is to follow the footsteps of the others. It was very expensive for Taekwondo. They spent a billion dollars in a span of three or four years in including it as an exhibition event in their own country, however it is not included in the Olympics held in other countries. Let me tell you about the political character of sports, both locally and internationally. We play politics in sports which is very bad but I tell you, in hosting a sport, if you identify it coming from you, turn down ka na, talking about Asian games siguro I have to be proper I can speak about it in details, the little intricacies there, we had to lobby sports inclusion when we were the hosts already and it was relegated to an exhibition sport given only two weeks after. Now there are things we have to learn about dealing with sports and in dealing with politics in the country, you know you have to break barriers here, it’s not like we were all muslim before, no we are all catholic, we should live the past legacy for the sake of our own brothers.

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Let me talk about the achievements of Arnis Philippines as an inspiration. We were able to host the Southeast Asian Games and include arnis as an exhibition sport in our program and in order to do that we were asked to form the International Arnis Organization with 13 countries during the gulf war, kami rin ang nag ayos ng congress then. In the congress, representatives from 13 countries came in spite of the gulf war and IF was born, now with 40 member countries. We want to reach 100 countries with the help of Arnis on Wheels which won an award. Let me tell you, we have four paraplegics on arnis projects headed by Mr. Bernardo, who is also a paraplegic. We have included with the DECS, in elementary. We have a pending bill authored by Orly Mercado during the first term of the first group of Arnis Philippines members. We have a memorandumo of agreement with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Army, in which only 6 sports in the armed forces will be included, and one is arnis. We have a nationwide seminar both by PSC and Arnis Philippines on separate budgets, we have our own budget for that. We have a regular inter-school every year except for this year. Now what are the limitations? In spite of these humble achievements, how can you move kung walang pera. Now u heard, it’s not unique for arnis and we need to bond together, maybe even rally, get our political connections. Sa mga problema sa PSC, I was sincerely hoping that a neophyte commissioner could have been here to hear my speech, which is already very old for other commissioners. They come and go, not knowing the insides of their commission, siguro I am can speak forward, itong PSC ay may utang pa sa organization, you can check it out, that’s why di nila nilagay na we didn’t liquidate because we are ahead of other sports organizations.

As far as the rules you would like to come up with, we would like to suggest the adapted rules that were used in the SEA Games Council because that is a prerequisite of the International Olympic Committee before inclusion in the SEA Games. They ask you so many things, aside from what the sport is, they asked about the safety, they asked about how the sport is played, “Do you have international signage? Do you have a proposed international refereeing guide?” All of these are formulated. Then we hired the services of the Technological University of the Philippines to assist us in making a film for the rules itself, and then we hired different organizations to try to work within the framework of the IOC. Marami kaming problema with the traditional arnisadors because they like arnis to be trained traditionally and to tell you, napakarami nila. You go to the regions, lahat meron kanya-kanyang mga traditional, in each club. We want those styles to be preserved kasi identity ng bawat ninuno natin yan. And I ask you not to be selfish as well. We have many styles, just as many as we have islands. Mr. Ronald Dantes has been around the country, marami na rin ang nakaikot sa inyo. Sabi nga nya, “They had differents styles in competition. Merong nasa bangko, merong naglalagay ng charcoal, merong mga gumagamit ng live stick…” We propose is the sports aspect, we do not go into the martial arts because we had consented, may signature pa kami ni Grandmaster Mena, together with other grandmasters. During 1986, we called them all up, had them gathered here, kasi ang dami nila e, mga unsung heroes.

Now before this congress starts I’d like to challenge the group here headed by Mr. Laserna to make a resolution, to dip your finger, immerse yourself and go ahead with your plans and appeal. Maybe you could look into the proposal, you have invited some members of Arnis Philippines. I can see some of them on the right side they have been involved very much in arnis as referees. Refereeing is very different, di katulad ng dati na tinatanong pa sa presidente, now they have to

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police their ranks. We have a committee for that nationwide, maybe you could look into that. We have given tapes of the rules we also asked the help of people in West Germany, they proposed the padded sticks, and we came up with padded sticks of our own with help of the TIP research.

I challenge each one of you here to ask yourselves how we can help the promotion of arnis. In my opinion we could help by spreading the word, not only in martial arts, we would like the martial arts preserved. We could do so by promoting it as a sport and surrendering it to the world. As president of Arnis Philippines, when I go around other southeastasian countries, we are still continuing with the research.

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Atty. Demaisip: This congress, Mr. Laserna, Engr. Diaz, Mr. Ramon Velayo, our legend in our own particular art, Mr. Roland Dantes, our grandmasters, Mr. Pete Reyes, and our fellow practicioners in the Filipino art of arnis de mano. I didn’t realize that I would have this speaking role this morning, however I welcome it because there is a saying, “The long journey starts with a single step.” I really appreciate Carlo for his pioneering spirit to initiate this congress because if there is anything we need in this world today, in our particular interest it is communication and I think that this forum, all of us who love Filipino sports particularly arnis can communicate with each other, share what is in our hearts for the betterment of our particular interest in life that we will entirely choose among ourselves to be our lifetime interest perhaps. I gathered a lot from the opening speech of Engr. Diaz, and I think that if there is anything that can be called the sales agent in the attitude, in the perception of Filipino martial arts it is the tireless efforts of Engr. Diaz to gather us in Luneta to appreciate indigenous Filipino art, particularly arnis. And once more I would like to ask you to give him a round of applause… As I have said, the long journey begins with a single step. But that journey has lasted hundreds of years for us Filipinos and because of our history we are all the more supposed to revive our interests in our indigenous arts, particularly arnis. We shouldn’t be ashamed that we are Filipinos. We have to be proud that we are Filipinos. We have antedated the united states of America, they only organized as a government in 1776, but we were there many years ago. We have even antedated We are ahead of the continental western countries. And we are even ahead in terms of culture compared to our neighboring countries, like Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong, we are much ahead. And so there is so much for us to be proud of. And what we should be proud for is the revival of our Filipino sports, and among the sports it is arnis that should be promoted. If there is anything that can show the character of people, it is not politics, because politics can be reinvented, because politics was brought here by westerners.

If there is anything that can express our true character, it is our sports. That is the reason why in 1998 we organized the International Modern Arnis Federation Chapter because we know that arnis expresses the Filipino grace. Kung sa tagalog tinatawag na maharlika. And I have experience in management, aside from being a lawyer. And so we applied corporate management in IMAF sa Modern Arnis Federation. We elected our board of directors without any help, self help. Self help we organized our own memberes and thereafter we went to corporate planning and we divided our association into four committees, committees that would feed the need of the organizational challenges of IMAF. We have organized the committee on membership, which means recruitment of members, we have organized the committee on projects and we organized the committee on finance. I would like to tell this group that every month we meet as a board either in Luneta or Quezon City Circle, sometimes in my residence, all self help. And so we have organized the organization.

