The arnis community in the country and all over the world has lost one of its strongest pillars and staunchest supporters with the passing of Cebuano martial arts legend Supreme Grandmaster (SGM) Dionisio “Diony” Cañete on Sunday evening, August 22, 2021. He was 82.

Diony’s son, Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) Executive Vice President Master Gerald Cañete, confirmed the sad news that sparked an outpouring of grief and love for the highly revered eskrima great.

In 1975 at the age of 28, SGM Diony established the Cebu Eskrima Association that banded all major clubs and top arnisadors in this side of the archipelago together for the first time. In effect, he sort of “civilized” the fighting-oriented masters and curbed them to learn to co-exist for the sake of the ingenious Filipino martial arts.

When he was elected officer of Doce Pares in 1960, rules on the acceptance of students and membership was liberalized. At that time, they also started to promote and develop arnis as a wholesome spectator’s sporting event.

Among his countless achievements, SGM Diony spearheaded the first ever National Arnis Open Championship in 1979 at the Cebu Coliseum and the 1st National USA Eskrima Kali Arnis Championsips in 1988 in San Jose, California.

On August 11-13, 1989, SGM Diony organized the 1st World Eksrima Kali Arnis Championship. If was during this tournament that the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) was born. He served as WEKAF president for a long time and sits as its chairman emeritus until his death.

Under the dynamic stewardship of SGM Diony, Doce Pares has spread on both hemispheres of the globe with over 50 member countries in five continents. He stamped the legacy of Doce Pares as the ‘Gold’ standard of FMA.