From the eye of the Westerners and the Europeans, we look cool with our tatoos, head gears, colorful embroidered chalikos, bling-bling ornaments and of course the package is not complete without the Kriss.
Imagine someone wearing like these and posing in men's fashion magazine. Isn't it cool?
Further, I remembered reading one article before that during the Spanish occupation, any native weapon is banned. Hence, to keep their passion and skills of sword fighting, the natives of Cebu and Bohol keep up the tradition by replacing it with sticks and called the new artform "Eskerima". It became popular as a form of dance during fiestas and later evolved into what is now called "doce - pares" means "twelve pairs" because there are 12 pairs of steps as the basic. It looks like martial arts, but it is a choreographed traditional dance with 12 steps as basic.
This artform is handed down from generation to generation and until now it is still practiced in Cebu and some parts in Bohol. The last teacher of this artform is "Kikoy" from Cebu who established a school and now flourished that this artform is recognized internationally.
When I was a kid, I've seen one in Baclayon, I forgot his name. He is an old man and he will stand balancing on 2 coconut shells and challenge you to a stick fight. He will say, OK if you can hit my body or topple me from where I stand (2 coconut shells), you will become a master. My friend tried hitting him hard and fast, but all his blows are intercepted with great speed and that old man have good balance.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=11406.0