There are a thousand active members in IMAF now and about 25 clubs affiliated with us. As of now our vice president is in Iloilo, in Bacolod. And they are now fully organizing Bacolod. In fact next week we will have the baranggay week there, I think the president will be there in Iloilo, and arnis will be the showcase of the festival. In Bacolod we are also fully organized there, Baguio we are also organized. One by one we are going to the regions through our membership program. By the way, during our last board meeting we passed a resolution, a policy in IMAF regarding ranking system. We have defined the different ranks, what it requires to be in that rank and then how to implement those policies. We

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also have a trainers course. Those who are qualified by virtue of several years of experience, we want to impart to them the scale of facilitation, the scale of instruction because we have noticed that we are very much high in scales in terms of sharing in conveying the art to beginners, I think there is a lot of room for improvement. In November 18 we were given the priviledge by Engr. Diaz. to use the DOT auditorium for the training and trainer course. And Prof. ______ is our panel of instructors, he is much qualified, he teaches Physical Education in arnis in Philippine Normal University and other schools together with Prof. Armando Sotico who is also an author in an arnis book. It is an honor to report to you, because we have done this.

It is our philosophy in IMAF that the cultivation of arnis must be fueled by private engine. We believe that the growth of IMAF must be driven by the private sector. I think our simple case has demonstrated that. The development of arnis must be initiated by the private sector even though the policies will be laid down by the government. In fact two weeks ago I was in Iloilo. I was a speaker there for a gathering of baranggay captains and some of the mayor’s of Iloilo. And after I told them that we have great aspirations for arnis, and Iloilo is the place where many arnis practitioners are, and the president there is a board member in Iloilo. He will present a proposal stating that arnis de mano be the official martial art of Iloilo. I told him, that that was a very good plan, and that it would be imitated in many parts in the Philippines, and perhaps it might not be long that the congress would pass a law stating that arnis be called the official martial art of the Philippines. So we’re happy that this congress has started and that it would be a fruitful exchange of ideas. We have a thousand members in IMAF and our gyms are still increasing, about 25 all over the country. We would like to extend our cooperation, especially to Arnis Philippines, and Mr. Raymond Velayo. We are really very much interested to support arnis so that it would spearhead the development of arnis. In so doing, our objective that arnis be a world class sport will become a reality. Thank you very much.

Mr. Macalua: Thank you, sir. And now to present our final speaker, Ms. Che Che

Ms. Secopito: Current chairman, international affairs committee, international arnis federation, no other than Mr. Universe, Mr. Roland Dantes.

Mr. Dantes: Thank you very much, Che Che but I think that’s over. I did not win Mr. Universe, I placed fourth when Arnold Shcwartzenegger won that title in 1970 in New York. That was the first time that Arnold won, but it was still an honor for me. Thank you. Good morning brothers and sisters. First of all I would like to thank our host, Mr. Carlo Laserna for hosting this forum. I’d also like to acknowledge the distinguished guests in the presidential table, Engr. Diaz, Mr. Raymond Velayo, Atty. Demaisip, Master Joe Mena and all the other grandmasters. Ito’y isang dakilang araw, ito’y isang malaking karangalan. Hindi ko alam na maiimbita ako sa ganitong forum. Nalaman ko lang po kahapon ng mabalita po ni Brother Raymond. Medyo nagaalangan akong sumama kasi baka ma-out of place ako dito, pero natutuwa naman ako na ako’y hinahanap ng mga tao sa organization.

Mr. Carlo after this meeting try to get a contact number from me. I feel very honored to be one of your guests this historic day. It is historic kasi napakaganda nito, and to be hosted by the University of Santo Tomas itself, the very first university in asia, older than Harvard University. Everytime I go there with my foreign friends, I tell them, “You know that is the oldest university, not only in southeast asia or asia itself, it’s older than Harvard University.” Yan ang

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ipinagmamalaki ko. Congratulations, ang kabataan mismo ang nag-hohost, at napalaking opportunity nito sabi nga ni Engr. Diaz at sabi rin ni Engr. Diaz at ni Mr. Raymond Velayo na napakaraming arnis styles and masters, at sa aking pag-iikot, I know that you’re mentioning that I am a legend, hindi naman… Although, maybe because of my age I’m now 59 years old.

I was born in Cotabato. I went around the Philippines because my father was in the army. Alam n’yo naman sa army, kapag naasign yung father ko sa ibang probinsya, lipat na naman. I was born in Cotabato, we went to Davao, we went to Zamboanga, we went to Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Leyte and other countries in the north. I have muslim relations in the south and when I got into the movies sa akin napunta ang honor na maipromote ang Filipino martial arts. Isang beses nagpunta kami sa isang maliit na lugar, nagpunta kami sa Leyte at dun sa may balcony nakita ng isang production staff ang isang arnis master. Sabi niya, “Roland, meron isang grandmaster sa ibaba, gusto mo tawagin ko ang pulis?” Sabi ko, “Huwag.” Pag baba ko doon pagkatapos ng screening, I went to the people, I signed some autographs and then nakita ko sila. Lumapit po ako, sabi ko “Magandang umaga po. Kayo po ba ang maestro dito?”, tapos nagmano ako. Pagmano ko everything was okay. “Okey ka pala, Roland.” Sabi ko, “Alam n’yo master, kung anong nakita n’yo sa pelikula yun po ang napag-aralan ko sa inyo.” I am just an instrument of the art. I am no master, or grandmaster. I tell you what our country has so much richness in our culture, and the foreigners are very amazed because of that.

Now that we are here for the forum on rules and regulations. In the United States, and Europe they are doing a lot of competitions on their own. They devise, and see what they have learned in order for them to set up tournaments. They have forms in single stick, double stick, espada y daga, they even now have gone into knife tournaments. Mapagmamalaki natin. Bakit sila gumagawa ng ganun? Kasi nakita nila ang beauty ng ating art. At di lang dahil sa isang grandmaster pero sa maraming pang arnis masters. Nandito po ang grupo ni Grandmaster Lanada, let give them a round of applause. Unfortunately he could not make it here because he is ill, staying in the states at this time. Grandmaster Joe Mena is here, pero marami pong grandmasters natin na hindi makapunta dito.

Let me share with you something. Ang America ay napakalaki, at napakarami ang gumagawa nito. Alam niyo na sa Amerika ay napakaraming organisasyong, katulad ng WIKAF. Nagkaroon sila ng competition years ago. I was invited there, in Cebu. Sabi ko sa mga grandmasters na, “ako’y isang instrumento ninyo lang. Ako sana’y gamitin ninyo bilang instrumento ng komunikasyon para lahat tayo’y magkaisa. Sabihin nyo sakin kung anong gagawin ko.” God willing ay darating din ang araw na magtatagumpay tayo. Marami sa ating kapatid na taga-probinsya ay hindi nakapunta. But nevertheless, nandito si Brother Carlo Gabriel na naghost ng samahan natin ngayon. And I will go back again just to read the information on rules and regulations. I found out that with our movements around the United States, maybe you have heard of the Dog Brothers. Pag punta nyo sa internet hanapin nyo ang Dog Brothers. Ito mahirap ma-ano ang kanilang tournament kasi kung lumaban sila, ay walang padding. Makikita nyo putok-putok ng mga daliri at kung ano pa. They will not let you in their organization if you cannot pass through that. Putok talaga. They only wear the head protector but nothing else. And after they hit they go into the dumog. This is why, until the final takedown, they do it. They say, “Roland, we love this art.” We now that the Filipino martial arts is one of the best in the world. No BS.” That means no bullshit. It’s an art that works on

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the street. “Is that art effective when used on the street?”, yan ang tinatanong ng mga puti. And all of them say, Filipino martial arts.

