What if the Philippines progressed into the modern era without being colonized by Spain, the USA, and Japan? Here's a look at the sports that developed in this quasi-fantasy setting.
What if the Philippines was never colonized by Spain, or the United States of America, or Japan?
That's the main premise of "The Kingdom", an offering by the MQuest Ventures, APT Entertainment, and MZet Television Productions in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Let’s dive into the story, which explores an alternate reality in which the Philippines—or the Kingdom of Kalayaan—remains untouched by foreign rule.
In this reimagined world, the culture of the past is unaltered. There is no Christianity, only the reverence for the anitos, the babaylans, and Bathala.
There are certain sports that have been highlighted too by director Michael Tuviera and co-writer Michelle Ngu-Nario. Here are some of them.
Before you read any further, do note that we strived to be spoiler-free in this article but still, take caution.
Chess... or at least the local version of it
In one scene, Lakan Makisig Nandula (played by Vic Sotto) plays a board game with his daughter, Dayang Lualhati (played by Sue Ramirez).
The moves are quite similar to chess, with unique figures "taking" other pieces akin to checkers.
Being set in the royal palace, the pieces are luxurious, seemingly made of hard wood and carved to feel smooth to the touch.
The scene also suggests some characters may be smarter than they look.
Mortaaaal Kombat!
The son of Makisig Nandula, Magat Bagwis (played by Sid Lucero) is introduced as a prominent figure in the arena for combat sports.
It's an octagon of sorts, with glass walls and an announcer to boot. Pretty familiar to the modern audience with the UFC and ONE Championship. There's plenty of action to witness, with punches and kicks galore--even one with hints of Muay Thai and wushu.
But there's a darker twist to this bloodsport--the term cockfighting has progressed from roosters to humans.
Yes, the fighters are equipped with blades... like chickens in an arena. And that means, there is a possibility of death.
This setup illustrates that the Kingdom of Kalayaan is deeply rooted in martial traditions, akin to Thailand's Muay Thai culture.
Arnis remains alive and strong
One key character in the film gets into a fight and smoothly improvises a single long stick into two handy ones.
They inadvertently show off their skills in arnis--the martial arts of the Philippines.
There are some differences with kali and eskrima, such as their regions of origin in the country and the primary weapons preferred. But in the contemporary age, they have all combined into a multi-faceted martial arts.
And "The Kingdom" shows why arnis is such a useful martial arts to learn--and why even Hollywood has adopted some of the moves in action flicks.
Practitioners would be tickled to see this key character perform techniques such as the redonda against their opponents.
Watching this film raises thought-provoking questions: How would the sports landscape of the Philippines have evolved if the country was never colonized? Would we still be a basketball-loving nation, or would our passion lean more toward combat sports?
What are your thoughts on this intriguing alternate reality?
"The Kingdom" is a part of the MMFF, which runs in theaters until January 7, 2025.