Arnis De Mano (NARAPHIL webpage)

The native art of stickfighting, antedates recorded Philippine history in origin and development. For when the Spaniards came in the 16th century, they found the art flourishing in various parts of the archipelago. It was then called Kali, a system of fighting with bladed weapons among the maharlikas or nobility. For various reasons, the conquerors suppressed the practice of the art. Knowledge of the art was handed down from generation to another like a family heirloom.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

NARAPHIL Open Tournament Continues .....

"2005 NARAPHIL Open Arnis Tournament"
30 July 2005
Vigan House Ground, Nayong Pilipino

Pasay City

by Junch Martinada

"An Institution"

True, NARAPHIL may have been plagued with politicking in the field of sports from its splintered groups but never did they wrest back ............... in hope that they can do more or equal of what has NARAPHIL has achieved in the past three decades.

People did came and have passed but the people who were born from her....... grew from her ........ and have loved her continued to implement its plans and programs. They never ceased to abandoned her but rather made her stronger and matured. The presidency of Atty. Dionisio A. Cañete in 1988 proved that they can never put a good institution down with the emergence of arnis group claiming to be the front runner in arnis. In fact, Atty. Dionisio A. Cañete did what no arnis group can really claim to have a real international activity of such proportion in arnis even to this date.

To commemorate such activity, NARAPHIL is coming again to the limelight of sponsoring arnis for the sake of the younger generation who would be willing to carry-on what she wants for them to inherit - our legacy of arnis!

"The Award"

This hand crafted cane taken from the finest of the poles of rattan are special and usually given as souvenirs to arnis afficionados or guests in recognition of their untiring support and committment for the promotion of arnis. They are only few in production and only produced for a particular occasion.

"The Awardee"

Atty. Charito Planas, she is currently the Executive Director of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation Inc. She was a former Councilor and later became the Vice-Mayor of Quezon City. She was also responsible in putting back Nayong Pilipino to its current operation hence called "Ang Munting Nayong Pilipino". A very dynamic and energetic lady, and a civic spirited person.

Truly she can be as sturdy as the rattan stick who never cease to stop fighting of what she believes is right and just. Madam we salute you and thanks for all the support you are giving for the promotion of arnis! You truly deserved the simple award from us.

"The Participants"

Five teams participated in the event and thanks for their participation and hope we could do more for the years to come.

"Opening Ceremony"

With the opening of Munting Nayong Pilipino and reemergence of the Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club, we look forward for the years to come to revive back the same enthusiasm and level of arnis activities that they headed before its closure in 1997.

These new young turks heading the club are expected to do more of what Dr. Leo Estepa did during his stint as the NPAC Executive Director.

"She can be as sturdy as the rattan stick who never cease to stop fighting of what she believes is right and just"

(description for Atty. Charito Planas)

Friday, March 17, 2006

NARAPHIL Continues sponsoring tournament .....

"2005 NARAPHIL Open Arnis Tournament"
30 July 2005
Vigan House Ground, Nayong Pilipino
Pasay City
by Junch Martinada

On 25 April 2005, the Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club was back again at the Nayong Pilipino after eight years since the closure of the said cultural park for the expansion of the NAIA terminal III airport. The park was reopened last December with the portion being rebuilt for public recreational place so family can enjoy a weekend pleasure in the park within a congested city of Pasay. This park is now renamed as "Ang Munting Nayong Pilipino".

The re-establishment of the NPAC is through the effort of Dr. Leo Estepa (NARAPHIL President) and Atty. Charito Planas, the new Executive Director of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Leo Estepa was the former Executive Director of the Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club and the pioneering instructor of the said club. This was his first assignment from NARAPHIL when he finished his instructorship in 1976. He became the Executive Director when they have a restructuring on the staff and management of the club in 1986.

Today Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club is under the new leadership of a younger and dynamic businessman and currently the president of the Liping Maharlika, Inc., Capt. Ricardo Sarte. They are the generation of the PHILMAT (Philippine Martial Arts Troupe) which is the cultural performing arm of NARAPHIL.

"The Opening Ceremony"

The Guest Speaker (at the center) is Atty. Charito Planas with the NARAPHIL officers and staff (from L-R) Sr. Supt. Adriatico Del Camat Jr (PNP), Rodolfo Pulgar, Capt. Ricardo Sarte, Guest Speaker and NPFI Executive Director - Atty. Charito Planas, and Rene Fernandez.

"NARAPHIL STAFF'

Members of the Organizing Committee (Rey Postrado, Rudy Pulgar and Sr. Supt. Adriatico Del Camat Jr.)

After eight years of absence, the NARAPHIL is again back on the track of sponsoring arnis tournaments and events for their affiliate clubs and other arnis groups willing to participate in a worthwhile activity. This is currently undertaken in cooperation with the Liping Maharlika, Inc. and other agencies such as the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc. to put back Filipino indigenous sports and games back at Nayon.