Two months ago I was invited to Fort Lewis, and presently I am going to tell Engr. Diaz that an American is going to visit earlier next year. I’d like you to meet him to because he is very proud of what he has learned in the Filipino martial arts. Kelly Warden is his name. He’s in charge of a special forces unit in Fort Lewis, green berets, and I’m sure they’re the first batch of special forces who are now in Afghanistan. Part of them passed through the course. And their training in knife fighting and dumog is not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but Filipino martial arts. I spoke with a colonel who said, “You know Roland, when it comes to knives and knifefighting nothing can beat the Filipino martial arts.” Tumayo ang balahibo ko. I was so proud for being Filipino that for him, even a colonel, nakita niya ang galling ng Filipino martial arts. And what had they incorporated? What they have learned from the different masters. What encouraged them was their realization that they had a lot to learn. And you know what, he e-mailed me, about three weeks ago, saying, “You know what Brother Roland, I’m going to Korea on February, maybe we could visit the Philippines a couple of days.” And you know why he is in Korea? He will be teaching the special forces of the Republic of Korea on Filipino knife fighting and dumog. Ang Koreano mismo may taekwondo na yan, pero bakit sila nagpapaturo ng dumog? Special forces pa mismo. Ang malungkot lang dito, Amerikano pa ang magtuturo. Kaya napakaganda nitong… Hindi ko pahahabain pa itong speech ko kasi alam kong gipit na tayo sa oras. Brothers and sisters sana ay magkaisa tayo, kasi kung hindi tayo magkaisa ay masyado nang mauuna ang mga Amerikano at Europeano sa pag propagate nitong Filipino martial arts. Kapag tayo ay nagkawatak-watak kawawa naman ang ating mga grandmasters at iba pa ang magtuturo. Sa kasalukuyan ang mga kabataan na ang kailangang tumulong sa misyon nating ito.

Mr. Macalua: Thank you Mr. Dantes, maybe you could give me a few tips on being Mr. Universe. We are now going to push through with the second part of our program. We’re going to start with a briefing on the procedures on parliamentary congress with Mr. Carlo Laserna.

Carlo: Good morning. In about an hour, we’ll be having lunch and we’ll be having a break for 25 minutes. We’ll be resuming in about 1 pm to 2 pm to continue the discussions. At this point we are going to use the simulated parliament in the martial arts community. I believe this is one of the innovations, based on my background in political science. We thought that in order for the Filipino martial arts industry to be professional we should have a professional way to talk about issues and for all of you delegates here this is the venue to talk about the issues on the prospect of arnis in the Philippines. So I’d like to reiterate that we are discussing the issues of arnis in the Philippines. Later on, I will be discussing the portfolio of the International Martial Arts festival on Dec. 2002 which will be held on the Olonggapo City Convention Center. This is the first sporting event in the Philippines with an Olympic scale. Around 5 continents will be attending this event. We have to distribute invitations and briefing materials to over 1,000 organizations all over the world. But we cannot do this with the consent of the community. This is the aim of the congress right now and rest assured this will not be the only congress. The Philippine Sports Commission has pledged and committed the use of the Philippine Sports Commission facilities. Actually what Commissioner Carreon told me was that we could not only use but “exploit” the facilities. So I think this is a good opportunity to take advantage of the venues that they have. I’ve heard in the newspapers that they have provided the Hotel Pilar in

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Baguio for the track and field team of PSC. And I think the Philippine Military Academy is providing venues to conduct its activities in Baguio. So hopefully, the next congress will be done in Baguio. Again it will be free. So the parliamentary rules will be simple. The moderator will be Master Pedro Reyes from Kali Ilustrisimo. He will be the traffic control officer, so to speak, of the congress. As delegates of the National Filipino Martial Arts Congress, you would be in effect, congressmen who would be given the privilege the question, bring in to discussion issues, and to raise points to the panel that we have before us, about the prospects of arnis and hopefully come up with a positive resolution. I would like to stress that maybe we should not look into the negative aspects, but rather on the positive ones because if we look into the negative ones we are actually regressing, going back into the past. What we are doing here is looking to the future. Let’s study about what we’re going to do within the next 10 years, 20 years, etc. Mr. Pedro Reyes would coordinate anybody who would like to speak. Anybody who would like to raise a point or question, should be recognized by the moderator that is so that we would have a point of order. We should simulate what the congress and senate is doing right now in order to be able to process more and accommodate everybody. Master Reyes is also going to define and identify points that are to be raised in the discussion. Thirdly he is going to establish a point of order just in case there would be points of conflict. These are the few rules. Let’s make a run down again. Raise your hand if you want to speak, go to the microphone in front. Questions should be addressed to the panel however, questions can be answered by anyone in the panel, including myself. We have the whiteboard here to illustrate any point you would like to present. All the documents should be read in passing so that we can record it in our audio cassette which will be recopied for the President of the Philippines, The Philippine Sports Commission, The Philippine Olympic Committee. I don’t know who will be receiving the proceedings in this congress, but rest assured everyone would be in the know, everyone would be receiving briefing materials especially those who are not here. We will also be making press releases of the resolution which we will encourage everybody to sign. Siguro hindi lahat ay mag-aagree sa resolution. You are not obliged to sign. We will pass around a copy of the resolution that is to be brought about, in order to be signed with your signatures in order for us to appeal to the president. I’ve been telling Mr. Velayo and Engr. Diaz, with the consensus of the individuals of the Filipino martial arts community who are present, we can actually lobby for the proclamation for the Filipino Martial Arts Month. More like the Buwan ng Wika during August. We can have this, and I think this would mean more funding and support from the government, including plans abroad. Your presence is very vital to the future plans that we have formulated. I’m not really forcing you into this, we want you to see our point, and also to bridge the gaps between organization and individual previously. So I think that’s about it. So let’s continue our discussion. Anybody who would like to speak may go to the microphone.

Pedro Reyes: Good Morning. Marami na ang nauna sa akin, so you may be a bit tired. However, we are going to have lunch after this. Ngayon, what I would like to happen is something like this. Do not be afraid to ask a question no matter how silly it may sound because what may be silly for you would make sense for others. Wala munang criticism, you should ask any questions you want. And when you ask a question, you should direct the question to me, but you can specify the person you want to answer your questions. Okey ba? The first thing we should talk about today is, “What are the problems of arnis right now in the Philippines?” Sabi nga ni Carlo, not international but in the Philippines. The second topic we should talk about is, “What can we do about it?” These two questions should

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cover what we are going to discuss for now. If you want to discuss other topics, you are free to do so. Okay?

