Kali philosophy as a Pekiti-Tirsia Doctrine
by Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr.

In simple analysis, the chemistry of a fighter is a part of the adrenaline that propels him to understand that in the world of combat the "Zen" or Taoism cannot be mixed into the philosophy that once the strength is focus on life none can defeat the end results.

For many hundred years, the early Filipinos or the Malay people that thrives in the island of the Maharlikas, now the Philippines, had one belief and that belief was based on the philosophy that was the Kali doctrine. The Kali doctrine had two schools of thought.

A. As an institution of discipline and education

B. As an institution of self-preservation and survival

This was manifested by Datu Kalantiaw, the first Datu that framed the first constitution of the Maharlikas in the province of Kaliboh, in the island of Panay. The first constitution was called the Code of Kalantiaw with 18 absolute codes, literally interpreted and executed by the datu, once it is violated. The codes were based on the doctrine that in one of the codes says: anyone that passes the cemetery or burial place must take off his hat. If seen by the villagers violating the code, they bring him to the chieftain of the village and the violator is tied on a tree filled with red ants to be bitten until the man collapses. If one caught for rape or murder, the chieftain and the villagers will tie a rope around the body and he is thrown into the river of crocodiles.

The philosophy is not only practiced in theory but in actual practice. One must believe in life not death. This is the very reason why the Filipino martial arts are practiced in forms of live blades. This is to condition a person to accept the blade with sacredness that each movement carries a message of discipline that during the rapid flow of the blade it is design to preserve life using the higher technology and the use of higher metaphysics. If one can be stopped by using the higher metaphysics without being chop to pieces then he should be stopped. But in the process where exchanges of the blows are so intense and violent then the philosophy will suggest for a preventive measure that is only to cut the hand or remove the weapon from the hand without necessarily chopping the head and kill the other person. The end result of this philosophy is for one to understand that since each Kali man carries the doctrine of discipline, then one must extend the highest form of respect not to be swayed by the influence of the name as master or expert in the martial arts.

The Filipino philosophical doctrine of peace and harmony is manifested in the practice of the family community doctrine. In the community of 100 or 200 families each family extends the courtesy of concern and care. This is done when one of the families happened to find that his carabao is gone in the middle of the night. Then the chieftain of the village will beat the drum and everybody's concern is to look for that carabao. When one of the families where the mother will deliver the baby in the middle of the night, the father will beat the drum and each family is wakened to assist looking for a midwife or partera that will help for the baby to come out. These are some of the examples how the product of that philosophy became the substance of the Filipino culture. After the care and concern then comes the hospitality as an important virtue to each Filipino family practiced in the Philippines to Hawaii to Stockton, California to Sacramento. This was shown by our early Filipino immigrants which until today, are a trademark of true Filipino culture.

Filipino Kali doctrine and philosophy are a major artery of the Filipino culture. In war and in peace the Kali elements are inseparable. It is found in the life of the Filipino soldiers, among Filipino professionals from doctors to nurses to engineers to seamen, from religious leaders to great politicians, from non-technical to technical. Filipinos are all over the world fighting for leadership in all fields of competitions. Today with the renewal of the spirit that is burning in every Filipino who practices the original art, the indigenous art, the manifestation of the true effect with impact is beyond comparison, it is only determine with end results.

The Pekiti-Tirsia always and will forever advocate this philosophical doctrine as a form of discipline with highest respect of human life to care and concern for the lowly in life to uplift the poor in spirit, but to protect life and to be successful in all undertakings in the preservation of this life. But most of all to make life enjoyable with pleasure of living in good health.