RIYADH, 27 February — Rallying behind its women protection campaign, the Riyadh-based Mother Movement will mark International Women’s Month next month by holding a number of sports activities and martial arts training.
Mother founder and chairwoman, Perla S. Vega, said the festivities will include a sportsfest in various events such as bowling, chess, dart, volleyball, Ping-Pong, scrabble, tennis, volleyball, among others.
The sports events will be spearheaded by CLASS, or the Chapters Leagues Against Sedentariness through Sports, one of the programs of movement.
The games will be open to girls and women from the community, with invitation extended to other nationalities.
Various community organizations and individuals have volunteered to co-organize and officiate the competitions:, among them the All Filipino Table Tennis Association (AFTTA); Calabarzon, HOSTT, Ladies Bowling League, Riyadh Chess Club, the SAAOC Tennis Club.
Inspired by the popularity of game shows in the country, Filnasa will hold a health and nursing jeopardy contest which is open to all the health professionals; while Camaraderie, will feature a one-woman photo exhibit.
A free medical-dental clinic is also being lined up by the group Health, organized by Gladys Acosta.
Those interested in participating may contact Muriel C. Aquino at tel. no. (1) 442 6774 or by via e-mail to [email protected].
Vega said the highlight of the fanfare will be the launching on March 15 of Mother’s self-protection technique, a non-complicated, practical self-defense style.
“Based on the principle that self-defense is an instinct that needs to be developed, the techniques prompt the use of common sense, develop reflexes and coordination; and by knowing what to do, builds one’s confidence and thus inhibit fear,” Vega said.
The technique is a product of the Mother Working Group, comprised of blackbelt members from 10 martial arts club in Riyadh, headed by Rudy Flores of the International Kuntaw Federation and Camilo Maligaya of Eagle Force and other martial arts practitioners.
The other members of the working group are ASPIMA, represented by its founder Romy Nisperos; Black Pythons by Bhoy Macion; Eagle Force by Cesar Mendez; IMAF by Edwin Rendon; PhiDiAi by Bong Gonzales; PhilAikiKai by Cerilo Samantela, and Philcombat by Saulo Matavia. Providing logistical support as Mother coordinators are Erlinda Songcuya of the Riyadh International School and Aaron Espiritu of the Organization of the Knights of Rizal (Okor).
An instructional manual to supplement the Mother self-protection training is being prepared, with Philip Datu, a freelance artist-photographer, providing his creative services for free by illustrating the step-by-step caricature sketches while graphics layout by Richard Cruz. The text is written by Melvin Candelario and Buck Rogers Madrid.
Vega said that with this training activity they hope to win the support of the legislators, who are expected in Riyadh soon, to prioritize the proposed legislation - Senate Bill 123 by Senator Flavier and SBN 733 by Senator Loren Legarda.
Seeking to institutionalize women protection training based on the Mother model in Philippine schools, the measures are being supported by the National commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW).