FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sikaran, as an indigenous Philippine martial arts, started as natural reflex actions. The 
term “Sikaran” in the Visayan language means “to kick. These reflexive actions were 
developed in time to become techniques. These techniques evolved into a system which came 
to be called “Sikaran” because of the emphasis on the use of the legs for kicking. Constant 
practice lead to the development skills that would eventually be marked by notable 
effectiveness; of the practitioners, some went on to discover certain skills in combat that made 
them deserve the honor of being called “Hari” (king). The original practitioners have long 
passed, taking the secrets of their art with them. 
Sikaran, an indigenous foot-fighting martial arts system in the country, is popular 
among the farmers of the big island of Luzon, particularly the province of Rizal. By constantly 
improving the use of bare hands and feet in striking, parrying, blocking, off-balancing and 
disarming techniques by joint reversal, Sikaran became formalized as an unarmed fighting 
system in the country. Sikaran utilizes only the feet as a rule for sport and for combat, self- 
defense and this is what makes it distinct, the hands are never availed of. If utilized at all, it’s 
only for defense, the player uses his legs 90% of the time and his hands 10% only for blocking 
or parrying blows. 
Sikaran has been “Battled-Tested in most Asian Tournaments. Meliton C. Geronimo 
won as individual champion in 1964 Utsunimiya Tochegeken, Japan and also awarded by the 
Eagle award during the first Asian Tournament. Thereafter Meliton C. Geronimo headed, 
coached and became the Chief Instructor and head of the Philippine Team that participated in 
the succeeding Asian Karate Tilts. Among the champions who used the Sikaran Style were the 
late Bernard Belleza 1965, Emelio Galiciano 1965, Ariston Bautista 1968, Amado Diaz 1967, 
Jaime Geronimo 1965, Antonio Ganiela 1968, and Herminia Agapito was the lone female 
participant in the First World Karate Tournament in 1970 in Tokyo, Japan. In 1972 Paris, 
France participated by Marlyn Compuesto and Militon C. Geronimo. 
To date, Sikaran is now popularly known as the fighting art of the Filipino farmer and is 
now practiced worldwide. In fact, the Sikaran martial arts had already taken roots in Canada, 
United States, England, Australia, Saudi Arabia, West Germany, Qatar, Palestine and New 
Zealand. 
In line with the provisions of Section 19, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution which 
states: “The State shall promote physical education and encourage sports program, 
league competition, and amateur sports including training for international 
competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of 
a healthy and alert citizenry”, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


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o; i ;-ti ~3mumv 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
Second Regular Session 
) ” 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
1 
9 APR 28 P.2 :39 
S E N A T E  
,I 
S. No. 31 93 
. .  
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING SIKARAN MARTIAL ARTS, AN INDIGENOUS FOOT- 
FIGHTING MARTIAL ARTS SYSTEM, PROVIDING MECHANISMS AND 
PROGRAMS 
FOR 
ITS 
PRESERVATION 
AND 
PROMOTION, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This act shall be known as the “Sikaran 
Martial Arts Act of 2009.” 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of State Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of 
the state to promote indigenous Filipino martial arts and sports, and develop Filipino 
martial arts fighters to become international champions. As such, the State shall 
promote policies that will preserve our country’s indigenous martial arts and enhance 
the skills of Filipino fighters in the field of Sikaran martial arts through systematic 
method of training and proper exposure in international competitions. 
SEC. 3. 
Integration in the Physical Education Curriculum. - In order to 
mainstream, promote and popularize Sikaran martial arts in the country, all primary, 
secondary, and tertiary public and private educational institutions are mandated to 
include Sikaran as a required subject in its Physical Education (PE) curriculum. 
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SEC. 4. 
Mainstreaming Sikaran Martial Arts in Various National 
Sporting Events. - In order to mainstream Sikaran Martial Arts as one of the country’s 
indigenous martial arts, it shall be included as one of the sporting categories in the 
Palarong Panlalawigan and Palarong Parnbansa events being held in the country. 
All educational institutions and public offices are hereby enjoined to give their 
support to the celebration by conducting their respective activities with remarkable 
participation from all their students. 
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Games and Amusement Board 
(GAB), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), shall assist the 
implementing agencies in the conduct of various national sporting activities to 
mainstream and promote Sikaran martial arts as one of Othe country’s indigenous 
martial arts. 
SEC. 5. 
Creation of a Sikaran National Training Institute (SNTI). - To 
carry out the above policy, there is hereby created a Sikaran National Training 
Institute, herein after referred to as the Training Institute. 
SEC. 6. 
