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arnisador
11-24-2009, 07:53 PM
From today's Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Bill seeks to make arnis national sport (http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20091124-238098/Bill-seeks-to-make-arnis-national-sport)



Arnis, the Filipino martial art which uses rattan sticks as weapons, is on the verge of being formally declared the Philippines’ national sport.

The House of Representatives has already approved on third and final reading a bill declaring Arnis as the national sport and transmitted it to the Senate where arnis enthusiast, Senator Miguel Zubiri, was expected to take the lead in its approval.


South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr., the main author of House Bill 6516, said arnis deserved to be hailed as the national sport considering that it has evolved as a distinct martial art along with judo karate and taekwondo.


Pingoy said it was about time to elevate arnis considering that it has spawned avid practicioners not only in the Philippines but also in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, among others, where international Arnis federations and organizations have mushroomed.


Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves said that the bill would finally address the "collective sentiment to put arnis in its rightful historical place in the country."


Once enacted into law, Teves said that the arnis symbol would be inscribed as a symbol into the official seal of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and included as one of the official sports in the Palarong Pambansa.

citom
11-25-2009, 08:29 PM
The Bill has passed in the Lower House:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017101949?Philippine%20House%20Passes%20Bill%20Ma king%20Arnis%20The%20National%20Sport


Philippine House Passes Bill Making Arnis The National Sport

November 25, 2009 6:48 p.m. EST

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Topics: World (http://www.allheadlinenews.com/news/World)
Kris Alingod - AHN Contributor
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The Philippine House of Representatives has approved a bill declaring the martial art of arnis, a form of stick fighting, the national sport. The measure has moved to the Senate where it is expected to pass.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/images/cp.gifH. B. 6516 would add to the four official national symbols, none of which, contrary to popular belief, include a national sport or national hero. Sipa, a traditional sport similar to sepak takraw that involves kicking a rattan football, has been called the official sport of the nation despite no law declaring it so.
Apart from the national anthem, flag, official seal, coat-of-arms, and motto prescribed by the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, the nation only has four other official symbols: the sampaguita as the national flower, the nara as the national tree, the Philippine Eagle as the national bird and the Philippine Pearl as the national gem.
And while Jose Rizal is listed in a number of reference materials and even taught in some schools as the national hero, there is in fact no law or proclamation declaring anyone as such, according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
The legislation declaring arnis the national sport would bring recognition to an increasingly popular pastime that was also used by Filipinos to fight invaders during the pre-Spanish period. If enacted, the measure would be promulgated by inscribing the symbol of arnis into the seal of the Philippine Sports Commission.
"There has long been a collective sentiment to put Arnis in its rightful historical place in the country," Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, a co-author of the bill, said in a statement.


Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017101949?Philippine%20House%20Passes%20Bill%20Ma king%20Arnis%20The%20National%20Sport#ixzz0Xv9Nq2C F

citom
11-25-2009, 08:30 PM
Text of the Joint House-Senate Bill:

AN ACT
DECLARING ARNIS AS THE NATIONAL SP0RT OF THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. It is the policy of the State to inculcate patriotism, nationalism
and appreciation of the role of national heroes and symbols in the historical
development of the country. Furthermore, the State must give priority to education.
science and technology, arts and culture, and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.
SECTION 2. Arnis is hereby declared as the Philippine National Sport. Thc
official adoption of arnis as the national sport shall be promulgated by inscribing the
symbol of arnis in the official seal of the Philippine Sports Commission.
SECTION 3. The Department of Education and the Philippine Sports
Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the
provisions of this Act.
SECTION 4. Any provision of law, decree, executive order, rule or regulation
in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of this Act is herebv
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fiheen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.
Approved,

arnisador
11-26-2009, 02:15 AM
Seems like a natural thing to do. Remy Presas would be very happy!