Carlo: Excuse me, Master Reyes. We would be having lunch I would like to ask if you would want to continue the discussion through the lunch break para we could maximize three hours that we have or if you would want to continue after the lunch break. I think we would have to call a vote every time there is a conflict.

Pedro: Carlo here is asking for a vote. Would anyone want to continue having the discussion while we are having lunch? Those who would please stand up. In other words we can be eating and continue asking questions at the same time… Okay. I think the majority changed the vote already. We’ll have a working lunch. Any way, if you want to ask a question please stand up. I know a lot of people here, those from PIGSSAI, but not all of you. Those people should go to the mike in front for me to recognize you. When I recognize you I will point, I know it isn’t nice to point, but that’s the best I can do, on the person to go to the microphone. Okay, anybody who would like to ask a question? Yes, please say your name before asking your question.

Mr. De Vera: I’m Mr. Vir De Vera from the ARTEDO Association of the Philippines, a member of Arnis Philippines. Gusto kong ipaalam sa lahat. Ang ating agenda ba ay kung anong mga nabanggit kanina?

MOderator: No, what I said that we should have order. So we should first discuss the problems of arnis. Second, we should find out what we can do about these problems. Yung pangatlo, kahit anong question na gusto mo.

Mr. De Vera: Para sa akin lang kasi, para malutas natin ang problema na yan, merong magagandang suggestion ang Arnis Philippines kung papano sila tutulong, not only financially pero tungkol sa rules and regulations. Ako naman, bilang kasapi ng Arnis Philippines, ay handa rin tumulong, hanggat sa aking makakaya ang pag-organisa tungkol sa ating mapag-uusapan.

Mr. Moderator: That’s good. You are saying that you are ready to help. What is your question.

Mr. De Vera: Dito ba sa ating talakayang ito ay maari bang banggitin natin kung ano ang specific na bagay ang pag-uusapan natin ayon sa sports aspect?

Mr. Moderator: Would you like to direct this question to anyone in particular?

Mr. De Vera: I would like to ask Mr. Carlo.

Mr. Laserna: I’m sorry, I didn’t get your question.

Mr. Moderator: The question is what can we do about the problem to unify arnis.

Mr. Laserna: Actually, I’m not in the position to answer that but what I would suggest, my solution for this problem is to talk about the problem. Actually, one of my staff told me about this suggestion, the Director of the National Congress. That by holding such discussion, wherein everybody is put to the same level, solutions would follow. To me that is a feasible solution, if not a process that is lengthy. As for the exact solution, I don’t know a thing about it. I believe we have to look more into that. For me, the people in front, excluding myself, are the people who have the most authority to discuss about solutions. And I think this is a venue for everyone

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here to suggest any solution that we may have overlooked. Kasi ang dami nating ginagawa. For me, I’m only a college student. Sa dami kong ginagawa, meron akong sariling secretary. I’m only a senior political science student, but that’s the multitude of tasks that I have to do. And marami kaming na-ooverlook talaga, so we need people to suggest solutions to our problems.

Mr. De Vera: Thank you. May nakita na rin akong magandang suggestion sa sinabi niya ano. Ang maari kong isuggest, sir ay ganito. Unang-una ang layunin natin ang maging united especially as arnisadors. So ang maari kong isuggest na magandang solution ay nagawa na when Arnis Philippines was organized. So bakit tayong, hindi pa mga miyembro ng Arnis Philippines, bakit tayong hindi magkaisa at magbuo ng isang national sports organization under the government para sa solusyon especially in sports? Yun ang isang question ko.

Moderator: Can we write that down on the board? The problem is how can we unify ourselves.

Atty. Demaisip: Pete can I have my two cents worth? I think for the convention to be really active, structurally, I think the items being given here are already indicative. What you want is the process being followed, which means problems and prospects. Unahin muna natin ang problema before the prospects. In other words, what are the situations that can be our problems which prevents us to unify. So we should identify things in our environment na nakakaabala sa ating goal. So para structured ang ating discussion ano? After we have exhausted that, let us go to prospects. This can be, “What is the hope for the future of arnis?” Ano ba ang mga solutions? These may be generic statements muna. Ano ang gagawin natin considering the problems we have right now. Number two, ano ang gagawin natin considering the prospects that we have in store for us. In other words, the first phase would be general and strategic muna. When we go to the solutions, because course of action na ito, ano ang gagawin nating specific steps so that considering the problems ano ang gagawin natin as solution. It can be issues on organization, it can be issues on management, it can be issues on our interfacing with government mga ganun ba.

Kasi laissez-faire economy tayo e. Speaking, it is government intervention, the very basis of democracy is power of the people, kaya nga tayo may people power. But with the guidance of the government. That’s one view point, the other one is with the direction of the government of course considering the private sector, those are issues that we have to consider. But as a structure for discussion yon ang aking suggestion, this goes step by step. Problem situation muna or problem analysis, pagkatapos ano ba ang potential hope sa atin? Hopeless ba o may hope pa, considering those two situation ano pa ang magawa natin in terms of specific concrete steps. Para we can achieve our goal which is really unity. Yun ang aking suggestion, Pete.

Mr. Reyes: Let me try to get some rules here, I said before, because I don’t wat to mimic people, this is a pre-hearing, parang brain storming. So I think, ok somebody has stood up saying we have a problem with unification, he has said, “We should make one organization only, I think we should write that down and then we can go back and discuss it as Atty. Demaisip suggested. Can we do that please, so can we write a question there, the problem, problem of unification and on the other board a possible solution already. This is to make one super organization and then we can go back to it, para kasi ang ayaw ko sa masyadong structured, a lot of people

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get enchained with it e, so yun ang structure na naisip ko, first let us be silly and then let us be serious.

Mr. Joel Banahaw: Magandang umaga ako po si Ginoong Joel Banahaw. Siguro magbigay ako ng konting point of view, una sa realidad ng arnis natin ditto sa Pilipinas, natural totoo kung gaanong karami ng isla ditto sa Pilipinas kasing dami ng sistema ng arnis rin ditto at siyempre sa pagdaan panahon ang mga sistemang ito ay dumadami na nanganganak, nagkakaroon ng mga sistema. So ang realidad, mahirap mag-examine ng system ng arnis dahil galing to sa iba’t-ibang system. Pangalawa wala ito masyadong supporta, ng direkta sa gobyerno, ibig sabihin hindi gaanong kalakas ang supporta ditto pakilala ang arnis ay sariling atin minsan may pasuplit-suplit dyan na arts di ba, then hindi mas identified ang arnis ng mga Pilipion as sariling atin, pag sinabing arnis pang bakya o kaya pang baranggay tanod so yan ang mga realidad ng arnis sa atin, siguro meron ding dahilan bakit ganyan ang pananaw ng mass ng Filipino people siguro una ang appearance ng nag-aarnis di ganun ang dating sa mga Pilipino, alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino diba, pag nakita nilang malinis, maganda ang dating maganda ang performance. Mag-click diba tulad ng taekwondo o karatedo kasi maganda ang organization nila maganda ang appearance so mas madali sila nakakuha ng supporta sa mga Pilipino, hindi katulad ng realidad natin sa arnis mali ang ating appearance, iba-iba ang ating appearance, di maganda ang dating sa marami. Nakapag-aral din ng ibang martial art sa Japan, ganito systema nila, sa Japan meron silang isang malaking organisasyon. Hindi ito political organization kundi governing body lang, hindi sila pinupulis, hindi sila pinupulis ang mga martial arts organizations. Parang lahat nirerecognize lahat ng martial arts organizations sa Japan. At the same time sila mismo ang nakikialam sa kanila ang government at yung mga private agency, financially at the same time kung sino ang mamumuno so sa selection kung sino mamumuno ang government at ang private entities kasama sa board and different masters ng martial arts sa Japan, so yearly meron silang change of officers and ang nagplaplan nyan yung gov’t at private entities. So ang mga masters more on advise not on voting or political discussion kasi para malessen yung politics ng educational system curriculum from elementary to…

