Rizal Technological University reaped 13 golds including nine silvers and six bronze medals besting other squads to rule the 1st National Inter-Collegiate Arnis Championship held recently at the CCDC Gym.
University of Baguio saved the day for local squads snatching five golds, five silvers and three bronze medals to finish the one day tournament featuring 16 collegiate squads as far as Mindoro and Cebu.
Cebu Normal University scored three gold medals and took home two bronze medals for a decent third place finish with Pablo’s Kali taking home two golds and two bronze medals to barge into the top four of the padded and live stick sparring event.
Meanwhile, Philippine Air Force showed their might as it grabbed 12 gold medals, 11 silvers, and 14 bronze in topping the 2024 Panagbenga Festival Invitational Arnis Encounter at the Easter College on March 3.
Urdaneta City piped Galvan Arnis Team for the second place finish.
Both have identical seven gold medals but it was Urdaneta who took the second place honors after winning eight silvers and six bronze medals with Galvan taking home three silvers and two bronze medals.
Event organizers Leonardo Cariño, Baguio Councilor Vladmir Cayabas, Rodini Buyogan, and Randy Dagdagen said both tournaments were supervised by the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation in cooperation with the National Institute of Information Technology and the City Government of Baguio.
Cariño said the participation of collegiate teams from different regions underscored the growing interest and investment in Arnis at the grassroots level with the competition not only providing a competitive platform for budding arnisadors but also fostered camaraderie and sportsmanship among participants.
The two tournaments, added Cariño, also served as a platform to exchange knowledge, and celebrate Filipino martial arts heritage with every participant embracing the opportunity to learn from one another, sharing techniques and strategies that reflected the depth and diversity of Arnis. Roderick Osis
