Philippine arnis squad cops 2 golds in World martial arts

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine arnis team flashed top form and bagged two gold, four silver and four bronze medals in three major competitions of the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU) and UNESCO recently.

Tinelle Palecpec topped the 50-60kg division with Hannah Donato claiming the silver in the third Thang-Ta Championship held in Korea while Daniel Bernas ruled the men’s 65-70kg in the first International Jang Sa’nati tournament as they led the Filipinos’ campaign in the event that drew fighters from India, Uzbekistan, Russia, Korea and Cambodia.

Other silver medalists for Team Phl were Allan Valencia (60-67kg), Ryan Bermase (85-90kg) and Jeff Tan (80-85kg) while Daniel Bernas (60-70kg), Tan (80-90kg), John Donato (60-64kg) and Master Ryan Gialogo (85-90kg) took home bronze medals.

The team, led by Master Richard Gialogo, also the vice president of WoMAU and delegation head for the Philippines, and head coach Master Ryan Gialogo, also received a special award in the martial arts demonstration contest.

In the main event of the festival, the International Martial Arts Contest (IMAC), hosted by WoMAU and the local government union of Chungju, the Phl tandem of Master Ryan Gialogo and Valencia made it to the top eight in a field of 20.

Bernas also finished in the top eight out of 28 performers in the single person weapons exhibition category.