Mr. Reyes: Excuse me, your comment are getting to be too long maybe we should put in effect what Atty. Demaisip said so your first question, the first question is the problem that we have too many forms of arnis, pakisulat na lang, second problem, too many styles of arnis competing with one another, your second question I think is not government support and then pangatlo… would you like to put that under unification question number one, unified under sport arnis? I see iba na yun.

Mr. Laserna:

I would like to answer the question. In political theory we have a multitude of theories, styles and for me it is the same. Okay, one master has his own style in a way that is his own theory of his martial arts, there was one statement in my paper last semester, the multiplicity of theories is statement to the fact that there is no one singular style or theory that is correct and absolutely true. I think there is no question really in promoting one style of arnis because it is really an individual’s expression of his theory.

Mr. Banahaw: But I think nagkakaproblema yan sa mga competitions kasi sa mga visayan style di sila maniniwala sa style ng Arnis Philippines. Gusto nila yung palo lang ng palo, pero sa most of Luzon gusto nila, hit and run yung laro kaya dyan nagkakaproblema e, naapektuhan ang sport competition.

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Mr. Reyes: So is that your second question, second problem. What is your third problem?

Mr. Banahaw: I don’t have a third question but a solution. Siguro kung gusto natin maunite ang arnis, focus natin ito sa sports, sabi nga ng ating presidente sa Arnis Philippines, ang martial arts system ito;y magagawa natin sa pamamagitan ng sports, once ginawa natin itong sport dapat palagay natin na ito’y para sa mundo na at hindi lang para sa sariling style. So I think we should define what is sports arnis, para dun tayo mag-unite, let us focus on sports arnis as a point of unity ng Filipino.

Mr. Reyes: I think the lady in red wants to speak. First come, first serve ito ha?

Ms. Lara Sia Hi, I’m Lara Sia. I don’t do arnis, I’m here against, Carlo invited me, so I would just like to give my two cents worth. I’m a martial artist also so I guess I share the same sentiments as a lot of the martial artists here. First of all, I would like to post the question about ethics. I went to the U.S. and back, and discovered, my questions that will be addressed to the panel. There is a problem of ethics because there haave been comparison about the best style, the better style and this is about arnis also and this is what discouraged me from studying arnis, personally because merong Cebu something something, merong Balintawak style, merong Presas. I personally feel sad that people would discredit other martial artists, I see Mr. Velayo nodding his head, this is a reality right? So you have people from Balintawak saying bad things about people from the Visayas. You have people from this arnis style saying terrible things about people from the other arnis style. So you see, in unity this is an organization observation. We have to have this respect for each others style, hindi na natin pakikialaman yung masyadong bulgar na style, yung masyadong nakakatakot na style, yung masyadong malambot na style, as it was mentioned, each style has it’s own characteristics and each style has it’s own star that can shine. Maybe we should start with the basis of self-respect, that each style should respect the other’s style. That’s the solution.

Mr. Reyes: You are saying that arnisadores are putting down other styles. Is that what you are saying? Right, they put down each other.

Ms. Sia One more question. You are trying to put together an organization also that would recognize arnis as a whole, as a Philippine martial art, maybe you should have discussion. First discuss each style. Second, you recognize, third you look for representation for each style. Fourth , you look for the individuality of each style something which defines each style from another, this is similar to Chinese Kung Fu but they have several styles and they don’t fight. So maybe those are some things you can do. You recognize the styles, look for representation and discuss the individuality of each style, look for representation and discuss the individuality of each style and find the basics and what is common in every style. You have basics right? Like, the basic palo. So that is moving on to the discussion about art and sport. About government support this is my last point. There is a thing about government support and maybe I would just want to add that the Arnis Philippines can actually do their own commercialization of the art to get government support. If the government sees that there is something popular, they will support it. But you can’t go to the government. I know the government, I work for the government. They will not recognize unless they see it is moving on its own and that it has reached halfway mark, coz they won’t do it. So just commercialize first, do your marketing on your own first.

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Movie: all this rules shall be implemented by standard diocese unless otherwise improved or revised by higher arnis sports buddies.

Mr. Velayo This is an exhibition game, not a sport

Movie the first rules deals with the equipments. The weapon is a pair of cane, colored red and the other colored blue. One stick is used by the player and the other by his opponent. It has a grip diameter of atleast 2.64 cm or one inch. The length is 76.20 cm or 30 inches. It is properly padded of foam cushioned. Both cane in accessible rate. The protective gear is a intact versin pace mode. The specification of coaches shall be in accordance with the standard rules of Arnis Philippine Incorporated. This particular head gear is made of light cushion materials with metal guards to protect the head. The forearm guard is made up of six knot with padding to absord the impact of a blow. Specification of hit is set by Arnis Philippines Incorporated however, a player has action whether to use them or not. Body vest is a body protector is used by the female participant. It is made up of strong materials and padded to absord the impact of a blow. The players are required to wear clean uniforms of regulation type. Red pants without lining of any other design, white t-shirt or camiso de chino and white rubber shoes. The playing area can be covered or an open venue preferably with wooden floor wide enough without any obstacle. The dimension is 8 sq m measured from the inside. Two parallel lines each measuring one meter in length are drawn 2 meters apart from the center of the playing area. Warning or broken lines are drawn inside the court each is parallel and with one meter distance from the corresponding side line. And for visibility, all lines bound in the play area should atleast be 2.55 meters or one inch wide. The clock, gong and the yellow flag is used by the timer. The gong is made up of brass. It is used to indicate the start of a set or match. The table clock is set simultaneously in the lowering of the yellow flag indicating the start of the game. The gong is also sounded twice to indicate the game is finish. The yellow flag is raised on top of the table for timeout and place down for resumption of play. Red and blue flag is used by the judges to determine which wins the set or match. When the red flag is raised, it indicates that the player I red uniform have won. The electronic scoreboard is used to indicate how much points is earned by each player. Points flash in red corner indicates points made by the red player. On both side of the player are indication of both disarming and fouls committed. Beneath all these, indicator are indicate the round. When a player obtain five point, the buzzer is automatically sounded to indicate the end of the round. Scoring. The conduct of the contest shall be on two out of three set system. Each set runs for a maximum of two minutes. A player who score the first five score in a set wins that particular set and is declared the winner of the match upon wining two consecutive match. A score shall be a strike legally delivered upon certain body points counted upon confirmation of one or two judges. And is simultaneously recorded or flashed on the score board. Body parts. Left and right

