To compete in the World Arnis Open, this Friday, August 13, more than 30 Arnis masters from around the world will gather. Already, at Manila, Philippines many international figures are arriving, where the competition will be held from Friday through Sunday.
At the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, the competitions will take place in Pasay City, Manila. PCKEAM (Philippine Council of Kali Escrima Arnis Masters) has staged the event and it is sponsored by Smart, Stix, and Harbour Centre.
With finals being held on Saturday morning, on Friday, a nation open will take place. That afternoon, winners of the Saturday finals will go onto fight foreign masters. The stage of the last finals will be on Sunday.
There will also be exhibitions for spectators to watch and enjoy, on top of the competition.
The former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a bill into law making Arnis the official sport and martial arts of the Philippines in December of 2009. In the Philippines, all schools now have to teach arnis.
Rey Dominguez, the director of the tournament says that he hopes this event (The World Arnis Open) will help bring popularity of the sport back to the Filipinos. Philippine Star, Dominguez expressed his appreciation at finding sponsors who are willing to help them reintroduce the sport to their countrymen, in a newspaper article.
