City officials recently commended and congratulated the Baguio athletes who actively participated in the Philippine Eskrima Kali-Arnis Federation (PEKAF) Battle of the Champions on February 24-26, 2023 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Metro Manila.
In a resolution authored by Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, local legislators stated that the local government is proud to commend the city’s athletes and coaches for showing excellence and sportsmanship in their field which had brought tremendous pride and honor to the city.
The Philippine Eskrima Kali-Arnis Federation Battle of the Champions aims to determine the athletes who will compose the next Philippine national team that will be competing in future competitions.
The event was actively participated in by athletes from the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, particularly those who championed from their respective regional selections.
Further, all winners in the said event will automatically be part of the Philippine national team to represent the country in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Three athletes from the University of Baguio (UB) and one athlete from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) bagged first places in their respective categories making them officially recognized as part of the Philippine national team, particularly Ezekyl Habig, padded point 18-45 years old, male, 48.1-52 kilogram category; Rod Hedrick Mendoza, padded point 18-45 years old, male, 55.1-60 kilogram category; Mark John Niel Pineda, sayaw 18-45 years old, male, double stick musical; and Fitzel Leal, single stick 18-45 years old, female, 70.1-79 kilogram category.
Other Baguio athletes who excelled in their respective categories included Angeline Datuin, second place: padded point, 18-45 years old, female, 52.1-57 kilogram category; third place, sayaw, 18-45 years old, female, single stick musical; fourth place: sayaw, 18-45 years old, female, single stick traditional category; Danilo Chupag, third place: padded point, 18-45 years old, male, 60.1-66 kilogram category; Christine Mae Bartolome, 4 place, sayaw, 18-45 years old, female, double stick musical category; fifth place, padded point 18-45 years old, female, 41.1-52 kilogram category; and Edelyn Agham, fifth place, padded point 18-45 years old, female, 56=63 kilogram category; fifth place, live stick 18-45 years old, female, 57-63 kilogram category.
Moreover, the athletes who were able to qualify in the Philippine arnis team include Eza Rai Yalong, first place: padded point, female, 57-63 kilogram category; Don Lee Aliga, second place, sayaw, single stick musical; Abegail Abad, third place: padded point, female, 63.1-70 kilogram category; and Elmer Manlapas, third place: padded point, male, 55.1-60 kilogram category.
