Batangas Blades

An Ethnography on the Vendors and Makers of Balisong Knives in Barangay Balisong, Taal,

Batangas

A Qualitative Study

By

Karl Serafin S. Jago-on

2014-32257

Submitted to

Prof. Alvin D. Campomanes

Department of Social Sciences

University of the Philippines, Manila

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in Social Sciences 199

(Research Methods in the Social Sciences)

19 December 2017

First Semester, AY 2017-2018

University of the Philippines, Manila

A diversity of weapons can be found in the Philippine Islands. With that, it only follows

that a diverse weapon making culture exists throughout the archipelago. This study aims to be the

first in a series that would help shed more light on this specific martial subculture scattered across

the Philippines. Numerous traditions that existed even before the advent of colonial rule. The

study aims to not only show the processes that blacksmiths undertake to make a balisong, but to

also include the perceptions of both the balisong craftsmen, and sellers themselves. The study will

also try to delve into the history of the balisong knife.

Keywords: Balisong, knife, butterfly knife, fan knife, folding knife, pocket knife, utility knife

Batangas blades, knives, Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas, Philippines, subculture, origins,

material culture, weapon culture, makers, balisong makers, craftsmen, artisan, ethnography
 Chapter 1

Introduction

The balisong is a knife that originated from Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas. It is a

folding knife that is famously made to be twenty-nine (29) centimeters in length while open. Thus,

the Batangas blade is also referred to as a “bente-nuwebe” (or “veintenuve”), which translates to

“twenty-nine”. However, there exists some variants in terms of size. Some can be as small as a

keychain, while others are a meter long. Another local term for the balisong is the “lanseta” (or

“laseta”). Internationally, it is popularly referred to as a butterfly knife, and a fan knife.

The blade is a popular weapon amongst residents in the city slums (Jocano, 1975). It has

gained popularity internationally as well due to the number of Hollywood movies, that included

its use in scenes, throughout the years. The way in which the balisong is constructed allows for it

to be opened and closed in amusing ways. This unique feature is one factor that contributed to the

popularity of the balisong. An abundance of balisong videos exist in the social media website,

YouTube. Videos that range from showcasing “flipping” tricks with the balisong, and tutorial

videos on how to do such tricks.

Whether the knife was named after the place or the place was named after the knife, is just

one question that the paper seeks to answer. Despite the knife being an indigenous product to the

country that was pioneered years ago, it is far outsold by balisong knives made in other countries

like China and the United States who’ve only relatively recently begun to copy and manufacture

the knife for their own. Furthermore, despite the pride and praise held to the balisong by the

Batangueños, and by the rest of the Filipinos, the age-old tradition is threatened with extinction

due to socio-economic factors.

is a source of pride for the Filipinos, especially for the Batangueños. This local industry, however,

is under threat as it faces the problem of the lack of a generation that would succeed the balisong

makers and continue the tradition.

The way the vendors and the balisong makers view the balisong in relation to their lives is

an interesting insight into the dynamics between that of the balisong and those of Barangay

Balisong. Specifically, the vendors and the balisong makers who have the most intimate link with

the cultural object.

The study aims to communicate the factors that contributed to the problem of the lack of

successors who would continue the balisong craft tradition according to how the balisong makers

and vendors see it with the idea of helping preserve the tradition for generations to come, and in

relation to that, the study also aims to discover how the history of the balisong, and how it was

manufactured then compared to how it is manufactured now. The study also aims to reveal the

way the balisong makers and vendors perceive the balisong in relation to their own lives, seeking

to bring their thoughts and opinions on the cultural object in order to understand how they

themselves feel and perceive their tradition.

Methods Used

The study used qualitative methods in its research. It is qualitative in such that it utilized

the accounts of both the balisong makers, and the vendors situated in Barangay Balisong, Taal,

Batangas. Interviews and observations will be the primary data-gathering methods of this research.

The locale of the study will be limited to Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas, due to both time
constraints and geographical circumstances, and the fact that it is the place from which the balisong

is best associated with.

The population of the study is limited to the balisong makers (both active and retired), and

vendors of the balisong knives of Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas as they are the ones who are

most familiar with the balisong tradition. Random sampling was not used as a specific set of data

is required by the research. Four (4) vendors, one (1) balisong maker, and one (1) former balisong

maker were interviewed for the study.

Interviews, and observations were the primary instruments utilized. Personal inquiries were

used to gather the relevant information for the study. The researcher asked questions regarding the

history, and processes that make up the balisong knife. The researcher also asked questions

pertaining to the significance or the role of the Balisong knife to the lives of those interviewed.

