Doce Pares turns 80, elects officers

DOCE Pares announced the celebration of its 80th anniversary today.

The event will be participated by martial artists from, at least, 15 countries.

It will start at 6 p.m. at the Cacoy Doce Pares World Eskrima Federation headquarters on C. Padilla Street, Cebu City.

Supreme Grand Master Ciriaco “Cacoy” Cañete will lead the activities, including a dinner at 7 p.m. and eskrima and pangamot demonstrations and sparring and kata presentations until 9 p.m. by the students and members of Doce Pares club from Cebu, Germany, Reunion Island in France, Costa Rica and Australia.

The highlight of the celebration is the oath-taking of the new officers of Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima World Federation for 2012, with Cebu South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña as the inducting officer.

The new officers are Cacoy Cañete, president; lawyer Amorito Cañete, executive vice president; Catherine Knight, vice president for foreign affairs; Dennis Cañete, vice president for local affairs; lawyer Bienvenido Jaban, secretary; Ben Gonzales, treasurer; Abigail Mejorado, auditor; Gloria Cañete, Gabriel Malagar and Bobby Inoferio, public relations officers; Chuck Cañete, operations director; John John Mac, training director; Omar Paulo, sports director; Levi Mejorado, events director and Leah Sedoriosa, administrative officer.

The supreme grand master also announced that the club has lined up various projects for June this year, including the 3rd Doce Pares hall of fame awards, international martial arts seminar and the 2012 World Eskrima/Arnis Championships.

Already in his early 90s, Cacoy still leads the pack of his senior instructors, as he passes on his expertise in Doce Pares eskrima to them.