Our embassy in Greece promotes arnis as Philippine National Martial Art
In promoting arnis as the Philippine national martial art and sport, the Philippine Embassy in Athens conducted an introduction and demonstration of Arnis late last month via zoom and in person at the Philippine Embassy.
The event was led online by Philippine-based coach Ronald Farol, an accredited technical official of the Philippine Eskrima and Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) and coach of the Cambodia Arnis Team. The in-person participants at the embassy were guided by Arden Poblete, an arnis coach based in Greece and founder/instructor of the Kalidu International Association Inc. in Greece.
Historical accounts trace the origins of arnis back to the Pintados, the tattooed warriors of the Visayas in pre-colonial Philippines.
The activity was attended by some members of the Filipino community, embassy personnel led by Philippine ambassador to Greece Giovanni E. Palec, with first secretary and consul Therese Cantada, and PDMW-OWWA personnel led by Labatt Cynthia Cruz. The Greek instructors from Modern Kalidu Arnis guided the in-person participants with the basic moves and techniques of arnis.
Ambassador Palec welcomed the participants and encouraged them to pursue the sport as it develops self-control and discipline and can also be used for self-defense. It also promotes the culture of the Filipinos.
Arnis is already known to some Greeks through the Kalidu Modern Arnis group, which was founded by Poblete. The embassy plans to introduce and promote arnis further in forthcoming activities.
The participants enjoyed the arnis session, after which they were later treated to a simple meal of pancit, chicken, and coffee.
Photos courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Athens