Rhonin Charles O.

Piamonte

STEM 12

Arnis: A Brief History

Despite its archipelagic nature and varying cultures and beliefs, the Philippines
and its people are still resiliently bonded together by a myriad of factors. One of
these, is sports and recreation. From Pacquiao’s thrilling fights inside the ring to
exciting UAAP volleyball games, Filipinos often, if not always, unite in celebrating skill
and talent when sports comes into the conversation. Arnis, the Philippines’ national
sport and martial art, is one of the many activities that has united Filipinos in several
occasions, may it be hundreds of years ago or the present generation.

The history of Arnis dates as far back as the Spanish colonization era. Back then,
it was named and recognized as Kali which focused more on using bladed weapons
in combat. Kali was widely practiced and taught to anyone who wanted to learn it
back then and it was integrated into schools along with the native alphabet (Alibata)
and the use of herbal medicines as well. For this reason, early Filipinos were taught
well in terms of fighting techniques and how to utilize them in times of combat or in
the battlefield. One of the earliest and most notable dates in history where Kali took
part in was the 27th of April 1521 wherein Ferdinand Magellan, a navigator and
warrior from Portugal was taken down by Datu Lapu-Lapu’s forces. Forty years after,
in Abuyog, Leyte, a Spanish navigator named Miguel De Legaspi befriended a warrior
chief named Malitik and it was at this time when he closely witnessed the deadly and
formidable skills of the local warriors as they performed a demonstration for
entertainment. However, despite the locals’ skills in the art of combat, they were no
match for the muskets and cannons that the Spaniards possessed. As a result, Spain
was able to colonize the archipelago years after.

After the Philippines was claimed and finally named, in honor of King Philip from
Spain, the Spaniards banned the natives from practicing Kali which the natives
believed was done by the Spaniards due to the fear that their skills will spark a
revolution against their colonizers. This was the start of Kali’s dark age. Later on, the
fighting system gained itself many names including Escrima, Estoque, Fraile and
Kaliradman due to the Spanish cultural influence.

Unbeknownst to the Spaniards, the natives still secretly practiced Kali and
developed several other techniques including fighting with the use of sticks instead
of bladed weapons. During this time, the natives would use many excuses like
entertaining the colonizers through the Moro-Moro stage play to obtain more time
to practice the art of stick fighting.

Kali was renamed “Arnis” in 1873 and was practiced my many notable heroes of
the Philippine revolution including Andres Bonifacio, Diego and Gabriela Silang,
Gregorio Del Pilar and even Jose Rizal.

Eventually, the war came to an end and by the year 1975, the National Arnis
Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL) was founded by Major Favian Ver. Its
objective was to assemble all arnis groups in the Philippines and unite them.
However, the groups did not see eye to eye which led to many conflicts between
them. In July 1986, another brotherhood formed by Masters of Arnis was formed:
ARPHI or Arnis Philippines and together with NARAPHIL, these organiztions led the
objective of promoting, preserving and propagating the beauty and popularity of
Arnis for present and future generations not only in the Philippines but
internationally as well.

Modern Arnis was later on founded by Remy Presas, which made way for the
development of Arnis as a fighting and self-defense system which is as much as
possible, injury-free, while still incorporating and preserving the techniques from
older systems of Arnis.

Now, Arnis is considered as the Philippines’ national martal art and sport,
through Republic Act No. 9850 which was signed by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo back in 2009. It is also taught as a course in Physical Education
throughout different schools and is included as one of the priority sports in Palarong
Pambansa.