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far from the head. Left and right collar bone. Left and right upper arm elbow. Ribs. Legs left and right. Abdomen. Chest. Crown. Crust to abdomen, chest and legs will be considered a point provided that the requirement for a legitimate score is emphasized. A legitimate score is a strike delivered to a body point. In the right timing, correct posture, defense and attitude. A disarming execution is considered a point. The player who successfully disarm his opponent twice is automatically the winner of the particular match even without obtaining the five points winning score. The score is recorded by the judge. A set of two flags are provided for each flag. Each flag is color coded. A judge shall raise the flag over his head indicating who among the players have won the particular match. In the event that the scores are tied at the end of the set, the basis for declaring the winner will include superiority or aggressiveness, major killing technique, artistic delivery and attitude, when the injured parts is responsible for the injury, the other parts wins. When an injury occurs during the contest and it cannot be continued, the decision shall be based on the following grounds: when the injured part is responsible for the injury, the other part wins. when injury is caused by the other party, the injured party win. When the responsible of the injury cannot b determined, the judges shall determine on their score. When the injury is cause by the legal blow, the injured part denotes this. When the injury is cause by an illegal blow, the injured party wins. All these rules shall be implemented on every arnis competition. Fallowing the rules without infringement, intentional violation and delight shall art add beauty to the defense called arnis. Further more, to inherit sportsmanship, camaraderie and brotherhood, are the goals in arnis cometition. Arnis is a combative game yet it is an even when people come together and pledge cooperation, understanding, and unity. Arnis, the Filipino art of self defense will not be all Filipino at this point in time, but an art that will make its people come together and share its beauty.

Square meters using padded stick and sporting protective headgear and arm guards. The objective of each player is to gain scores by delivering artistic and legal strikes and trust to the vital body points which are the fallowing. A. Left and right far from the head and crown. B. Left and right arms and collar. C. Chest. D. armpit to thight. E. full length of right and left leg. The team coposition in both the men and the womens division shall be, a maximum of eight players, one player for each of the team categories shall form the team. A team official shall be as follows: 1 coach, 1 assistant coach, one traiore, and one physician. Mens division, extra light weight ranges from 60 kg and below. Half light weight 51 to 61 kg. Light weight 66 –7 1 kg. Half middle weight 72 – 78 kg. Middle weight 79 – 86 kg. Half heavy weight 87 – 95 kg. Heavy weight 96 –100 kg. Open weight no weight limit. In the women’s division, extra light weight ranges from 48 kg and below. Half light weight 49 to 52 kg. Light weight 53 –7 63 kg. Half middle weight 57 – 6 kg. Middle weight 52 – 66 kg. Half heavy weight 67 – 72 kg. Heavy weight 72 –78 kg. Open weight no weight limit. The open weight is always open

Mr. Velayo The rest is just basic. I have provided the chairman rule books and then we have a new version but its the same so I think he will distribute it later.

MR. Moderator Okay. And gagawin natin ngayon, you have agreed there are three top problems. We will not try to put the other problems under each category. Will we start with no.1 which is educational system do not require arnis for P.E. where would you like to put it, under create a create a standard syllabus, pwede diyan, we can consolidate that. Create a technical syllabus for arnis and arnis is not required as P.E. we can solve those two problems together. Its okay. Okay. Please mark it also as no. 3. dito. Dito. Lagyan mo ng three. Now the next one is many don’t

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want ot join, im suggesting we put under no. 1, creating a attitude free from the bata bata system. Is that okay. O, tahimik kayong lahat. Okay. Okay. Okay no. 1. to many styles of arnis can also put under create a syllabus for arnis, is that okay. So no.3 . there is not enough government support. Yun ang meron ang mahirap, wala yata diyan, should we put it under no. 2. define the functions the responsibilities of the super organization. Para disorganization we will ask for government support, okay no. 2. destructive criticism unde Bata Bata system no. 2. need for a central office no. 2. will receive government funding no. 2. clarify qualification of arnis organization under no. 2 ring. How to reconcile private interest under no. 1. ignorance of NSA under no. 2. what should be promoted under no. 3. no standard history of arnis under no. 3. how to market arnis more effectively, ayon. No. 1 yan sa tinig ko. Creacte an attitude free from bata-bata system. Ano bang quan, yung ah. Frank frank. Halika rito, ikaw yung nag sabi nito, hot to market arnis more effectively san mo ilalagay to. No.1,2,3. under no. 2. help PAGCOR help in sponsoring organization under no.2. palagay ko. The last one in solutions under fighting each other under no. 1. so ang 3 quan natin, problems natin. Look, create technical syllabus for arnis, paki sulat nalang dito. Ilipat mo diya. Create a standard technical syllabus for arnis. No. 2. define the shape of an arnis Super organization. Shape. Shape, shape worn, something like that. Shape of Arnis Super Organization no. 3. Create an attitude free from the bata bata system. Okay, this is what the member people outside the table have decided to come up. We all have to work fast now. How about that table. Do you have any sggestion etc, etc. any comment on the three topics, wala na. Anything

Carlo napag-usapan namin kanina, we heard comments. Yung no.1 solution natin is actually partly rulebook ng Arnis Philippines. We’ve been hearing a lot of comments during the recess that Arnis Philippines ruling is acceptable to almos all. Siguro meron pang issues diyan na di pa na raraise. Don s pagkakasuno natin sa Arnis Philippines na rulebook.

Mr. Moderator Boy

Boy Yung sa No.1. di naman kailangan sigurong magkaroon ng standand. Kasi, maraming stles ng arnis diba, eh and laki laki ng pilipins. Dami ng universities dito pwede mong padala yung ganitong style doon, isang style sa ganong lugar, do naman kailangan magstandardize

Mr. Moderator Okay, that’s enough. Anybody who has a comment on that comment. okay please

Mr. Velayo may I have the floor before the because I have to address that question and I will refer to that person who asked that. If im not mistaken it was Robert. Was it Robert who asked that question to create a standard technical syllabus?

Si boy ba yon

Mr. VElayo Mr. Medina. You were the one who. And I was in the impression that the syllabus that you were referring to more refers to education system. Am I not right? So, I have a question on you question.

