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THE
HIDDEN WEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
By Peachie Saquin
In
Ancient Philippine History, the Filipinos were always
regarded as skillful swordsmen. Sword fighting was both
an art and a skill, and it protected our ancestors from
invaders who wished to conquer their beloved islands.
Such skills became recognized as a powerful weapon during
the Spanish regime, hence, the people were prohibited
from carrying their bolos and the practice of their use
was forbidden. Determined not to lose the skill, the Filipinos
revolutionized their drill into a dance, and a new weapon
replaced the sword, emerging into existence in the form
of a long wooden stick.Today,
the use of Arnis has gained worldwide acceptance as more
and more countries embraced the tradition evolved by the
Filipinos. In Europe, Germany has invested much in its
propagation, as evidenced by two successful FMA festivals
held in the country in February 2002 and March 2004. In
the United States, Arnis has also gained recognition as
the martial arts of choice for military and law enforcers.
It has been adopted into the American as part of its law
enforcement tradition.Because
of its distinct movements and forms, an Arnis practitioner,
commonly called an Arnisador, can easily escape many forms
of street attacks. The principles of Arnis can be applied
even if the only thing you have in possession at the moment
of attack is just your cellphone, bag, umbrella, ballpen,
or just your empty hands for combat.Knowledge
of Arnis can be very useful in our daily lives not only
as a form of self defense but as an excellent exercise
to stimulate body movements and enable proper blood circulation.Ironically,
here in the Philippines, not every Filipino is aware that
Arnis is the legacy of our ancestors, the hidden wealth
that our forefathers had left for us to nurture and develop.
On
May 6 and 7, 2006, the Department of Tourism, in cooperation
with IMAFP and the FMA Organizing Committee, launched
a National FMA Festival in support of the nationwide Arnis
Awareness Campaign Program.
Your
participation in this project was a big leap in uncovering
one of the hidden treasures of our country.
Creation of the FMA Logo
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