I have been trying to research FMA's recently and I am pretty frustrated trying to nail down what makes each system different. Primarily I've been looking at Modern Arnis and Doce Pares which is offered locally to me ... all I can work out is that they all do the same stuff but perhaps emphasize one element over another.

This is pretty frustrating for an outsider who wants to try and get some details about WHY to choose one over the other ... it's like saying well Doce Pares has blue, red and green and Modern Arnis has red, blue and green!!!

Yikes ... can anybody clear this up for me?

The variation in Filipino systems is no more, or less, confusing than the variation in Kung-Fu or Karate. Different schools or, in Filipino systems, families, all teach arts that are recognisable as branches of the same tree, its just that they differ slightly in how they transmit the art to the student, and have their own 'best' ways of training, and variations on subtleties like where you check the arm as you enter into trapping, or slight variation on footwork and transitions.

Its no big deal, and providing the instructor is reputable and a good teacher, it wont matter what variation you learn.

These are interesting techniques, can you talk more about the history of these techniques?

There is not difference coz we using one or two stick fighting, its just name.
Eskrima is a term from Spanish.
Arnis is a term from Philippines.
Kali is from Philippines but its a sugar but its Inosanto started Kali.

Good days

the only difference is the name. in the philippines, we don't really care about this issue. however or whatever you want to call it, as long as you like the art, then just keep on!

if i may ask... i have just relocated to illinois. i am in the northwestern suburbs. is there any any governing body or an organization of arnis styles here? i would like to participate in the Escrima/Arnis/Kali events here and hopefully find training mates or perhaps form a study group for my style.

thank you!

If you are talking the Northwest suburbs of Chicago there are a few schools associated with the International Modern Arnis Federation in the Chicago area.
http://www.modernarnis.net/member/school.shtml