MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.net/ 30 May 2025)— Northern Mindanao’s young arnisadors dominated the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, clinching the overall championship in the Filipino martial arts.
The region bagged 9 gold medals across various arnis categories in the elementary and secondary divisions.
Also known as kali, eskrima, or simply FMA, arnis is rooted in the ancient times, surviving the Spanish colonial ban through underground practice and the guise of dances.
Palaro’s arnis, a tightly controlled art
Taught for decades in elementary and high school PE classes, it was only recognized as the national sport in 2009. And due to its “deathly” potential, FMA has been used in training the country’s special forces as well as foreign ones like the US and Russia, to name a few.
For the Palaro, where arnis falls under two major categories—Anyo and Full Contact—the mechanics are tightly controlled. For anyo categories, arnisadors were given the following options for weapons: metallic unbladed replica of a bladed weapon (such as sword and dagger), wooden replica of a bladed weapon, or wooden sticks.
In full contact categories, fighters were only allowed to use padded sticks. They’re also required to wear head gears, padded suits, hand and arm guards, hand gloves, groin protectors, leg guards, and rubber footwear.
Excessive or purposeless contact such as attacking the opponent’s injuries, back of the head, throat, and groin and attacking an opponent about to surrender could lead to disqualification.
9-year-old Shayne Mark Monreal is the most bemedaled Normin arnisador with 4 gold in this year's Palaro.Northern Mindanao’s arnis legacy
The DepEd Region 10’s online post regarding this win, reads: “This is not just a victory—this is a legacy in the making.”
Of the Normin arnisadors, 9-year-old Shayne Mark Monreal of the Initao Central School in Misamis Oriental hauled the most gold. Coached by Jorilyn Rasonabe, he bagged four gold medals in synchronized likha anyo single weapon, double weapon, likha anyo espada y daga, and mixed double weapon in the elementary boys division.
The regional team was also coached by Deo Emmanuel Villamor, Ronell Duran, and Ellen Cinco.
Here are the winners:
🥇Gold
Elementary Individual Double Baston: Euricka Gayle Tictic (Malaybalay)
Elementary Mixed Duo: Kaitlyn Quijano and Shayne Mark Montreal (Misamis Oriental)
Elementary Boys – Synchronized Espada Y Daga (sword and dagger): Jhon Michael Espina (Iligan), Shayne Mark Monreal and Ryann John Otom (MisOr)
Elementary Boys – Synchronized Single Weapon: Jhon Michael Espina, Shayne Mark Monreal, and Ryann John Otom (MisOr)
Elementary Boys – Synchronized Double Weapon: Jhon Michael Espina (Iligan City), Shayne Mark Monreal, and Ryann John Otom (MisOr)
Secondary Boys- Synchronized Espada y Daga: John Blaze Sandoval, Vladimir Motia, and James Custodio III (MisOr)
Secondary Boys-Synchronized Single Weapon: John Blaze Sandoval, Vladimir Motia, and James Custodio III (MisOr)
Secondary Boys-Synchronized Double Weapon: Sherwin Medel, Denmark Arevalo, James Custodio III (MisOr)
🥈Silver
Elementary Girls Individual Espada y Daga: Olga Mae Saladaga (Iligan)
Elementary Girls Synchronized Likha Anyo (Single Weapon): Stephane Jane Montefalcon, Kaitlyn Quijano, and Olga Mae Saladaga
Elementary Boys Individual Likha Anyo Double Weapon: Jhon Michael A. Espina (Iligan)
🥉Bronze
Secondary Girls – Full contact (Bantamweight): Daryn Carampil (Malaybalay)
Secondary Girls – Sparring (Pin Weight): Hertzen Agpalo (Lanao del Norte)
Secondary Girls – Synchronized Single Weapon: Hertzen Agpalo (LDN), Anne Margarette Butanas (Iligan), Sharmain Kate Gamal (MisOr)