Written records and other sources that provided relevant information with regards to the aims and

objectives of the study were also utilized. A handheld video camera was also used to record footage

with the consent of the balisong makers as it recorded the processes that a balisong undergoes in

its construction.

The locale of the study is limited to the province of Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas,

due to time constraints as an undergraduate student, and the already significant association of the

area with the material tradition. The interviews, and audio, video, and photo documentation were

always undertaken only after the approved consent of the concerned parties. Furthermore, the

culture, customs, and traditions of the locale was respected and acknowledged at all times.
 This study fills the gap of knowledge regarding the balisong through updating what is

known on the balisong with more recent and up-to-date information. The issue is that the written

sources on the balisong are either outdated, or lack the in-depth examination that would paint a

proper picture concerning the state of the local balisong industry.

Part I: Locale of the Study

Barangay Balisong is located in Taal, Batangas. The houses and business establishments

are stretched along the Palico-Balayan-Batangas Road, and the town is situated near the Taal

Cathedral. The town has a quaint feel, and has yet to be industrialized. The people have been

observed to be engaged primarily in small jobs like owning a small corner store, running an inn or

a computer shop, managing an eatery or a bakery, working as a tricycle driver, or are involved in

work surrounding the balisong (either crafting or selling). These are just some of the observed

occupations and may not represent the whole reality regarding the livelihoods of all those in the

town. Some houses had front yards while others did not. Several houses had ornamental plants

lining up the front of their houses, or yards.

The people are clothed no differently from the typical Filipino, meaning that they generally

wear clothes that one would expect to see people wear on a regular day. The people also understand

and can speak Tagalog fluently. Worthy to note for future inquiry is their expression “Ala-e”,

which they say means nothing specific, and is used only as an expression in sentences. The people

in general were welcoming to outsiders.

According to written sources, the man who is credited to be the inventor of the balisong is

one Perfecto de Leon (Sulite, 1987), or Felipe de Leon (Montenegro, 2002), who invented the

knife back in 1905. It is still unclear as to whether the name of the man was Felipe or Perfecto, or

if they were the same person. It is likely that they are of the same person however, given that they

have the same surnames and of the lack of a mention of any siblings that have any significance

with the balisong. According to Sulite’s book, Advanced Balisong Filipino Butterfly Knife,

Perfecto de Leon’s story started with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. During the time, the

demand for the “itak” or bolo decreased and Perfecto de Leon then turned to manufacturing knives,

eventually leading to the creation and the proliferation of the balisong as a Filipino weapon. The

text includes a picture of Perfecto de Leon stating that he claims to have made the first one back

in the year 1905.

Regarding how the balisong went on to become popular in the Western world, numerous

sources agree that its overseas popularity began after World War II, as American soldiers brought

it back home with them (Presas, 1988). Shishir Inocalla’s book, Veintenueve Balisong Filipino

Knife Fighting, implies the same fact by stating that the junk used for the manufacturing of the

balisong spare parts are from left over jeeps and trucks from the Second World War (Inocalla,

1984). Sulite further gives specifics in his book by indicating that it was specifically during the

Liberation Period when it became popular with the American soldiers.

As to the etymology of the word, “balisong”, written sources generally agree that it means

“broken horn” (Nicolas, 2012), or rather variations of this concept. The word “bali” means “to

break” or “broken”, while “sung” is a contraction of the word “sungay”, which means “horn”. This
refers to the deer or carabao horns that were frequently used as a component of the balisong’s

handles.

When it comes to the question of which was named after which (whether the town was

named after the blade or the blade was named after the town), Presas’ book states that it was the

knife that was named after the town. It would then imply that the barrio came first. Therefore, the

town of Balisong was literally named “breaking horns”, or “broken horn” long before the balisong

knife came into existence. A curiosity as to how significant using horns were to the area before the

tradition of crafting balisong knives came into being. However, it is also possible that the story

could have followed only after the knife was associated with the name of the town. Meaning that

the meaning of the word “balisong” was created long after the name has been in use. The book

Batangas: Forged in Fire, however, tells another story. It states the opposite; that the town was

named after the knife. To find out the truth as to which story is true requires a deeper inquiry that

must utilize documents pertaining to the town’s history, assuming such documents exist, and that

they hold the answer to the issue of which came first.

