Pencak silat artists hope more Filipinos recognize their sport

Pencak silat medalists said they hope that more Filipinos recognize their sport.

Recently, Filipinos have bagged Pencak silat medals in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games and Asian Pencak silat championships in India. 

Just a week ago, the Philippines bagged four medals from the World Women's Martial Arts Festival held in the country. One of them was Mary Francine Padios, who won a gold medal in the Hanoi SEA Games.

"Sa kalaban ko at ako, pare-pareho lang galaw namin. 'Yung kaibahan lang is the way namin gawin yung art. Kung saan puwede maging matigas, puwedeng malambot. Depende sa amin 'yun na artist. At the same time, nagkakaiba kami ng way to deliver strikes," Padios said in Chino Trinidad's report on 24 Oras on Monday.

With the recognition the team is getting, they only have one wish for the sport.

"Mas dadami pa talaga 'yung silat na players kasi sa ngayon konti pa lang... na makilala talaga ang sports namin," Jessa dela Cruz, part of the regu team said.

The Women's Martial Arts Festival was organized by the Philippine Sports Commission itself and during its closing, PSC Commissioner Bong Coo said it was a testament that women were into martial arts.

"It was very successful. We had 628 athletes who participated, and we were able to show that a lot of women are into martial arts. This was also an opportunity to encourage more women to participate in these sports and learn to defend themselves,’’ said Coo.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News