THE ART form known as arnis–also referred to as eskrima or kali–has been at the core of Philippine heritage for centuries. Although unofficially recorded, the origins of arnis date back to the period before the arrival of the Spanish in the Philippines when locals used sticks and bladed weapons in hand-to-hand combat.
Eventually, arnis became a fixture in the Filipino martial arts industry and a staple in the realm of Philippine sports. Over the years, arnisadors from all over the country have expressed their commitment to help the martial art and sport thrive in the country.
However, despite finally receiving formal recognition as the Philippines’ national martial art and sport in 2009, arnis is still often overshadowed by more popular sports in the country. While it does not boast the same prestige other sports enjoy, one of its most decorated programs calls Katipunan its home–the Ateneo College Arnis Varsity Team.
Since 1995, the Ateneo College Arnis Varsity Team has experienced remarkable success driven by members who share passion and dedication to the art of arnis. Nearly 25 years since its establishment, the team has bagged an estimated total of 800 medals across local and international competitions.
Unbreakable commitment
Under the tutelage of Assistant Head Coach Ryan Gialogo, the program is led by a true master. Although this is his first official year as head coach, the blue-blooded arnisador has proven his loyalty throughout the years. “Matagal na talaga. Since 1995 tapos nandito pa rin ako. It’s just really ‘yung passion at gustong tumulong sa team (It’s been a long time. I’ve been here since 1995. It’s really just my passion and desire to help the team),” he says.
Gialogo’s 42-man roster nurtures a special bond. Every member asserts themself towards attaining one similar objective: To grow and emerge victorious. Because arnis matches are contested both individually and in pairs, Men’s Team Captain Iggy Bunag and Women’s Team Captain Alexis Ferreras make sure their teams take responsibility for each member’s development.
“We are bonded together as a unit, like a team should be,” says Ferreras. The Women’s Team Captain reiterated that the bond they have goes deeper than simply being teammates: “If one person may be straying, someone will be there to help pick up the pace and get them back on track. We support each other in a way that a team should.”
Lessons on lessons
Beyond having a support system, each athlete has to make a personal commitment to continuously improve. One value that the team tries to uphold in particular is discipline, something Gialogo identifies as a necessary component in their success: “Importante ang discipline sa lahat ng bagay. Fortunately enough, madaling kausapin ang team and sumusunod sila (Discipline in all aspects is important. Fortunately enough, the team is easy to talk to, and they are obedient).”
Ateneo Arnis alumni and Philippine National Arnis Team member Jordan Cruz confidently attests to the guidance they received while representing the Blue and White. “All the training and discipline that we were taught carry over into the national team. Dedicating all that time and effort was really a fruitful experience,” says Cruz.
Within the current team, Bunag recognizes the potential they have to take the program to new heights and wants them to stay rooted in their genuine appreciation for the art: “I hope for them to grow to love arnis first in order to fully commit themselves for what is to come.”
Growing the game
Although arnis was already recognized as the country’s national sport, it has yet to make its official debut in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The campaign received a big boost after former UAAP President Nilo Ocampo announced that UAAP Season 81 would feature arnis as an exhibition sport. However, participation was sparse from other schools, prompting another trial run slated for Season 82.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak forced the UAAP board to cancel the remainder of the season, thus delaying a potential landmark year for arnis yet again. In spite of this, athletes remain hopeful for a robust league in the future. Current roster member and silver medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Jude Rodriguez serves in the UAAP Arnis secretariat pool and cites the efforts being made to grow the sport. “What we’re doing right now is reaching out to more schools [to establish their own arnis program],” says Rodriguez.
Gialogo stresses that apart from looking forward to the long-awaited arrival of arnis in the UAAP, he wants to acknowledge what Ateneo Arnis has already accomplished. “I’m happy for the athletes, ‘yung mga students. The fact is our students have gone toe-to-toe with professionals, at proud talaga kami doon (I’m happy for the athletes, my students. The fact is our students have gone toe-to-toe with professionals, and we’re proud of that),” says Gialogo.
He also maintains that having a positive outlook for the future and applying the lessons he aims to instill is crucial for their development, regardless of arnis’ fate as a collegiate sport. “Ang palagi kong sinasabi sa kanila is the three Ps: Preserve, promote and propagate. Pagkatapos ng lahat, ‘yan ang end goal (I always remind them about the three Ps: Preserve, promote and propagate. After all, that is the end goal),” he states.
Although the sport’s current state leaves a lot of room for growth in terms of public support, the Ateneo College Arnis Varsity Team continues to hope that arnis’ entry into the UAAP will finally provide it with the recognition it rightfully deserves. In the meantime, the team will continue letting their successes speak louder than words.
ERRATUM: In an earlier version of the article, Assistant Head Coach Ryan Gialogo was incorrectly cited as the Head Coach of the Ateneo College Arnis Varsity Team. Furthermore, the Ateneo College Arnis Varsity Team was mistakenly referred to as the Ateneo Arnis Team. The article has since been edited to rectify these errors. We apologize for the oversight.