The balisong is known by many names. One such name is veintenueve, a Spanish word

that translates to the number twenty-nine (29). The origin of this alias for the balisong is attributed

to the full size of the balisong knife if fully opened, that being twenty-nine (29) centimeters in

length. There are other interesting stories and legends that are attributed to this name. One such

legend is that a skilled wielder can bring-down up to twenty-nine (29) foes (Almario & Almario,

2009). Another legend comes from Inocalla’s book, stating that there is a belief that it (the

balisong) can dismantle twenty-nine (29) people in one thrust.

With regards to what the vendors and balisong makers know about the history of the

balisong, they do not share a uniform tale. When asked about the origins of the balisong, only two
respondents, both balisong vendors, were the ones who shared the story of Perfecto de Leon and

how he was the one who invented the balisong back in 1905, as the story goes. Both shared, or

implied, the idea that the balisong might have existed prior to that year. One of the two vendors

stated that he could not prove otherwise if the balisong did not exist prior to 1905, while the other

stated that he thinks that the balisong has been around longer, and that perhaps Felipe de Leon was

the one given credit because he was the first and only one interviewed. The balisong maker

interviewed, in response to the question as to origins of the tradition of balisong making, stated

that the elders guessed that the tradition started in the year 1868, but added that they are not sure

themselves. He says that he knows nothing about who, when, and where the balisong craft

originated from. All he knows is that the craft was already there when he began to think for

himself. One vendor stated that she really has no idea as to the origins of the balisong, but that she

encounters the question a lot.

Regarding the question of which was named after which, the town or the knife, the

interviewees all stated that they think that it was the town that came first before the knife, thus, it

was the knife that was named after the town. According to one vendor, there is no record as to

when the place was named Balisong. However, he notes that the balisong blade was first called a

“lanseta” or “laseta”. It was not called a balisong then during the earlier years when he lived in

town, which then was already referred to as Balisong. Thus, this implies that the blade was named

after the town. The balisong maker’s statement regarding the matter is in accordance with the

previous statement of the vendor. He said that the knife was called a “lanseta” or “laseta” back

then, and shared the story that it only began to be called a balisong when they went to Manila with

the knife, and knowing that they were from Balisong, Batangas, the knife was associated with, and
eventually named after the place. Another vendor, concerning the question, said that he does not

know which got named first, however he stated that he thinks it was the town.

Another vendor, shared an interesting story regarding the question. She stated that it is said

that the person who made the balisong popular was Fernando Poe Jr. This, according to the story,

is because the place was Fernando Poe Jr.’s favorite filming location. She continued saying that

back then, the blade was called a laseta (supporting the statements of both the vendor and the

balisong maker), but when Fernando Poe Jr. used it, he referred to the knife as a balisong, and this

is how the name caught up and thus the place was called Barangay Balisong. She clarifies,

however, that it was just a story that she heard, further adding that she personally thinks that it is

from the place that the knife got its name, the balisong. Another vendor also said that before the

balisong knife came to be known as a balisong, Balisong was already the name of the town.

Furthermore, she gives a fascinating detail with regards to the pronunciation of “Balisong” with

respect to its use as either referring to the place, or the knife. According to her, a stress is put on

the “-li-“ if one were to refer to the place, while it is pronounced without any stresses if one were

to refer to the knife. However, she also notes that it’s all the same for them now these days.

Concerning the etymology of the word “balisong”, one vendor told the story that the written

sources of this study agree on, and that is that it literally mean “breaking horns”, or rather variations

of this idea. However, he shares his thoughts that perhaps that story is just a story, and that it was

called the balisong because of its intimate connection with the town. He disclaims that he seeks to

discredit the meaning, and that he is only sharing his thoughts on the matter.
Part III: The Types of Balisong Blades

Today, there exists several styles of balisong knives. There is the Moro type, which is a

wavy, double-edged blade that resembles the wavy Moro Kris sword (Lasco, 2011); the double-

blade, which is a simple double-edged blade that does not have the wavy aesthetics that defines

the Moro type apart; the Bayonet-type, a blade that resembles that of a bayonet, sharpened in full

on one side, and about half on the other; a Bowie type that resembles the American bowie knife,

sharpened on one end and concavely tapered at the back; a Razor type which resembles a straight

razor commonly used then for shaving; and the Rambo-type, meant to resemble the type of knife

made famous by the Rambo movies of Sylvester Stallone.

These are the types of blades that one can find amongst the stalls that line up the highway

along Barangay Balisong. However, there are some stalls that offer a wider variety of choices with

regards to what the balisong hides. Some stalls sell balicombs. A balisong wherein the knife blade

is replaced by a brass comb. Some also sell a small variety of balisong knives sold as keychains.

