PHL Embassy in Tehran Meets with Officials of Iran Arnis Committee
Philippine Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos (2nd from left) and Consul General Alfredo M. Borlongan (rightmost) together with the Iran Arnis Committee
21 March 2018 TEHRAN – Ambassador Wilfredo C. Santos recently met with Iranian Grand Master Hossein Ezzati, President of the Arnis Committee in Iran, at the Chancery to discuss collaboration exchanges in martial arts between the two countries.
Grand Master Ezzati showed Ambassador Santos and the Embassy officials his appointment signed by Mr. Mahmoud Rashidi, Head of the Martial Arts Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressing arnis as martial arts is recognized by the Martial Arts Organization Council of Youth and Sports Ministry.
Arnis is becoming very popular in Iran with the committee receiving an increasing number of applicants for membership. Young Iranians are also signing up for courses in learning the different techniques and styles of the Filipino martial arts.
Ambassador Santos welcomed the interest of Grand Master Ezzati to undertake collaborative exchanges with his Filipino counterparts in arnis.
The Philippines and Iran have an existing MOU on Sports Cooperation signed on 31 May 2014 between the Philippine Sports Commission and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Iran.
Various Iranian teams in basketball, volleyball and Tae Kwan Do have visited the Philippines several times. The Philippine national teams in karate, wrestling and football have also undergone training or played friendly games with their Iranian counterparts. END
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Philippine Ambassador Wilfredo C. Santos and Embassy Officials during the discussion of martial arts between the Philippines and Iran