Fourteenth Congress
Third Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand nine.
REPUBLIC ACT No. 9850
AN ACT DECLARING ARNIS AS THE NATIONAL MARTIAL ART AND SPORT 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. Definition of Arnis. – Arnis, also known as Eskrima, Kali, Garrote and other names in various regional languages, such as Pananandata in Tagalog; Pagkalikali, Ibanag; Kabaraon and Kalirongan, Pangasinan; Kaliradman, Bisaya; and Didja, Ilokano, is an indigenous Filipino martial art and sport characterized by the use of swinging and twirling movements, accompanied by striking, thrusting and parrying techniques for defense and offense. This is usually done with the use of one (1) or two (2) sticks or any similar implements or with bare hands and feet also used for striking, blocking, locking and grappling, with the use of the same principle as that with the canes.
Section 3. Arnis is hereby declared as the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport.lawphil The official adoption of arnis as the national martial art and sport shall be promulgated by inscribing the symbol of arnis in the official seal of the Philippine Sports Commission and by making it as the first sport competition to be played by participating teams on the first day in the annual Palarong Pambansa. The Philippine Sports Commission shall be the lead agency to implement the provisions of this Act.
Section 4. The Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Sports Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Section 5. Any provision of law, decree, executive order, rule or regulation in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of this Act is hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJUAN PONCE ENRILE
President of the Senate
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3288 and House Bill No. 6516 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on October 14, 2009.
MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP
Secretary General House of RepresentativesEMMA LIRIO-REYES
Secretary of the Senate
Approved: DEC. 11, 2009
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
RA 9850 Timeline
Here’s the official document of the Philippine Senate on the action done on the passage of R.A. 9850 otherwise known as the Arnis Law. Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF), Inc. Chairman and President Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri headed the Sub Committee to hear R.A. 9850 (Arnis Law). The Senator prepared the Committee Report and sponsored it on the floor up to its eventual passage on 3rd Reading. Sen. MIGZ Zubiri handled the Bicameral Panel and sponsored the Bicameral Report that finally became the Law.
