THE 12TH World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (Wekaf) World Championships officially starts with side events at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City and the Eskrima Temple in brgy. Malubog.
A total of 30 counties are being represented in this prestigious event that aims to bring together eskrimadors both in competition and in camaraderie.
Today’s events will start with the World Congress at 11 a.m. at the CICC. At noon, Wekaf will have its civic and social program at the Doce Pares Mountain Training Park called “Wekaf Cares,” that offers free medical and dental services to the residents of brgy. Malubog.
In the afternoon, the delegates will head over to the Eskrima Temple for its formal inauguration as well as the conferment and enshrinement of the 20 grandmasters that helped propagate this unique Filipino martial art led by WEKAF Chairman Emeritus and Supreme Grandmaster Dionisio Cañete. He will be joined by 11 other Filipinos while the rest of the awardees are foreigners.
There will also be a welcome party in the evening at the Amnezia Super Club at the North Reclamation Area, where the prestigious award of Order of Datu Lapu-Lapu will be given to 15 eskrimadors.
Canete will be feted along with his uncle Ciriaco “Noy Cacoy” O. Cañete of Cacoy Doce Pares, Bonifacio “Loloy” Uy of BDU Eskrima Club, Isidro Casio of San Miguel Eskrima Club, Andres “Cano” Cañete of San Miguel Eskrima, Nick Elizar of Nickel Stick Balintawak, Rodrigo Maranga of Eskrima Maranga Kombati, Prudencio “Ondo” Caburnay of Lapunti Eskrima de Abaniko, Felix “Tenciong” Gutang of Doce Pares, Pacito Velez of Balintawak International, and Alfredo Carin of Carin Eskrima Club.
The competition proper starts tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the CICC with Team Philippines raring to snatch the crown away from reigning overall champion Team USA. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio