All news tagged Arnis

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the importance of grassroots sports development, youth participation, and cultural pride during the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) Mindanao Qualifying Tournament held at the University of Mindanao in Davao City on November 22. As Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Sports and Youth, Go underscored the role of athletic events in cultivating values, discipline, and opportunities for young athletes.

Go advised participants to “get into sports and stay away from illegal drugs to keep us healthy and fit,” reflecting his advocacy for sports as a pillar of nation-building.

He highlighted the National Academy of Sports (NAS), established through Republic Act No. 11470, as a dual-track system for quality education and athletic training. Go is pushing for Senate Bill No. 171 to expand NAS campuses nationwide, ensuring accessibility and balanced development of talent across all regions.

Go also filed SBN 413 (Philippine National Games bill) to institutionalize a unified nationwide grassroots competition and SBN 678 (National Tertiary Games Act) to formalize a collegiate multi-sport tournament—creating a clear pipeline from school leagues to national competition.

Go recognized Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, PEKAF President, and local leadership for nurturing sports communities. The tournament gathered 500 Arnisadors from Mindanao, celebrating a discipline rooted in Filipino heritage.

Go’s Malasakit Team distributed tokens, and he reminded all, “Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong o karangalan na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa at sa bansa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito.”

Go concluded, “Patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat, kabilang na sa ating mga atleta, dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos.”

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is set to deliver a more dynamic and inclusive grassroots sports program with the upcoming Batang Pinoy 2025, scheduled to take place from October 25 to 30 in General Santos City.

This year’s edition of Batang Pinoy aims to further encourage Filipino youth to engage in sports, develop their athletic potential, and embrace the values of discipline, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

According to PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann, the 2025 Batang Pinoy will showcase competitions in 27 sports disciplines, including Aquatics (Swimming), Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball (3×3), Boxing, Chess, Cycling, Dancesport, Futsal, Gymnastics, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Kickboxing, Karate, Muay Thai, Pencak Silat, Soft Tennis, Tennis, Sepak Takraw, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu. 

Chairman Bachmann also emphasized that this year’s event will be grander and more organized, with modern equipment and facilities, and better logistics and accommodations for all participating athletes.

“Our main objective for this year’s Batang Pinoy is to provide the delegates an excellent experience as if they are already competing in a global level of competition they usually see in televisions and social media,” Bachman said. 

In addition to upgrading the overall competition experience, the PSC is committed to expanding participation from regions across the country, ensuring that young athletes from various provinces have the opportunity to compete and grow.

“Batang Pinoy is not just about discovering future champions,  It’s also about instilling values that shape character—discipline, hard work, and sportsmanship.” Bachman added.