Doce Pares supreme grandmaster Dionisio Cañete and the rest of his organization are set to welcome more than 200 competitors from all over the world in the 4th Doce Pares World Congress and Invitational Tournament that will kick off on July 21 at the SM City Cebu.
Cañete, along with the different officials and fighters of Doce Pares including his son Gerald Cañete, graced the weekly SCOOP Forum at the Baseline Restaurant yesterday, where they underlined the activities in the upcoming event.
Sixteen countries have already given the go-signal to participate and compete, including the USA, Indonesia, England, Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Greece, Korea, Belgium, Holland, Australia, France, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The 4th Doce Pares World Congress and Invitational Tournament, which is co-presented by the Cebu City Sports Commission and sponsored Cebu Grand Hotel, Quantum Prosys and New Susing’s Guitar and supported by Cebu Fish Spa and Bisdak.tv, will also see local participants from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Doce Pares Manila, Arnis Philippines and various Cebu-based eskrima clubs.
A dinner will welcome the participants on July 21 while the 4th Doce Pares World Congress will be held the following morning at the SM City Cebu Conference Room. In the afternoon, all participating countries will perform various Filipino martial arts skills and techniques in the International Eskrimadors Festival while Sayaw or Forms competition will follow.
On July 23, sparring competitions will be held at the SM City Trade Hall and it will be open to the public.
The competition will adapt a knockout format with classes ranging from juniors, seniors, 40-above, men and women’s 18-39 as well as a special division for kids.