I trained in the Philippines. ANd it is true sticks are inexpensive their. If you go to Quiapo you can buy them cheap. Quaipo is part of downtown Manila. Here you can find different schools. You can find the Yaw yan (filipino kickboxing) Kombatan/modern arnis of GM Ernesto Presas(my instructor) others are japanese or korean ars.
Now you can also visit Rizal park also known as Luneta park by the grandstand near Manila hotel. On sundays you will find many arnis groups. Kalis Illustrisimo people, Doblete rapillon of GM Joe mena and others.
If you are in Quezon city you can go to University of the PHilippines Diliman. Where the Lightning Scientific arnis international people workout.
In Greenhills you'll find Boby silver Tabimina of Balintawak arnis escrima. He has his website.
I forgot where the Pekiti tirsia manila pitbulls are located. But they have there website too.
Bart was right about how the groups are. It doesn't matter what your race, color, creed or religion is. What matters is you are a good person and that you don't show any atitude. Just be humble, low key and interested. They don't like cocky people. You get challenged that way. In Muntinlupa near Alabang the WEKAF group is there.
Filipinos are by nature hospitable and courteous people. So just be yourself. Most people don't know (filipinos) what the hell arnis/escrima/ kali is. because unfortunately we like the foreigh stuff.
PM me and I will give you some info on my Gm and some others I might have missed.
About weapons, there are tourist pieces and real ones. YOu just have to know where to find them. Kris, kampilans, Barongs. are hard to find. Balisongs are not. Itaks or bolos are easy. Books are hard to find too. The most common are the Presas brothers books- GM Remy's books and GM Ernesto Presas books.