After dominant campaign, Arnis bets get Disney trip

Mary Allin Aldeguer gets the gold medal in the women’s anyo on-Traditional in the 30th SEA Games 2019 Arnis Competition held in Angeles City, Pampanga, on December 3, 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

NEW CLARK CITY—The Philippine arnis team went above and beyond its promise. And for its effort, the 50-strong members earned themselves a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland where, after training their hearts out for flag and country, they can be “kids again.”

“I want them to be kids again, we’ll have fun; get all the training out of their minds and then we train again,” said an ecstatic Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, the president of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation.

The Philippines garnered 14 golds, four silvers and two bronzes as all 20 members of Team A got a medal in the three-day competitions at Angeles University Foundation.

“We contributed 25 percent of the total golds of Team Philippines in the last three days,” Zubiri said.

Crisamuel Delfin and Mary Allin Aldeguer scooped the last two golds for the Philippines Tuesday, winning the men’s and women’s anyo non-traditional weapons golds, respectively.

Of the 20 golds disputed, the Philippines carted away 14, while Vietnam got four, and Cambodia and Myanmar one each.

Zubiri said he’s flying to Vietnam with Philippine Olympic Committee president, Rep. Bambol Tolentino, to “cement the deal” that arnis is included in the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games.

The senator is pushing for regular inclusion of arnis in the biennial meet. But to attain that, the sport has to be played in three successive SEA Games.

Zubiri said the country is once again hosting a big tournament, the World Championships in July in Cebu City. INQ