In 2009, then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9850 declaring
arnis as the national martial art and sport of the Philippines. Aside from directing the Department of Education to include
arnis as a Physical Education course, the sport will be included among the priority events in
Palarong Pambansa (National Games) starting 2010.
Training for
arnis involves the use of a pair of rattan sticks, each about 28 inches in length. Way back in 2005, I recall buying a pair in Manila's Quiapo district for sixty pesos. However, I still have not learned the essentials of
arnis, so the sticks have not yet served the purpose:
