09/04/2019
Maraming Salamat po!
Pugay po!
I have to say...this weekend's 1st PEKAF World Invitational has been the most well-run tournament I've ever been to. The best and most professional officiating I've ever seen. And the tournament ran like clockwork, and like a bullet train, never missing a beat. The time between matches in many cases was less than a minute! Referees were very watchful and firm with the rules on pushing and holding in the live stick matches. In the padded stick point-sparring, points were judged instantly, the action barely stopping for a split-second. Wow. Great job!
Much credit to PEKAF Vice President and the Tournament Director, Master Gerald Canete from Doce Pares HQ. I got a chance to speak with him over a cup of coffee during the lunch break (which happened at precisely the time it was scheduled to) and he shared his vision of PEKAF as a world-class organization with world-class officiating and organization. It's safe to say that his vision was on full display this weekend, and that PEKAF is in capable hands and already living up to its mission to be the nation's premier Arnis federation.
PEKAF's mission of fairness, inclusiveness, and good sportsmanship was also on full display. You could really feel the happy mood in the air at Sky Hall. The players were all excited to be there, all smiles before, during and after the matches, and the spectators were joyously cheering on their teams, lots of fun team chants. There wasn't a hint of rivalry in the air. It was a beautiful thing! I leave the tournament with a great sense of optimism for the sport of Arnis, for its popularity in its home country of the Philippines, and the sense of national unity and pride it is inspiring.
And I think that may be the best, last word for my review of this, the 1st PEKAF World Invitational: inspiring.
Mabuhay!