Pinoy artists claim 11 golds in World martial arts tourney
The Philippine arnis team racked up 11 gold medals in various competitions with Daniel Bernas and Leo Marquez coming through with two apiece in the World Martial Arts Festival in Chungju City, South Korea recently.
Bernas and Marquez both topped the Jang San’ati and Thang-ta divisions to lead the Nationals’ gold medal romp in the event hosted by the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU) and UNESCO.
The Kali Arnis Martial Arts Organization (KAMAO), the official member organization to WoMAU, in cooperation with the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF), fielded in a team of 11 delegates to represent the country and its national martial art and sport of Arnis under the supervision of delegation heads Master Richard Gialogo and Master Ryan Gialogo.
The Filipinos vied in the International Martial Arts Competition, the third Ultimate Warrior Contest, the second International Jang Sanati Championship, and the third International Thang-ta Championship.
Other gold medalists were Tinelle Palecpec (Thang-ta), Ryan Gialogo (Jang San’ati), Ronaldo Baxafra (Jang San’ati), Crisanto Pasindo (Jang San’ati), Jordan Cruz (Jang San’ati), Jude Rodriguez (Jang San’ati) and Ronilon Villeno (Jang San’ati).
The Phl also bagged eight gold medals in the second International Jang San’ati Championship (Full-Contact Sparring), logged two individual popularity awards in the third Ultimate Warriors Contest (Athletic Demonstration) and placed fifth in the Duo Exhibition Category of the International Martial Arts Competition (Exhibition).
The Filipinos also copped three golds, four silvers and two bronzes and the team placed second overall in the third International Thang-ta Championship (Full-Contact Sparring).
Backing the national arnis team’s participation are Smart Communications Inc., the Philippine Sports Commission, the Kali Arnis Martial Arts Organization, the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation, the Chungju local government along with the friends and family of the delegation members.