Eskrima? Kali Arnis? Have you ever heard about this? Arnis is actually the national sport in the country. It is not basketball, football, boxing or billiards. Did you know that there is such a thing as the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF)? The WEKAF recently held a world championship for this martial arts discipline in Cebu. The over-all champion is the Philippines but only very few people were able to witness the event.
While students were sometimes required to watch their college teams in collegiate basketball tournaments, I never saw any students required to at least support the Philippine team in their quest for a "world championship". The sport should be propagated to the local level. Philip Juico even mentioned that the sport is gaining more popularity abroad than locally. It is hard to fathom that only a few filipinos know how to use those sticks.
With the implementation of the K+12 program, I think Arnis could be a good required subject for PE classes. It is time for the government to create more awareness about this sport. Here some other good ideas to promote the sport:
1. Sponsor a telenovela that will have a protagonist who is proficient in Arnis. Just imagine Coco Martin with double sticks giving some punishment to some villains.
2. In the May 2013, a senatorial candidate could make a commercial that he is going to destroy corruption and other social evils using an Arnis stick. Imagine Migz Zubiri showing his stick fighting skills in a campaign commercial.
3. Have a new reality show about arnis where the winner gets 1 million pesos. People earn more by just staying at a house for 100 days or an island in 40 days. Why not make a show that has a better cultural relevance like an arnis show. Calling channel 5!
4. Look for a handsome Fil-Am to be the next arnis star athlete and spokesperson. Football have the Younghusbands. Rugby has some cute "Volcanoes". Time to seek a new sports hero.
5. Invite actors to take on the sport. Derek Ramsey has frisbee. Goma had rowing and fencing. A few are taking on running and triathlon. Imagine the image reinvention if Piolo Pascual will represent the Philippines in the 2014 World Championships in Hungary.
How about you? Do you have any smart ideas on promoting the sport?
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