NARAPHIL legacy archives:

Oldest published arnis
book
by Meneleo Estepa, MD

What makes the NARAPHIL a primary institution of arnis learning is not only the people behind it, but the vast resources that has been accumulated for years of existence.

For instance, they have one of the oldest book probably published in existence. It was published in 1957 by the U.P. Press Inc. and authored by Mr. Placido Yambao et. al. It is entitled "Mga Karunungan sa Larong Arnis" and was written in a Pilipino vernacular language. This is where most of those book presently in existence got their terminologies for their own terminologies of techniques.

In 1974, a group of young high school boys from Ramon Magsaysay High School of Manila joined by Romeo Mascardo and Ramon Obusan launched a search campaign to locate the group of Mr. Yambao and company in the northern part province of Manila - Hagonoy, Bulacan. This was the place where the book was believed to have been conceived and written according to the account in the book but unfortunately, even the public officials seems to have no record or track of the people in it.

Probably their search never proved fruitless because the book itself is a proof of the knowledge is really in existence long before it became popular later in the succeeding years. One reason was to give honor to the five people who joined together for the publication of that book, namely: Palcido Yambao, Buenaventura Mirafuente, Luis Cruz, Juan Aclan and Francisco dela Cruz.

These five gentlemen were also responsible in the formation of their own group in 1931 as the "Kapisanan ng Dunong at Lakas at ng Tabak ni Bonifacio - Order of Bonifacio".



According to the book, they traveled from places during May festivities to showcase their knowledge and skills in arnis by performing series of exhibitions. Later in 1950's, they have started teaching to some few school institution and one of them was at "Manila High School" on August 6, 1954 as a regular physical education subject.

The book has less than a hundred pages and is divided into three parts namely; a semi-comprehensive history of arnis, the basics and terminologies and the proposed rules and regulations in the governance of arnis tournament. The first few pages was dedicated to the five personalities with their brief history and personal account in their knowledge of the art. The basics has a complete pictorials and description of each technique.

What makes this book very interesting, was the way they were carefully arranged and crafted for easy comprehension and the terms they used in each technique which we believed this is where the other authors got their terms from it.

Therefore, we believe it is appropriate and high time that due recognition should be given to them for their efforts and Filipinism. They have raised the quality of arnis knowledge to where it is today.



From the bottom of our hearts, we salute you gentlemen for all the efforts you have contributed in documenting our knowledge of the art!

First Arnis published Book

on record

"Ang karunungang ito and tanging naging kalasag at panananggol ng ating magigiting na Bayani ng naglahong himagsikan nang taong 1896, hanggang sa maitirik ang watawat ng naglahong Republika sa Malolos"

by Placido Yambao