Arnis, Kali and Escrima are related martial arts from the Philippines. They are very much weapons-oriented arts, but they include bare handed techniques taught to more advanced students.

Malays settling the Philippines from the 2nd century BC onward were experts in knife-fighting techniques. Chinese fleeing their native land in the 9th century AD brought their martial arts to the area, and Kali emerged from the synthesis of the two combat styles.

Arnis, the modern form of the art, utilizes 30" sticks in place of the knife or sword-and-knife techniques of the earlier Kali. It is usually fought with two sticks (muton) or single stick (solo baston). The art has been adapted to other weapons styles as well, especially nunchaku and other karate weapons. However, there are still plenty of traditional kali practitioners, experts in the use of their art with bladed weapons.

In either form, it is a fast, efficient, brutal style of combat.

An alternative to the background given above is here, sent to me by this guy. I don't know which of them is more right than the other, but I included it as a contrasting view. The only editing I've done, was formatting the mail I got as a HTML document. Otherwise, it is exactly like I got it.