history
 

Doce Pares was founded on January 11, 1932 by a small group of Eskrima Masters spearheaded by Eulogio Cañete, Lorenzo Saavedra and Teodoro Saavedra. Twelve of them originally conceptualized it but shortly after its inauguration January 21 that year, the membership rose to twenty four. Eulogio Cañete and Teodoro Saavedra were elected as President and Vice President respectively. Other elected officers and original members were, Fortunato Peñalosa (secretary), Marcelo Verano, Deogracias Nadela, Strong Tupas, Rodolfo Quijano, Pio Deiparine, Florentino Cañete, Felimon Cañete, Juanito Lauron, Federico Saavedra, Cecilio Dela Victoria, Lorenzo Saavedra, Margarito Revilles and Anastacio Deiparine.

The name Doce Pares was adopted inreference to the famous twelve bodyguardsof Emperor Charlemagne of France (AD 768-814). These twelve people all top swordsmen were known to have fought and killed hundreds of enemies in battles. Doce Pares which means "Twelve pairs" in spanish, was meant also to honor the twelve people who originally planned to form the orgnization, and when the membership rose to twenty four at the time of the inauguration, it indeed became more significantly fitting