Zamboanga del Sur – Spearheaded by Education Program Specialist (EPS II) Leah E. Ramirez and with the support of the ALS implementers, Cluster 2 of Zamboanga del Sur Division- Alternative Learning System (ALS) came up with an idea of introducing Arnis to the learners. It is a perennial scenario wherein an impoverished learner stops going to school and tries his/her luck in big cities to provide financial support for their families. Some of them gets hired as security guards with a martial arts certificate and most of them pays to obtain this certificate without even being taught on how to hold a cane. This new program ensures that both educational and documentary need of the learner is met and can be used in his/her job-seeking endeavors.
Barangay Lantawan, a Subanen Community located in Barangay Sominot, Zamboanga del Sur was chosen to be the pilot training ground for this ALS project. With the support of their Mayor, Hon. Johnriel Melo, Barangay Captain, Hon. Susana Mainar, District Supervisor Pedrito Apepe, Principal-in-Charge of the District Gena Omboy and the strong commitment of the two ALS implementers, Joel Octao and Ariel Semense, this vision was realized on February 23-25, 2022 through project ArMAS or the Arnis Martial Arts Strategies, a self-defense training, which part of the ALS learners skills development.
Arnis is a martial art which is basically known as stick fighting. It involves striking with the cane, blocking, twirling and thrusting. The style of striking the cane is patterned on holding a bladed weapon, but going deeper into its nature, it is using anything to defend yourself from your opponent with your hand as the main instrument and anything you hold as its extension.
Arnis is derived from the Spanish word Arnes which means to harness. It is embedded deep in the history of Philippine fighting arts which was also used by our ancestors in liberating our country against local or foreign invaders. Many Filipino warriors were experts of this art which was anciently known as Kali who used bolos, the wavy kris and the heavily bladed kampilans in battle. During the Spanish colonization, Kali was banned by the Spanish government in fear that the Filipinos would enhance their skills and lead to revolting against them. To keep the flame of this martial art burning, our ancestors replaced the using of blades into sticks and that is how Arnis found its way to survive and later proclaimed as our national Sport. In later years, it became an official sport in the South East Asian Games and our Filipino athletes gained fame for being undisputed champions in tourneys domestic or abroad.
Many learners, as well as Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs), participated in the said event with the opening day blessed with supportive regional and division staff in the person of CLMD Chief, Dr. Eugene Penales and ZDS ALS focal person Dr. Sandy Albarico. The training went smoothly and the participants learned the basic ways of striking with utmost accuracy and speed after repeated practice. During the second day, learners were taught basic blocks followed by learning combination strikes which involves dealing multiple strikes at short, medium and long distance. Day two ended with excellent performances from the learners. The repeated drill showed their eagerness to improve their skills and dedication to the craft even against adversity.
Third day lessons included disarming techniques. Participants learned how to subdue an opponent even while empty-handed. This lesson is the core of the training since a person cannot carry sticks along with him all the time. Throughout the course of the training, the learners visibly adapted and improved their skills techniques and their trainer was confident that should they be attacked with speed similar to a real attack they could defend themselves with ease.
In the closing program, the participants were given time to demonstrate their newly acquired fighting skills. Spectators were amazed that in only three days, they could already perform all the basic and disarming techniques required to subdue an armed opponent. The training had been smooth sailing and led to a fruitful mentoring of fighting skills. ALS Cluster 2 implementers are hopeful that with their newly acquired skills, learners are now more equipped to find work and to defend themselves or others in times of need.
This training is in keeping with the mantra that in “ALS, laging may pag- asa” as implementers commit to continually motivate learners to gain new skills and aid them to rise above poverty and succeed in life.
In photos: Fully vaccinated participants performing Arnis.
(News & photos courtesy of DepEd IX)
