AFP, ANGELES CITY, PhilippinesTo the untrained eye, arnis — the stick-wielding martial art of the Philippines — is brutal and frenzied, but behind the chaos lies a tradition dating back hundreds of years. Filipino arnisadors are fiercely proud of their country and of the sport that symbolizes their spirit of battle and revolution. “We consider this the martial art of Lapu-Lapu,” said Philippine Senator Miguel Zubiri, who is president of the Philippines Arnis Federation. At the SEA Games, men and women from just four nations — the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam — fought in bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions. They are on course to repeat the feat, as the SEA Games’ program is flexible and events can be included in the hosts’ favor.