Mr. Medina Is it only a reminded Mr. President to those who nagsasabing magkakagulo, now siguro pag kamakanitong I have heard. Im also an arnisador, a teacher at mapua, may he pertain

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Mr. Velayo No, no I get your ano, I was just asking. Am I correct that when you ano asked the question to answer the question of that gentleman from Lanada that the syllabus, tehcincal syllabus is no logner needed, and you are ferering, that technical syllabus is for education system. I will now answer the, with the permission of our Moderator and the Cahriman, I would like to answer the question of the gentleman of the Lanada group, he said that it is no longer important to have a standard technical syllabus, in my, in the answer of the department of Education, the syllabus for your information is very important in teaching any particular of sport or for that matter any topic or subject for that matter. In this particular case the subject is arnis, so in order to teach the subject of arnis, you must hae a syllabus, now, a syllabus that has been presented by Arnis Phil. which was submitted by educator themselves from National College of Physical Education, Polytechinc University of the Philippines, U.P. submitted a syllabus which will cater to the different styles of arnis around the country so that for example, basically, no.1 basic striking techinique no. 1, no.2 basic pang P.E. ha., I’m talking about pang P.E. its not an ideological subject ano, no. 2 is basic defenses, basic disarming, basic sparring, and what have you. What the education committee to decs and what is going around the country is a syllabus, the trainors train not the technique, doon sila nagkakamali, they go around teaching the technique, because if you teach the syllabus, how to incorporate your own particular style kunwari lanada style, pasok mo doon yung style mo, pag yung modern style, we’ve got kañete style, yung doce pares, pasok mo don, kay grandmaster mena psok mo don, kasi even schools have the right to pick their own styles, or for that matter, regions to protect yung mga istyles nila saka mga ninuno nila so the syllabus goes that way because the education department says so. Because may standard yan, di pwede yung hao ciao no, ah okay, style ng club, you cannot do it that way. Yung mga how do we do it sa mga clubs. Tapos you have to finish it in fifteen session, trimesters about twelve sessions. If you have question fallowing that, most of the educators, they speak this language as well.

Mr. Moderator Raymond, Raymond, can you hurry up

And I’m asking that question, that part

Mr. Moderator wala na, okay let me get the sense of the discussion, let me step down for a while as a moderator no. you see this no. 1 here as Raymond himself pertains to the legalization of arnis as a compulsory subject in the school. Ths is a very technical matter. Would you like to form a committee which will try to clarify this question and then we will inform you afterward with what they have come up because what im trying to drive up, im stepping now as a moderator would be good, if all of us, because all of us we represent a wide variety of arnis here right now, is we could form a committee who could go to congress, talk with congressman Zubiri and any other congressman willing to sponsor a bill to make arnis compulsory in the school. If you could, we could pass a resolution like that and select right now members of the committee, I think we could clap our hands, clap ourselves at the back and congratulate ourselves today. Would that be alright to you? Any comment? This is to bypass the controversial question of what should be. Standard syllabus so that they can study it and diffuse the tension muna, but will keep you inform maybe through carlo. Would you like to select representatives right now. Because I don’t think we have time to discuss no. 2 and no. 3 because they are very long term problems, changing attitudes, very very hard as you know. If you have children of your own, you know its very hards. And no.2 super Organization, that Political. Going to take a long time now. And I think no. 3. must come before no. 2. so if you could come to no. 1. create a committee who will

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work with congress to make arnis compulsory, that indeed would be very good, great not just good. Is that okay. So would you like to representative right now. Maybe one from each style. Okay, we will go table by table. Who would like to, Oh Carlo, what I am proposing right now is that we go table by table and say who would like to be in the committee, okay we will start with the lanada group, there can be more than one

Carlo Mr. Moderator, ulitin ko lang po. We are going to form a committee to study yung solutions on arnis.

MR. Moderator no, this is what we are proposing right now. We are talking about a standard technical syllabus. This is rlated in making arnis compulsory in the school. This is a very controversial topic apparently.

Carlo Sir, I think ah, have everybody agreed already

Mr. Moderator I did not see anybody stand up and say I don’t like, so it is consent by silence

Carlo so I think without any objection I think that is a resolution. Right now we have to address the committee.

Mr. Moderator okay, form table one, you can nominate more than one if that is more than style there.

Carlo Mr. Moderator di ba, before you go through

Mr. Moderator puro lanada yan, ah hindi andiyan si Master dela cruz, an hindi wala na

Carlo Mr. Moderator, before we go on accepting members for the committee, I like to clarify who will lead this committee.

Mr. Moderator okay, ha?

Tony Carlo ikaw na mag lead

Carlo yan na nga kinatatakot ko

Mr. Moderator yes, yes please

Siguro po yung nasa panel na, yung host saka yung mga dating nandiyan na, ano na ho, we respect them sila rin po yung pumick-up. Nabuo narin ho iyan. Saka si Mr. Carlo, alam niya kung sino ho. And we are respecting the decision of those who are in the panel right now.

Mr. Moderator Okay Robert Please

Robert I would like the leader of the Committee to be ah, non-interested third Party, wala siyang style.

Carlo Sir, which is

Mr. Moderator I don’t think we could find an arnisador like that

Robert para maiwasan natin yung bias na ano,

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Carlo sino po kaya yung maii..

Mr. Moderator Please

Mahirap ding talagang hanapin yun eh no, arnisador na

Carlo come again hindi, natin marinig

Mr. Moderator Ilapit mo yung quan mo

Siguro yung suggestion namin, ang mga mamumuno nito yung mga personality na natin sa arnis, halimbawa yung mga agency na ng goernment, halimbawa si Engr. Diaz, ang ating NSA president Mr. Velayo sa ang ating personality na si Guro Dantes, tapos siguro ang magbubuo ng ng committee, mas maganda yung mga nagtuturo ng arnis na may style pero meron nang experience na magturo sa eskuwelahan para mas madali nating mabuo yung standardization ng arnis bilang part of P.E. curriculum

Mr. Moderator I will step down as a moderator again, and make my personal contribution

Carlo Mr. Moderator, somebody at the back would like to speak first before

Mr. Moderator ay, may isa pa

Carlo isa na lang po, may I remind you that I still have a presentation to conduct about the International Marital Arts Festival so I think we have to come up with a resolution in half an hour for this agenda and then we will proceed to the next agenda. I wont take more than an hour including the open forum okay, so

My suggestion being bagong arnisador siguro, each styles, pagnakabuo na sila ng meeting, sinong mag rerepresent ng styles nila. Its either masters, grandmasters or sino yung may alam ng arnis. And then after ng meeting na yon, siguro the panel nandiyan na kayo so kayo yung nag-puput-up, na-oopen ng sports na to, kayo na mismo yung magdala non, mag open up and then sguro yung gagawin na lang namin sa mga style eh yung open up nalang namin sa inyo, kaso lang may tinatawag na mediator eh, so yun lang ang suggestion ko.

Mr. Moderator May I step down na as a moderator, wala na? Okay. You know our fat is bad with us. That we always say “you do it,” we don’t want to do it ourselves. So, will you please change that attitude and say “okay we will do it.” These people have tried hard, they have fail perhaps we can do it. So probably that is the only thing im trying to drive you to. Nominate one of you or as many as you feel among you right now and have them work with these people, in other words you would not even go there. But please take responsibility for arnis, it is your responsibility. These people are already old, they are dying, you are the one who will, you are the one who are still growing up. You will be the ones to rip the benefits of arnis. Master Vina, diba totoo yon.

f.g. sinong magpopondo …

Mr. Moderator well

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Carlo I think the problem with finances are, ano yan eh, inherent na yan sa lahat ng problema. Even right now as we conduct this congress, I’ve been open about it, we have financial problem. you know. For student and we are looking for, were funding this congress free for everybody else. Diba. Lahat kayo nandirito ngayo na libre, so, I mean ang pondo talaga problema yan, pero we can address that, I think that something pwede nating ma-overlook. Basta meron tayong committed na staff, people who are really willing to exert effort and dedicate time, I think the UST Martial Arts Club has done a great job in dedicating their efforts, their time, their talents and their finances to the promotions of Filipino Martial Arts not only locally but abroad so we need more people like that. Ateneo has expressed on that line. Siguro ko na ididiscuss on my presentation pero I think yun yung kailangan. More than the funding issue, it’s the people who will work for the solutions of the problem.

