LARONG PINOY!

The Martial Art

The onset of the twentieth century brought about the demise of Arnis in the country. With the coming of the Americans, the Filipinos were awed with the new culture, that most indigenous cultures were relegated almost to oblivion. Our very own Arnis, the Filipino martial art, almost suffered the same fate. Once the martial art of the pre-Spanish natives and the illustrados of the Spanish era, Arnis all but disappeared in the urban areas and were mostly preserved in the provinces. Credit should be given to our traditional guro / maestro or grandmasters, illustrious men who painstakingly preserved Arnis for us.

The rise to popularity of various non-Filipino martial arts also placed our local martial art in the limelight. Suddenly, interest in Arnis began to surge. Popular practice of the art however, also had its share of problems. For one, there was a dire need to consolidate the various forms, styles and strains of Arnis. Arnis is not just one technique nor just one school, it is as varied as the islands of the country, with its more than eighty (80) languages and about one hundred forty-two (142) dialects in an archipelago of seven thousand and one hundred (7, 100) islands. Furthermore, there was also a need for a strong leadership to hold such schools or groups together, to steer it towards a direction, so as to prevent Arnis from slipping into oblivion.
Modern Interpretations

In 1975, the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL) was formed by Gen. Fabian C. Ver. This organization acted as the first national organization for Arnis in the Philippines. Its existence however, faded after the radical change and total revamp in the Philippine government caused by the Philippine Revolution of 1986.

In the meantime, in many parts of the world, popular names and groups have been busy propagating the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) and sports, pushing their teachings and techniques. Some people successfully made their way into martial arts schools, police academies, military schools, educational institutions, government agencies, and even in the entertainment world.
The Organization

On July 11, 1986, Mr. Raymond Soriano Velayo, a young civic-minded and noted sportsman, convened a group of men truly devoted to the art at the Sulu Restaurant at Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. They formed the Philippine Arnis Federation which was later renamed as Arnis Philippines (ARPI). Succeeding meetings saw the joining of more distinguished men who were bent on making Arnis a pillar in the world of martial arts and combat sports.

Mr. Raymond S. Velayo became its first and current president. The Federation's founding came about barely five months after the historic Philippine "People Power" Revolution of 1986 that catapulted the government of President Corazon C. Aquino. Because of the vacuum and taking advantage of the much preferred democratic space and of course, the renewed enthusiasm of the Philippine society, these founders decided to bring together the various Arnis clubs and styles in the spirit of unity. This was preceeded by the observation that Arnis, which was fast becoming a dying art in the country, should be revived and promoted. Thus, with the firm objectives of PROMOTING, PROPAGATING and PRESERVING the Filipino Martial Arts, the Philippine Arnis Federation was born.

On August 20, 1986, the organization was formally recognized as Arnis Philippines Incorporated. The objectives were: a) to be a major force in preserving our culture and the dying art of Arnis; b) to consolidate and unite the different functions and groups of Arnis aficionados; and c) to develop the Sport aspect of Arnis for and in the hope of its inclusion in major sports events like the South East Asian Games (SEA Games), Asian Games, and ultimately, the Olympics.

In a short span of time, Arnis Philippines received immediate recognition from the official sports bodies in the Philippines. It is now the solely accredited Arnis arm and association in the Philippine Olympic Committee (effective 12 January 1987) and was accepted as the 33 rd member of the said Olympic Committee. With the official membership, ARPI has the sole right to officially supervise all Arnis affairs in the country as the National Sports Association (NSA). Soon after, it was also included under the support roster of the Project Gintong Alay and is now supported financially by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
FORMATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARNIS FEDERATION

The International Arnis Federation (IAF), world governing body for Arnis, was organized in the first ever International Arnis Congress (IAC) and was hosted and organized by Arnis Philippines, the duly accredited National Sports Association for Arnis and the 33 rd member of the Philippine Olympic Committee. The IAC was held at the Silahis International Hotel at the height of the US-Iraq Gulf War in 1991.

Participants in the two-day IAC were Remy Presas (representing the United States of America), Hadji Besar Shahri and Hadji Mohammed Zafri (Brunei), Joseph Delme (Belgium), Te Chang Ma (Taiwan), Dzung Vu (Vietnam), Shishir Inocalla (Canada), Kurt Konrad (Austria), Fritz Thiele (Switzerland), Gerardo Reyes (Hongkong), Tino Ceberano (Australia), Raymond S. Velayo (Philippines), Jeremias V. Dela Cruz (Qatar), and Manny Cawil (New Zealand), who became the founding members. There were thirteen (13) countries represented at that time.

The launching of the international governing body was formally opened by Governor Jose C. Sering, then president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, who together with then President Corazon C. Aquino, Honorable Francisco Elizalde of the International Olympic Committee, Senators Jose Lina and Orlando Mercado, Congressmen Freddie Webb and Renato Yap and other government and private entities, supported and sanctioned the event.

Going by its theme "Arnis to the Olympics, Arnis to the World", the activities of the congress presided by Raymond S. Velayo included the ratification of the IAF Constitution and By-Laws, election of its officers, discussion of the International Standard Rules (ISR) of Arnis competitions worldwide, presentation of its implementation and regulations through videos, holding the first ever Seminar-Workshop for Arnis players on World Arnis officiating, lecture on the proposed ISR and ratification, gala night (where cultural Arnis exhibitions were presented), and presentation of Awards of Recognition to Gov. Jose C. Sering and Gov. Francisco Almeda (POC Secretary General). TV host/producer (now Senator) Loren Legarda was also present together with Sen. Orlando Mercado and Mr. Frederick So Pada.

Raymond S. Velayo, president of Arnis Philippines, was voted as the first president of the International Arnis Federation (IAF). Officers were also voted and appointed. They were inducted by Governor Francisco Almeda, Secretary-General of the Philippine Olympic Committee during the Gala Night of the International Arnis Congress.