Functions of the Sikaran National Training Institute (SNJI). - 
The Sikaran National Training Institute shall have the following functions: 
(a) 
to serve as a hub to identify and recruit Sikaran fighters to be trained and 
developed both as amateur and professional athletes in the field of martial arts; 
(b) 
to enhance the ability of Sikaran fighters by providing them with scientific 
training programs and proper health and nutrition: 
(c) 
to provide physical training facilities to aspiring and active amateur and 
professional Sikaran fighters; 
(d) 
(e) 
to train professional Sikaran coaches, trainers and referees; 
to provide assistance and support to Sikaran fighters who participate in 
internationally acclaimed tournaments, as well as prepare Sikaran fightes for any 
upcoming local or international bouts; 
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(9 
to enter into and engage in a consortium with public and private schools 
offering training courses in physical education and sports; 
(9) 
to hire highly skilled coaches and trainors experienced in preparing 
Sikaran fighters to compete in international competitions; 
(h) 
to establish and maintain linkages with international sports academies for 
its continuous upgrading through exchange programs or the availment of Sikaran 
special training programs; and 
(i) 
to perform such other functions and exercise such other power 
snecessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 7. 
Supervision of the Sikaran National Training Institute (SNTI). 
- The Sikaran National Training Institute (SNTI) as herein established shall be under 
the direction and supervision of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB). It shall be 
headed by an Academy Director who shall be appointed jointly by the Chairman of the 
Games and Amusement Board and the Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission 
(PSC) for a term of three (3) years, unless sooner removed for cause. 
SEC. 8. 
Sikaran National Training Institute Board. - The Board of SNTI 
shall be composed of the Chairman of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and 
Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as Co-Chairmen, and five (5) 
regular members to be appointed by the President. The five (5) regular members shall 
be composed of four (4) representatives from the duly accredited Sikaran Federations 
in the country which possess reputable standing in the field of Sikaran martial arts and 
one (I) 
representative from the academe. The four (4) regular members shall be 
nominated by the duly accredited Sikaran Federation of the country. 
The SNTl Board shall serve as the policy making body of the Institute to be 
vested with the authority to come-up with Sikaran training programs, training modules 
and such other activities of the training institute in attaining its objectives as provided 
for in this Act. 
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The SNTI shall be responsible in the allocation, disbursement and management 
of the disposition of the Sikaran Fund as provided under Section 10 of this Act, 
consistent with existing Commission on Audit (COA) rules and regulations. 
The SNTl Board shall likewise be responsible for the accreditation, training and 
certification of Sikaran fighters, trainors, instructors, coachers and referees in 
accordance with the set guidelines it shall establish. 
SEC. 9. 
Annual Sikaran Road Show. - There shall be a Sikaran Road 
Show in the form of Provincial, Regional and National Tournaments to be conducted in 
a year-round basis in various provinces and cities in the country. 
The tournament shall be open to all local aspiring Sikaran fighters where the 
activity is currently being held for purposes of identifying local potential talents to be 
recruited as trainees to the SNTI. 
SEC. I O .  
Sikaran Fund. - There is hereby established a Sikaran Fund 
which shall be used to promote the Sikaran martial arts as an indigenous martials arts 
in the country. 
The funding for the Sikaran Fund shall come from the following sources: 
a) 
An appropriation from the National Government of not less than Twenty 
Million Pesos (Php20,000,000.00) annually for at least five (5) years from the time of 
its constitution; 
b) 
Ten Million pesos (Php10,000,000.00) which shall come from the ffiy 
percent (50%) annual net income of the Duty Free Philippine Corporation (DFPC); 
c) 
Ten Million pesos (Php10,000,000.00) which shall come from the 
National Government share remitted by the international airports and seaports to the 
National Treasury pursuant to Republic Act No. 7656; and 
d) 
From various donations and grants received by the Sikaran National 
Training Institute from its promotional activities. 
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SEC. 11. 
Allocation. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
the construction, establishment and management of the Sikaran National Training 
Institute (SNTI) the amount of Twenty Million Pesos (Php20,000,000.00) for the initial 
operations of the Training Institute. Thereafter, such amount needed to manage, 
supervise and implement this Act shall be included in the Annual Appropriations Act of 
GAB. 
SEC. 12. 
lmplementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety,(90) 
days from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) 
jointly with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in coordination with the 
Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with duly accredited Sikaran 
Federations in the country, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 13. 
Repealing Clause. - Any law, Presidential Decree, Issuance, 
Executive Order, Letter of Instruction, rules or regulations or portions thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 14. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the 
application of such provision to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the 
remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 15. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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