"The Team to Beat"

Sr. Supt. Adriatico Del Camat Jr. (PNP) currently Vice President of the Liping Maharlika paired together with Capt. Ricardo F. Sarte - Liping Maharlika President, is a good combination. They are the Young turks of the Maharlika. Adding a new blood of leaders and dynamic management style ready to face the challenge of this millennium. They are the "team to beat"!

The prize is right!

Though NARAPHIL is a non-profit and non-stock organization, so many kind hearted agencies and individual is sponsoring its tournament every now and then. The prizes are not only that meticulously suited for the event but sees to it that the honor they get from it is really what it takes to prove their worth! The prize is right .............. the HONOR of participating and winning in its event.

"The Organizing Committee"

The venue of the event ............... the Vigan House! This structure plays a significant historical memories of the Liping Maharlika. It is where the early days of the "Maharlika Arnis Sikaran Association" - the forerunner of Liping Maharlika, conducts their early training days for their instructors and staff in 1972. For related stories log-on to www.lipingmaharlika.blogspot.com. After the birth of NARAPHIL, they were later housed in Cebu and Bacolod House at the Visayan Region together with NARAPHIL for a brief period. NARAPHIL was later transferred in 1976 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila where the premier of sports activity in the nation takes place during that era.

Today that memories reminisces and honor the milestone that NARAPHIL has gone through three decades of successful promotion and propagation of the Filipino indigenous martial art - Arnis de Mano!

"NARAPHIL is an institution ....... where they developed leaders and managers for this nation through ARNIS"
by Meneleo E. Estepa, MD

Sunday, March 12, 2006

"WEKAF-NARAPHIL" ......... part 5

“The NARAPHIL-WEKAF Affair”
by Meneleo E. Estepa, MD

In 1988, with the leadership of Atty. Dionisio A. Cañete as NARAPHIL President, he was able to persuade some of the delegates from the US and Australia to forge an international activity in arnis. A year before that activity, he was busy traveling abroad delivering seminars and conducting meetings with the leaders of the different arnis groups abroad.

The US based arnis group (Arnulfo Cuesta, Fred Bandalan, Edward Abinsay and Leo Fernandez) has helped a lot and assisted Atty. Cañete’s goal of opening the avenue for accommodating him with the group in California. The biggest of which was the Jet Kune Do Academy under the leadership of Richard Bustillo and Dan Inosanto. From thereon, news spread like wildfire from the different arnis groups outside US like Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and India.

Atty. Cañete’s popularity became steadfast abroad and was even featured in the Kung Fu magazine as advocator of arnis. He initiated the training of the different groups using his affiliate Doce Pares Club of Cebu in teaching the methodology in the full contact event. After a year of preparation, the NARAPHIL Board finally agreed and decided to pursue the first international arnis event to be held here in the Philippines.

There were two venues offered but finally agreed to both give the international participants a view of the country by offering two activities coinciding one after the other. Cebu was chosen as the primary place for the event in recognition of the Doce Pares birth place and the other event which is the Invitational was to be held in Manila. During the "2nd WEKAF Convention/Championship" the other way around was adopted with NARAPHIL as the host organization and still was held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Only eight of the eleven countries who signified their intentions attended the event plus the attendance of the Japanese delegation for the kendo demonstration event only.

So thus the partnership of the NARAPHIL and WEKAF began. They are sister organization and that is just the beginning of a new era in arnis activity in the Philippines.

"My services will always be available for WEKAF and NARAPHIL"
by Atty. Dionisio A. Cañete

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

"WEKAF-NARAPHIL" ......... part 4

"1st WEKAF Invitational Championship"

hosted by NARAPHIL
19 August 1989
Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila

The Host

Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club became the center of all the activities of NARAPHIL, from the elimination to the training of the Philippine Team because it provide a good venue and conducive atmosphere of training. Included in the plan was the preparation of the officiating officials on their skills in officiating for this international event.

A weekly meeting was being conducted and monitoring the progress of the training of the team under the supervision of their individual coaches and trainers of each member since they came from different affiliated clubs of NARAPHIL.

Philippine Delegation

Members of the Philippine delegation headed by Dr. Leo Estepa (NARAPHIL Secretary General).

From L-R: Cmdt. Generoso Martinada Jr., Ma. Luz Arroyo, Elmer Ybañez, Romeo Macapagal, Jose Bataller, Inocencio Glaraga, SPO1 Silvestre Abainza, GM Benjamin Lema, Vicente Sanchez, Jose Tansipek, GM Jose Mena, Agripino Mayuga, Herman Licanto, Roger Santos and Dr. Meneleo Estepa.