Lapid offers victorious PH arnis players film lead roles

Philippine Arnis Team and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri

MANILA, Philippines — As the Senate commended the Philippine Arnis Team for its “resounding victory” at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Senator Lito Lapid offered the winning players lead roles in the second installment of a 1986 film he starred in.

In a manifestation on Monday, his first under the 18th Congress, Lapid commended and congratulated the Philippine Arnis Team for reaping medals at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“Nais ko lang pong susugan ang sinabi ng aking mga colleagues na sina Senator (Joel) Villanueva, lalo na ang aking kasamahan (Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri),” Lapid said.

Before this, Villanueva sponsored on the floor Senate Resolutions No. 251 and 252 which commended and congratulated Zubiri and the Philippine National Team for Arnis for its “resounding victory” at the SEA Games as it bagged a total of 20 medals during the competition.

Zubiri is the president of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation.

“Kung natatandaan siguro ano, congressman palang siya (Zubiri) sa Lower House, siya po ang nag-sponsor ng batas na ito (Republic Act No. 9850) at ako naman po sa senado, ako rin ang nag-ano dito,” Lapid went on.

Republic Act No. 9850 declared Arnis as the national martial art and sport of the Philippines.

“Ten years na po ang nakaraan—December 11, 2009, kaya tamang tama po, sampung taon ang Arnis ay nagkaroon ng gold medal—labing-apat na ginto, apat na silver, dalawang bronze medal,” he added.

Lapid then recalled a movie he starred in titled “Kamagong” which featured him as an “arnisador.”

“May bumubulong kanina sa akin dahil ang ginawa kong pelikula ay iyong Kamagong. Sabi nila baka gusto kong gawing Part 2, kasi ang natatandaan po nilang dialogue ko doon ay ‘Lumipad ka na parang isang ibon, dumapo ka na parang isang dahon na tuyo sa lupa’,” he said.

“Kaya po iyong lahat ng mga nanalo, umasa kayong gagawin natin iyong Kamagong Part 2. Kayo ang bida! Congratulations sa inyo,” he told members of the Philippine Arnis Team, who were inside the session hall.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also congratulated Zubiri and the team.

“Arnis, first and foremost, is a mind sport, which means one must read the opponent long before he steps into the arena. On this, Migz has done his part,” he said.

“So it comes as no surprise that the Philippine Arnis Team, chaired by the eskrima master from Bukidnon, lorded over their competitors in the current regional games held in our country,” he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senate Sherwin Gatchalian also commended and congratulated Zubiri and players for their performance during the biennial sports meet.

In response, Zubiri thanked his colleagues “for honoring me and the team.”

“It is an honor for me…It means a lot to me that the leadership and my peers recognize what we have dine but All what I have done is nothing as compared to what the players had done,” he added.

The Philippine Arnis Team bagged 14 gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals across the live stick, distaff, padded stick, and anyo categories in the 30th SEA Games.