Di ka nag-iisa

Hindi na malungkot si Roland Dantes sa kanyang pagsuporta sa minamahal niyang arnis. Tahimik siyang nagtratrabaho upang maging bahagi ng physical education program ang arnis, at nalulungkot na hindi kumikilos ang national sports association na Arnis Philippines (ARPI).

Subalit ngayon, may mga makapangyarihang nangako ng tulong sa kanyang pakay.

Ang dating national athlete na si Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri ang may-akda ng Senate Bill 1424, “An Act Declaring Arnis as the Philippine National Sport”. Sa isang pahinang mungkahi, pinaliwanag ni Zubiri na “It is the policy of the State to inculcate patriotism, nationalism and the appreciation of national heroes and symbols in the historical development of the country.”

“Modern arnis is now also recognized as a distinct focus of martial arts, side by side with karate, judo, taekwondo and the like, here and abroad,” dagdag ng Senate Majority Leader. “But the leadership of arnis, under Raymond Velayo, has not done anything in along time, and it’s time the sport was given to fresh, young minds who want to make a difference. You can quote me on that.”

Sang-ayon si bagong Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping.

“There has to be a change in arnis; nothing is happening,” dagdag ng dating kongresista. “That is my mandate from the president, to make sure the NSA’s are performing their job. We should hand sports over to those who will develop them and make them grow.”

Kung maisabatas ang panukala ni Zubiri, ang arnis ay magiging bahagi ng simbolo ng PSC.

“Nakakataba ng puso na maraming nagmamahal din sa arnis tulad ko, “ sabi ni Dantes, isang Hall of Famer sa bodybuilding at martial arts.

“It doesn’t feel like such a lonely battle anymore.”

Ayon kay Zubiri, naging matagumpay na ang mga iba-ibang nagtuturo ng kali, escrima at arnis, kaya ang hamon ngayon ay muli silang pag-isahin.

“What has happened is all these schools have already become so successful in their own right, and even have their own international competitions,” sabi ng mambabatas. “We want to recognize all of them. No one art is better than the other. Let’s all work together.”

Sa ngayon, inaprubahan na ni Department of Interior and Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno ang pagdaos ng pagsasanay sa arnis para sa 20,000 barangay tanod, dahil baston naman talaga ang tangi nilang dalang sandata.

Nararamdaman na ni Roland Dantes ang alon ng pagbabago.