It was noted that the balisong makers weren’t too fond of this variety due to the difficulty in

assembly attributed to the small components that it requires. There are even balisong keys.

According to one vendor, he was the one who pioneered the design and everyone else just followed

the design. However, he notes that they don’t sell the variety as much as he does. There are two

types of the balisong key variety. One is of keys for automotive vehicles, and the other for

doorknobs. He mentioned that he only began with the car keys type first, making only the home

key type after some people suggested that they wanted one for their homes. All the stalls sell these

alternative types of balisong, except for the stall of one vendor who exclusively sells balisong
knives. Worthy to note is that his stall is also the only one that sells a curved variety of the balisong

knives.

In contrast to the past, a vendor stated that the three original blade types used for the

balisong knives then were the Razor type (which is also known locally as the “Labaha” type), the

Bowie type (“de-Buyod”), and the Double-blade type. According to the balisong maker, he only

mentions the Labaha and the de-Buyod type as the original designs of the blades. Another vendor

then only states that the Labaha type was the original design of the balisong blade. She said that it

is the one with more use because it is sharper and is used as a shave, a general cutting tool, or a

survival knife. The blade is referred to generally be used as a utility tool.

According to one vendor, there are a lot of new designs nowadays because they seek to

innovate in order to keep their items fresh for the customers, so to speak, given that they do not

sell food. He stated that even then they were still thinking of new innovations for the balisong.

One such idea that came to him, he says, is hybrid of the balisong and a USB. He has yet to figure

out how, but he believes that it is not impossible.

Part IV: The Components of a Balisong

The balisong can be made from a variety of materials that can be acquired either through

junk shops, or delivered in accordance to the demand of the one who commissions for a custom-

made knife. The handle has three parts. According to one vendor, one part is called the bolster, the

other is the insert, and finally there is the liner.

The balisong has two handles. Thus, a balisong has two liners. The liners serve as the main

frame of the handle, and is where the bolsters and the inserts are riveted down. The liners are
primarily made out of brass sheets or any type of metal. In a traditionally made balisong, you

would find a total of eight (8) bolsters, four (4) for each handle. The bolsters are the ones attached

to the top and bottom tips of the balisong, separated only by the inserts. They are notably made

commonly out of brass, but other metals can, and are, also used, like aluminum. Stainless (not to

be confused with stainless steel as the vendor notes that they do not have it) is remarkably more

expensive according to one vendor for it would need to go through a milling machine for the

creation of the hollow space that would allow the housing of the blade. The latch, the locking

mechanism of the balisong, is made out of the same material as either the liner, or the bolster.

The Inserts are the components of the balisong handle that are usually of a distinct material

than that of the rest of the handle (although there are some balisong knives that have housings that

are homogenous in material and design, and thus have no bolsters, inserts, nor liners, just a single

handle; these are not of the traditionally made type) and is sometimes called the grip, a variety of

materials can be placed. Animal horns from that of a deer or a carabao, horse bone, varieties of

wood (kamagong, ipil-ipil, narra, madre), or even plastic is utilized for this part.

The blade can be made from leaf springs or metal bearings. The ones made from leaf

springs are more common, according to one vendor. Furthermore, brass is also sometimes used for

the blade. In the cases of balicombs, it is most often made from brass.

Then until now, all of the materials required for the production of the balisong knives would

be acquired from junk, or scrap shops from Manila. However, according to all the informants, the

materials used for the balisong then as compared to now are different. It was noted that they would

use thick brass tubes for the housing, and deer horn for the insert or grip back then. However, due

to the apparent depletion of the brass tubes, and the rarity nowadays of deer horn, both contributing

to the rise in the prices of these materials, the manufacturers were forced to adapt to the changing
circumstances. This is when they started to experiment, successfully, with other materials like

horse bone (which was noted to be acquired somewhere in Navotas, and Malabon), metal sheets,

wood, and even plastic. According to one vendor, they just work on and alter the horse bone to

make it reminiscent of the vintage deer horn.

In terms of the quality of the balisong manufactured then compared to those now, the

opinions are divided. Some say that they prefer the old ones as they stated them to be of a higher

quality than those produced now. However, others say that the quality is still the same. That the

only differences are the materials used then and now, and the person who made the balisong,

stating that there are those who make balisong knives of good quality, ad those who make balisong

knives just to meet the demand.

