The one-year countdown to the country’s campaign in the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games begins this week as the Philippine Sports Commission spearheads the staging of the first ever Women’s Martial Arts Festival at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Nine events and two demonstration sports will comprise the Nov. 12 to 17 meet to be held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Commissioner Bong Coo mentioned in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday that events to be played in the six-day meet include pencak silat, wrestling, sambo, karate, muaythai, kickboxing, taekwondo, jui-jitsu, and kurash, with judo and arnis – the country’s national sports—serving as demonstration sports.
“Since the country will be participating in the AIMAG in 2023, our theme will be 365 days countdown before (the event). So that’s one year before,” said the legendary Filipina bowler and now sports commissioner on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex ground floor.
“So ang mga sports na included sa (Martial Arts) festival ay ‘yung mga lalaruin sa AIMAG in 2023.”
The sixth edition of the AIMAG kicks off on Nov. 17 next year in the capital city of Bangkok and province of Chonburi. It was twice postponed in 2021 and 2022, respectively, due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Martial Arts Festival is set to open at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, with PSC Chairman Noli Eala gracing the affair to deliver an inspirational talk.
Part of the program is a demonstration performance by the Philippine arnis team.
“We hope we can get Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (for the awarding ceremony). We’ve already sent an invitation for him to grace the occasion,” said Coo of Zubiri, who is chairman and president of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation.
The event is the first project of Coo with the PSC, where her main advocacy is to strengthen sports programs for women.
“Iniisip kasi nila na kapag kababaihan, hindi puwede ang martial arts,” said the four-time World Cup champion in the same face-to-face Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
“Marami kaming plano for women sports kasi ang objective ko talaga is to increase the participation of women, hindi lang sa mga atleta pero pati na rin sa mga coaches, technical officials and administration.”
At the same time, the festival could also serve as talent search for the grassroots programs of the National Sports Associations (NSAs) involved, and training and exposures for their athletes as they prepare for the various major international tournaments to be held in what would be a busy 2023 for Philippine sports.
Coo said if successful, a second staging of the event would be held by next year.