A GROUP of Filipino martial arts clubs from around Ireland and beyond are set to host a charity seminar, aimed at raising money to aid vulnerable women and children in the country where their fight-form developed.
The proceeds of the event will go to Philippines-based charity organisation, The People’s Recovery, Empower-ment, Development Assistance Foundation (Preda), which is headed by Irish priest Fr Shay Cullen.
Preda was established by Fr Cullen in 1974 to help deal with the thousands of victims of abuse, torture and military oppression in the aftermath of the Marcos martial law regime.
Dun Laoghaire-born Cullen has been working in the Philippines ever since and in 1982 uncovered and exposed a huge child sex ring that involved the selling of children to the US military, stationed at a base in the city of Olongapo. His efforts later secured him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
A spokesperson for the event said the charity was a worthy one: “Its main goal and purpose is to promote and protect the dignity and the human rights of the Filipino people, especially of women and children.”
Filipino martial artists from Warriors Escrima, Doces Pares, Lescima, Atienza Kali, Kailis Illustrismo and Sayoc Kai will be instructing on the various facets of the intricate Asian fight style from 11am until 6pm on 14 October in Molesworth Hall, Molesworth Place, Dublin 2 (behind St Anne’s Church on Dawson St).
The event spokesperson continued: “All instructors have kindly donated their time and St Anne’s have donated the use of the hall.”
There is a wide range of styles and variations in the Filipino martial arts, collectively referred to as escrima, and an instructor from each group will teach a different aspect of their system.
All practitioners seeking to take part must be over 16 years of age and tickets cost 30 euro each. For more information contact Shane at 086 364 0643.