Mr. Moderator okay ano ba ang gagawin natin, what do you think. We only have 30 minutes more. What do you think. Yes

Another suggestion siguro. Icompulsary na natin. Yung bawat may styles kailangang magrepresent na tayo. Kasi this is for the sake of Arnis, if we are not going to work together wala ring mangyayari dito. So siguro yung financial problem we can work it out. Kailangan talaga tulong tulong. We can get sponsorship from other companies, at least ma produce natin yung arnis as a sport talaga.

Mr. Moderator okay I will step down again as a moderator. And make a direct suggestion. As I said, it bothers me that no one wants to take responsibility for Arnis. Most of us here are arnisadores. And so can we pass a resolution where that in such a way that we will support a passage of a law in congress that will make arnis compulsory in the schools. To form a committee to advice whoever will sponsor that law about the technical aspects of arnis, can we do that. And then maybe we can let the table work out something like, become the working committee. A committee of you to look at the efforts of the table

Permission to speak

Mr. Moderator yes yes, im back to a moderator

Sa committing sinasabi mo, meron akong kilalang masipag

Mr. Moderator sino

Ms. Anabel Banaag. Yan ang naglalabi sa lobby ng Congress. Yan ang mairerecomenda ko siya.

Mr. Moderator ya I know connie.

Carlo clarifications lang. I think we are looking for a committee…committee members to address yung technical syllabus for Arnis. Yun yung committee na ginagawa natin ngayon.

Mr. Moderator you’re the one who propose it

Carlo yes sir

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May I…may I request a special power by Arnis Philippines that these committee will be recommend by him, Mr. Raymond Velayo and as far as he is concern, I think he was able to submit this technical syllabus in the department of Education, Culture and Sports. That’s it, Mr. Moderator

MR. Velayo thank you but I don’t like to accept the credit of I was responsible. Its true that it was through arnis Philippines we have moved. And there are a lot of people in the education department, some other personalities on the past, some are present here, most are not here, they have been so responsible it just so happened na, alam mo ang presidente minsan parang na-aano ng traffic. I just ano yung mga traffic so yung proper flow. But all these ideas, yung maraming nangyayari coming from, as I told you, sometimes you have to listen to even so-called foolish idea and then katulad ng sinabi ng ating moderator, let them also give proposals, solutions to the problems. And that’s what we do. With regards to your recommendation that I recommend, I have already asked the people concerned to. I will recommend them to the board of Arnis Phil to work on this special project…projects I mean, because that is one of the projects and then they will now be not working hand-in-hand, they will directly working for arnis Philippines to handle all these proposal. Because the job or Arnis Philippines is to assist arnis activity towards to the world. To offer it to a lot of venues. Kanina dalawa lang ang na mention, yung cultural and then the, I mean the Martial Arts and the sports, there is the cultural side of it. Which we work hand in hand because that a mandate with DOT. We have the DOT with us, we have a person there who works so hard for PIGSA…PIGSAI, it started with the word pigsa before so. And now its PIGSAI and now they are starting to swell into a bigger task, so that yan kapag pumutok nga talaga ang pigsa…PIGSAI and ihope it becomes contagious sa, I know that you have to assist, ang job namin is to assist government and otherwise in trying to do their particular endeavor pag connected sa arnis we are involved. And just like this, kung ang committee na ito will work on that, those proposed solution, we are one hundred and one percent supporting all of these and if you will come up with solutions we will come out and assist you as much as we can.

MR. Moderator actually I am

May I kindly ask you mr. President if what is the requirement of anybody who will lead or who will handle that committee?

MR. Velayo base on my knowledge because in reality it was Atty. Allan Sarmiento who ran for vice-mayor then of quezon city to…who made in behalf he is the legal council of Arnis Philippines in th efirst board who made the one Arnis for Education authored by Orly Merchado through the board of Arnis Philippines for your information, now I talked with Zubiri one time and I am very glad that he proposed it as a a national ano, but now with regards to what are the requirements of being,

I mean the committee

Mr. Velayo ganito no, I leave that entirely to the person who the body has suggested, and with regards to the members of his committee, its pertinent that you also try to ask him because I will also appoint him if he accepts it in hiring that committee with his permission of course.

Mr. Moderator Raymond, can I make a comment. You know your coice are simple, do you want to have a hand in this endeavor. To make arnis reality in the leagal system or not, if you don’t who would you give it and im saying please do, some of you right now

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who will form a committee, there is noth very complicated about that/ for instance Lanada right now, there are two persons right there si Boy saka si Alex, they can agree together “Okay I will represent lanada style. There is the Wido style here, they can say “Okay I will represent Wido and he will immediately be member of the committee if we approve of it right now. There is no need to think of the few door, we do it right now.

Carlo I think maganda yung sinabi ni Master Reyes, tapusin na natin yung issue ng committee. Yung creating ng committee at creating ng standard technical syllabus, anyway ang gusto naman ng karamihan ay participation sa loob ng Arnis Philippines. I think that’s a common ideal na gustong mangyari ng mga arnisadors. I know kasi some of the people spoke to me. I think they agree that they need increased participation and I think this is it. Ito ang magiging foundation ng Arnis on school level. So medyo technical sya, I think for us, it’s going to be a big task if UST Martial Arts Club will spearhead that. But we need the support of the Martial Arts Instructors. Frankly hindi ako arnisador, okay, tawa ako doon, totoo hindi ako arnisador pero I head the, I thought of the National Filipino martial Arts congress having in mind yung unity ng congress. Arnis community. I think hindi ako qualified to be heading this committee cause I don’t really know squat about arnis although I know I know how to strike somebody in the head with a stick. Kailangan namin, kung kami man ang kukuha ng responsibility which is ah, yun ang recommendation ng Engr. Diaz I think Mr. Velayo is aiming at that to head this committee, kailangan namin yung technical advice the instructors ng mga elders

Mr. Moderator okay, yes

Helo hello. Sa mga kasama ko, hindi natin maitatangi na ang legal organization, ang brail lang natin para sa Arnis seminar is the Arnis Philippines, no body can contest that and then this organization has been there for quite a time medyo sinosuperimpose lang natin ngayon at ang karamihan ng expert sa Arnis ay membro ng ating NSA, itong Arnis Philippines, so karamihan naman sa atin dito for one or another gusto ng Arnis Philippines, so ang suggestion ko dahil ito talaga ang magdadala sa atin kahit anong magnyari sa atin, ang legal

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