A diverse Philippine contingent will battle fellow eskrimadors from all over the globe as the Mandaue City Sports Commission hosts the Doce Pares World Invitational Championship 2013 on July 27.
The tournament serves as the qualifying tournament for those vying for slots in the national team that will compete in the 2014 World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championships in Debrecen, Hungary next year. Expected to banner the country’s campaign are teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as squads from Davao, General Santos City, Muntinlupa and of course, the local teams from Cebu and Mandaue.
Aside from the hosts, eskrimadors from perennial visitors Reunion Island of France, United States, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Kingdom, South Korea and Australia will also be competing.
“We are giving full support on this sport and martial art since this is ours. We want Mandaue City through the Sports Commission to spearhead the revival of local, national and international arnis tournaments,” said Engr. Gaga Mendoza of the Mandaue City Sports Commission (MCSC).
MCSC is still in the works of finalizing the venue of the tournament.
“If the venue we are eyeing will not materialize then we will showcase the world class Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex, which also got a recent facelift,” said Mendoza, who is also the complex manager. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio