GENERAL SANTOS CITY – If you’ve been following the Batang Pinoy 2025 on social media through TikTok or Facebook, chances are you have seen this arnisadora on your feed who is taking the Games and this city by storm.
Rhitz Marie Antalan has arguably become the most popular athlete in this year's competition, with her charming looks and engaging content on Tiktok mostly about arnis. As of posting, her TikTok account has more than 21,000 followers, and her Facebook page has more than 23,000 followers.
At the Veranza Mall where arnis competitions are being held, hundreds of young people have also been requesting for photos with her. Antalan’s picture posted by the mall’s Facebook page has also been shared more than 600 times.
The 17-year-old Antalan, who is from Mexico, Pampanga and competing for the nearby San Fernando LGU, said she started making arnis content after last year’s Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa. After several postings, her posts started gaining traction that earned her fans not just from inside the arnis community but outside as well.
“Batang Pinoy sa Palawan, nag-start ako mag-video. May mga clip ako ng anyo, nagpo-post po ako. Daming likes. Parang ang ganda maging ganito na makilala ako. Sabi ko, ipagpatuloy ko, baka mas makilala ako ng buong Pilipinas,” said Antalan in an interview with SPIN.ph on Wednesday.
On her content, Antalan, who studies in Pampanga High School, said: “’Yung mga clip ko ng anyo, ‘yung sayaw, kina-cut ko para hindi makopya. Para ma-inspire ko ‘yung iba na ganito ako mag-anyo, ‘yung mga picture ko at ng mga kasama ko.”
Antalan, who took up the sport when she was in Grade 5, said she never expected she would get much attention during Batang Pinoy.
“Sobrang saya po kasi first time ko na sumikat dito tapos ang daming nakakakilala sa akin. Hindi ko expect na maraming magmamahal sa akin dito sa GenSan. Sobrang bait ng tao dito,” she said.
Antalan for arnis
Antalan is in her final Batang Pinoy competition this year. She beat Patrisha Yvaine Gura of Digos and Frances Sky Marie Gallega of Laguna before losing in the round of 16 to Micah Busmion of Butuan in the padded point 16-17 years female 49.1-54kg division.
Nevertheless, Antalan said her passion will continue to grow in the sport and is hopeful that her content would help spur popularity for arnis, the national sport of the Philippines.
“Ayoko pong mamatay ‘yung arnis sa Pilipinas lalo na sport ito ng Pilipinas. Gusto ko matuklasan ‘yung arnis na ganito siya,” said Antalan, who is coached in the San Fernando LGU team by Erwin Arnedo and Jeremy Dela Cruz.
Her next goal is to continue her arnis career in college where she will study at Pampanga State University.
“Magpapatuloy ako ng arnis sa college. Gusto ko mag-PNG (Philippine National Games),” said Antalan.
She also has a message to aspiring arnisadors and arnisadoras.
As she put it, “Magsipag at tiyaga lang sila. Nakakapagod po ang arnis. Maraming pasa, pero dapat focus lang sila na pangarap nila ‘to, wag nilang susukuan.”
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