Balisong and the town of Taal

migueldiaz · 11th February 2010, 05:20 AM

Houston, we have a problem ...

There's going to be a presidential election soon here in the Phils. And every election period, there's a total ban on carrying firearms and edged weapons in the country.

Thus, while the storeowners will readily sell anybody balisongs, transporting them to Manila might be a problem because the local police have mobile checkpoints, precisely looking for people carrying firearms or edged weapons without authorization.

And then at the Manila airport, the balisongs will be subject to confiscation if detected.

Dimasalang must have bought his balisongs early Jan. 2010. At that time, the gun (and blades) ban is not yet in force ... or Dimasalang was just lucky. Yes, I think he's lucky because he just recently got a nice Phil. dagger for a very good price ... but that's another story

Just thought that I should mention this, so that people will get forewarned (and I sent harimauhk a PM).

Please see also this thread in a Filipino forum.

ThePepperSkull · 11th February 2010, 08:17 AM

ooh, unfortunate.

Thank you very much for letting us know, Miguel. It's most definitely not worth the risk to pick up a couple of balisongs if there is a ban in place.

harimauhk · 12th February 2010, 07:15 AM

Hi Miguel,

Thanks. I picked up two in Jan without issue. I don't live in the US and balisongs are legal at home--I'm going to have them mailed out from Batangas directly so I don't have to worry about bringing them back to Manila.

Sorry guys, I have no intention of sending balisongs into the US.

ThePepperSkull · 13th February 2010, 03:14 AM

Miguel,

I found footage of the Panday Balisong you posted pictures of. This man is FAAST! I have an uncle from Banagas, who carried a beinte-nueve all of his life, and he was nowhere near as fast as this man is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OjNyYfWx0

harimauhk · 13th February 2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

Miguel,

I found footage of the Panday Balisong you posted pictures of. This man is FAAST! I have an uncle from Banagas, who carried a beinte-nueve all of his life, and he was nowhere near as fast as this man is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OjNyYfWx0

Check your e-mail. I hung out with him today and bought some of the best balisongs he had to offer.

He taught me how he opens them that fast too. He told me he was inspired to work on his openings after someone pulled a balisong on him on a bus in Manila in the '70s. The guy tossed it in the air and it hit the floor, so he bent down, picked it up and opened it the barako way (with two hands). He got really close to Mang Ona, who then pulled out his own balisong, and said something like, "I'm not joking to you!" in Taglish, The guy backed off, sat down and got off the bus at his stop. Ona's biggest worry at the time was the police, but fortunately, nobody called them (this was prior to the era of cell phones).

I also showed him my Emerson Combat Karambit which I carry practically everywhere. He loved it (but not the price). He said he thinks the karambit is the best fighting knife you can get because of the finger ring.

What an experience! I was so happy and proud to meet him and he told me he was happy and proud to meet me!

migueldiaz · 15th February 2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePepperSkull

Miguel, I found footage of the Panday Balisong you posted pictures of. This man is FAAST!

Yes sir, the man sure is fast. Reminds one of the samurai who can fell an opponent as he draws his katana

Quote:

Originally Posted by harimauhk

What an experience! I was so happy and proud to meet him and he told me he was happy and proud to meet me!

Looks like you are definitely having fun

And congrats for the apparent smooth 'operation' you just did back there in Batangas.

harimauhk · 16th February 2010, 12:30 PM

Salamat Miguel! Still waiting for the three I bought to show up by EMS, so hopefully they will. I was at Quiapo Church yesterday, so hopefully my prayers will get them here safely.

This was the first picture I took at Barangay Balisong. I took a jeepney there from Lemery after hopping in a van at Buendia LRT.

This is the second stall I visited in Barangay Balisong.

L. Rivera's stall. I really wish I'd gone back for a balicomb or two, but I hadn't had lunch and I was getting a bit dizzy. Next time I'll make sure to try some bulalo.

A small chapel right by the balisong stands.

Me and Diosdado Ona outside his stand! Unfortunately the other pics I took of his stand didn't get saved--I think I turned the ol' camera off too quickly.

An old American machete Mang Ona had at his store:

The kris dagger I bought there and the trainer balisong I got from Mang Ona. It was the last one he had, and he said he didn't want to sell it, but he knew I needed it. Got it for 210 Pesos ($4.60)

Blades out. I got the kris for 1000 Pesos. They wanted 1500 Pesos for it at Liza Villareal's store, but I made them an offer and they accepted it. It is surprisingly light. The bottom two were purchased in Manila for 400-500 Pesos each. Sorry Miguel, but AFAIK all the handle materials are horse bone. I bought one made with antler--if the other ones make it home safe, I'll put pics up of them.

11th February 2010, 05:20 AM	#1
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Houston, we have a problem ... There's going to be a presidential election soon here in the Phils. And every election period, there's a total ban on carrying firearms and edged weapons in the country. Thus, while the storeowners will readily sell anybody balisongs, transporting them to Manila might be a problem because the local police have mobile checkpoints, precisely looking for people carrying firearms or edged weapons without authorization. And then at the Manila airport, the balisongs will be subject to confiscation if detected. Dimasalang must have bought his balisongs early Jan. 2010. At that time, the gun (and blades) ban is not yet in force ... or Dimasalang was just lucky. Yes, I think he's lucky because he just recently got a nice Phil. dagger for a very good price ... but that's another story Just thought that I should mention this, so that people will get forewarned (and I sent harimauhk a PM). Please see also this thread in a Filipino forum.

11th February 2010, 08:17 AM	#2
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	ooh, unfortunate. Thank you very much for letting us know, Miguel. It's most definitely not worth the risk to pick up a couple of balisongs if there is a ban in place.

12th February 2010, 07:15 AM	#3
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	Hi Miguel, Thanks. I picked up two in Jan without issue. I don't live in the US and balisongs are legal at home--I'm going to have them mailed out from Batangas directly so I don't have to worry about bringing them back to Manila. Sorry guys, I have no intention of sending balisongs into the US.

13th February 2010, 03:14 AM	#4
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	Miguel, I found footage of the Panday Balisong you posted pictures of. This man is FAAST! I have an uncle from Banagas, who carried a beinte-nueve all of his life, and he was nowhere near as fast as this man is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OjNyYfWx0

16th February 2010, 12:30 PM	#7
harimauhk Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 88	Salamat Miguel! Still waiting for the three I bought to show up by EMS, so hopefully they will. I was at Quiapo Church yesterday, so hopefully my prayers will get them here safely. This was the first picture I took at Barangay Balisong. I took a jeepney there from Lemery after hopping in a van at Buendia LRT. This is the second stall I visited in Barangay Balisong. L. Rivera's stall. I really wish I'd gone back for a balicomb or two, but I hadn't had lunch and I was getting a bit dizzy. Next time I'll make sure to try some bulalo. A small chapel right by the balisong stands. Me and Diosdado Ona outside his stand! Unfortunately the other pics I took of his stand didn't get saved--I think I turned the ol' camera off too quickly. An old American machete Mang Ona had at his store: The kris dagger I bought there and the trainer balisong I got from Mang Ona. It was the last one he had, and he said he didn't want to sell it, but he knew I needed it. Got it for 210 Pesos ($4.60) Blades out. I got the kris for 1000 Pesos. They wanted 1500 Pesos for it at Liza Villareal's store, but I made them an offer and they accepted it. It is surprisingly light. The bottom two were purchased in Manila for 400-500 Pesos each. Sorry Miguel, but AFAIK all the handle materials are horse bone. I bought one made with antler--if the other ones make it home safe, I'll put pics up of them.