SEA Games: ‘Proud Igorot’ fought for right to wear bahag in arnis competition

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/12/10/arnis.jpg"/><figcaption>ChriSamuel Delfin, a &quot;proud Igorot&quot;, won the gold medal in the men&#x27;s arnis anyo category last week dressed in his native garb. Wakil Kohsar, AFP</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA—A member of the Philippine national arnis squad fought for his right to wear the traditional bahag while competing in the Southeast Asian Games, a team official said Monday.ChriSamuel Delfin, a &quot;proud Igorot&quot;, won the gold medal in the men&#x27;s arnis anyo category last week after he performed his combat skills to the tune of ethnic instruments and dressed in his native garb.&quot;He is a proud Igorot and he is proud of his lineage. We had some problems because he wanted to wear his bahag without any brief,&quot; Senator Miguel Zubiri told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart.&quot;Zubiri is the president of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation, the sport&#x27;s national governing body.&quot;(Delfin) didn&#x27;t want because he said as an Igorot, it is an insult to wear a brief or something under [the bahag],&quot; Zubiri added.International technical officials initially denied Delfin&#x27;s request, saying that the Games could not risk a wardrobe malfunction during a live broadcast.&quot;Our coach said, &#x27;It is better to disqualify him than to deny him of his heritage,&#x27;&quot; Zubiri said.&quot;I had to talk to the coach and said, &#x27;No, no, no, huwag [i-disqualify] kasi magaling itong batang ito&#x27;.&quot;Delfin eventually obliged to wear a string undergarment under his bahag.&quot;We bought a thong and we showed it to the judges and they said, OK. He won the gold. It was a great performance,&quot; Zubiri said.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

ChriSamuel Delfin, a "proud Igorot", won the gold medal in the men's arnis anyo category last week dressed in his native garb.

ChriSamuel Delfin, a "proud Igorot", won the gold medal in the men's arnis anyo category last week dressed in his native garb.

SEA Games: ‘Proud Igorot’ fought for right to wear bahag in arnis competition | ABS-CBN

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SEA Games: ‘Proud Igorot’ fought for right to wear bahag in arnis competition

SEA Games: ‘Proud Igorot’ fought for right to wear bahag in arnis competition

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 10, 2019 06:09 AM PHT

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Southeast Asian Games

SEA Games

2019 SEA Games

30th SEA Games

Philippine SEA Games

PH SEA Games

Miguel Zubiri

bahag

Igorot

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