Press Release
December 9, 2019

SPONSORSHIP SPEECH
Senator Joel Villanueva

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is my honor and privilege to sponsor Senate Resolution No. 252, "Congratulating the Philippine National Arnis Team and Their Coaching Staff for Grabbing a Total of 20 Medals at the 30th South East Asian Games" and Senate Resolution No. 251, "Commending Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and the Philippine National Team for Arnis for its Resounding Victory in the 30th Southeast Asian Games".

Hawak ko po ngayon ang isang arnis stick na gawa sa rattan. Magaan, simple pero napakatibay. Pero sa atin pong mga pinalaki sa "palo", medyo nakakatakot po ang bagay na ito dahil kapag nahagupit ka, talagang mag-iiwan po ito ng latay sa iyong katawan.

Mr. President, alam ko po na bawal magpasok ng pamalo o anumang combative weapon dito sa loob ng session hall pero ngayong hapon, ang mga arnis stick na ito ay hindi lang armas pandigma kundi simbolo ng katapangan, pagkamalikhain at tagumpay ng lahing Pilipino.

Hindi po ba't mga arnisador ang sinasabing nagpaatras sa mga sundalo ni Ferdinand Magellan sa "Battle of Mactan" - dahilan ng pagkabigo ng mga unang bugso ng mga conquistador na masakop ang Pilipinas noong ikalabing-anim na siglo.

Arnis, Kali o Eskrima ang nagpakilala sa bangis ng ating mga mandirigma noon, ito rin ang nagpakilala sa tikas ng ating mga atletang Pilipino na nakakuha ng 20 medalya sa SEA Games ngayon.

Mr. President, the Philippine National Arnis Team bagged 14 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals across the live stick, distaff, padded stick, and anyo categories -- it's by far the most bemedaled Philippine Team in the 30th SEA Games.

Tulad ng mga mandirigmang nagtagumpay sa isang digmaan, nais po nating kilalanin ngayon ang ating mga arnisador na nagwagayway ng ating bandila sa SEA Games:

For the Live Stick Events:

1. Dexler Bolambao - Gold; Bantamweight (M)

2. Sgt. Niño Mark Talledo - Gold; Featherweight (M)

3. Technical Sgt. Villardo Cunamay - Gold; Lightweight (M)

4. SSG Mike C. Bañares - Gold; Welterweight (M)

5. Jezebel Morcillo - Gold; Bantamweight (W)

6. Jude Oliver Mae Rodriguez - Silver; Featherweight (W)

7. Eza Rai Yalong - Bronze; Lightweight (W)

8. Erlin Mae Busacay - Bronze; Welterweight (W)

For the Padded Stick Events:

9. Jesfer Huquire - Gold; Bantamweight (M)

10. Elmer Manlapas - Gold; Featherweight (M)

11. Carloyd Tejada - Gold ; Welterweight (M)

12. Sheena del Monte - Gold ; Bantamweight (W)

13. Jedah Mae Soriano - Gold; Featherweight (W)

14. Ross Ashley Monville - Gold ; Lightweight (W)

15. Abegail Abad - Gold; Welterweight (W)

16. Billy Joel Valenzuela - Silver; Lightweight (M)

For the Anyo Events:

17. Crisamuel Delfin - Gold; Non-Traditional Open Weapon (M)

18. Mary Allin Aldeguer - Gold; Non-Traditional Open Weapon (W)

19. Mark David Puzon - Silver; Traditional Open Weapon (M)

20. Ryssa Jezzel A. Sanchez - Silver; Traditional Open Weapon (W)

Kinikilala rin po natin ang kanilang mga tagasanay. The complete dedication of our coaches ignited their passion and motivated the team to win as one:

1. Richardson C. Gialogo, Head Coach

2. Regie Sanchez, Assistant Coach for Live Sticks

3. P/Capt. Reneto E. Tuñacao, Assistant Coach for Padded Sticks

4. Reignerose Esquierra; Assistant Coach for Anyo

5. Rodolfo Jay Garcia Jr.; Strength and Conditioning Coach

6. Aniano Lota Jr.; Mental and Spiritual Wellness and Discipline Coach

As you can see, Mr. President, as government support to athletes increases, so is the level of excellence that Filipino athletes can achieve. Tunay na kapag binigyan natin ng sapat na pag-aalaga at suporta ang ating mga atleta, kayang-kayang nilang makipagsabayan sa mga tinitingalang manlalaro mula sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo.

Mr. President, there is no doubt that Philippine National Arnis Team will go down in history as the team that brought Arnis back to great acclaim on an international stage, fourteen years since the sport was last seen at the SEA Games.

Subalit hindi po natin mararating ang araw na ito at hindi rin siguro magniningning ang Pilipinas sa SEA Games kung hindi dahil sa mga taong nagtaguyod at patuloy na nagpapayabong ng Arnis bilang isang sports.

Ang Arnis, Kali at Eskrima ay sariling atin at tumutukoy sa Filipino native martial arts. Marami pa pong ibang katawagan ang Arnis, Kali at Eskrima alinsunod sa mga umiiral na dayalekto sa bansa.

Makalipas ang napakahabang panahong kinandili at pinalaganap ang Arnis ng ating mga ninuno at pinagpasapasahan hanggang makarating sa kasalukuyang panahon, kinikilala na po ngayon ang Arnis bilang "National Sport and Martial Arts of the Philippines".

And this would not have been possible without the passion, consistency and determination of our colleague, Majority Leader and an accomplished arnisador himself, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

In 1989, when Senator Migz was only 20 years old, he emerged as Gold Medalist and Champion in the 1989 Manila Arnis Eskrima World Invitational Tournament.

In 2009, he spearheaded the passage of Republic Act No. 9850, or the Act Declaring Arnis as the National Martial Art and Sport of the Philippines to promote this sport among our people.

In 2017, he founded the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) to strengthen the practice of Arnis and unify its many practitioners across the nation, during which time he was also installed as President and Chairman of the Federation.

Early this year, 2019, PEKAF was declared the National Sports Association for Arnis by the Philippine Olympic Committee, making it the regulating body for the practice of Arnis across the country.

The Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation also launched a search for the finest and fittest through regional qualifiers that concluded with the National Battle of the Champions, promoting grassroots development through their participation to the PSCs Batang Pinoy and the Palarong Pambansa. PEKAF also worked with the standards set by the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation, the International Governing Body for Arnis.

Mr. President, Arnis, which was last featured in the Southeast Asian Games as a demonstration sport in 2005, has finally been recognized as a regular sport for the 2019 SEA Games, with competitors from the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Sa lahat po ng ito, hindi nawala ang presensya at suporta ni Senator Migz. At habang unti-unting nakikilala ang arnis bilang isang sports sa Asya at sa buong mundo, nakikilala rin ang katangi-tanging kultura at pamana ng lahing Pilipino.

Mr. President, Senator Zubiri's steadfast support to the Philippine National Arnis Team throughout their preparation for the 30th SEA Games, and during the event itself, is remarkable and truly deserving of this recognition.

Alam po nating lahat na hindi magtatapos dito sa SEA Games ang mga adhikain ni Sen. Migz para sa sports na ito dahil ngayon pa lang tiyak na ang plano niyang dalhin ang Arnis sa international stage at lalo pang mapalutang ang galing ng mga arnisador na Pilipino.

Thank you and congratulations to our Majority Leader and to the Philippine National Arnis Team. Truly, you have exceeded the expectations of the entire Filipino nation. Saludo po ang sambayanang Pilipino sa inyong husay, katapangan at pagkamakabayan.

Mabuhay po kayo and may God bless you all.

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