Part V: The Processes of Making a Balisong

The vendors in the town all have their own workers or balisong makers who they pay to

make balisong knives for them to sell. The following information regarding the manufacture of a

balisong is from the account of one balisong maker, and one vendor. Primarily, it is from the

maker. Whether or not this is the process that all balisong makers in the area is uncertain. However,

the processes to be stated in the following paragraphs should amply reflect the reality of how to

balisong makers undergo the processes in order to create a piece, and that any difference would be

marginal with respect to the general principles and techniques surrounding the manufacturing of

one balisong.

The balisong makers are already given the materials before they begin. The metal used for

the blades either come from the blacksmith supplier, or from the customer who brought their own
materials of choice. The blades supplied by the blacksmith still need to be cut, and polished as they

aren’t finished blades, but are rather roughly cut and shaped metals resembling blades. The primary

tools of the balisong maker’s trade include a hammer, a metal file, a bench clamp, an electric drill,

and a mechanized grinding wheel.

The handles are the ones that are first worked o before the blade. For the handle, the liner

is the first one to be cut and shaped. Brass sheets are cut and hammered into a C-shape (or U-

shape), using a bench clamp as support for the initial pounding and shaping, then using a thick

piece of metal as a guiding base for its shape. This is repeated twice as one balisong requires two

(2) handles, and thus two (2) liners. After it has taken the desired shape, the inserts are then put

into place.

The inserts are placed in their desired place along the liners, then are marked by a pencil

in order to avoid mistakes regarding the symmetry of the design of the handle. The lines also serve

as marks as to where to drill the rivet holes. Once the guiding lines have been marked, they are

drilled using an electric drill. Copper wires are then filed, and cut in order to serve as the rivets

that secure the inserts in place. This is repeated four (4) times as a regular balisong design requires

four (4) inserts. After all the inserts are put in place, the bolsters are the ones worked on next.

The bolsters are measured, marked, and cut from metal plates, with the aid of the bench

clamp to keep it steady as the worker saws and files the bolsters. Worth mentioning is the use of a

measuring and marking tool made from movable, wooden parts. It is operated by adjusting the

small wooden parts through light striking or pounding. This adjusts the part that has a marking

tool, and after the right adjustments are made with regards to the handle, is it used to mark the

bolster pieces for cutting. A total of eight (8) bolsters is required for a regular balisong. Four (4)

for each handle.

are made. This is done by cutting off bits on the insert, and polishing the cut edge. This is done

because as a rule, the top bolster (the one connected to the blade part) should be longer than the

bottom bolster. Once the adjustments are made, the bolsters are once again polished before being

drilled into and riveted by copper wires.

After the bolsters are riveted down, the top side of the handle is filed and polished to a

rounded shape. Otherwise, the balisong could not be opened. First by using a metal file, then later

through the mechanized grinding wheels. The first wheel is simply textured with an abrasive. The

balisong makers polish the handle through it. Working not only the top part but the entire handle

on the wheel, dipping it in water from time to time so as to not scorch the materials, or catch fire.

After going through the first wheel, the handle is then run through a second wheel for a finer

polishing. The second wheel is a mix of abrasives and contact cement.

The blade is then given attention after the handles have been finished. The blade is first

filed and polished using the grinding wheels before it is connected to the handles. Copper wires

are still used as the rivets, as well as for the tang pin. Once attached, the blade is continually filed

and polished until it can properly fit inside the housing of the handles. After the blade is finished,

the balisong is inspected again and the final touches and polishing is applied. After that, the

balisong is then delivered to the vendors where the makers get paid for their work.

The balisong makers were observed to lack wearing any safety equipment while working

asides from the glasses, which seems to serve more as a tool to aid with vision than a tool meant

for safety. The maker notes that the injuries they experience brought about by their mistakes help

serve as lessons to better themselves. The most common injuries, he notes, are flesh wounds given

that they work with metals, and eye injuries sustained due to the sparks produced by the
machineries that get into their eyes. He also notes that with age, it becomes more and more difficult

to craft balisong knives because their eyesight deteriorates and their hands begin to tremble and

thus, might affect the overall quality of the balisong knives that they craft for a living.

According to the balisong maker, they can make two (2) to three (3) ordinary balisong

knives in one day. On the other hand, if they were to make one of the special, more expensive

varieties, they can only make one (1) per day. The maker stated that it was a lot harder to make a

balisong then as compared to now, due to the presence of electric and mechanized tools that they

now have as part of their tools. Both he and the former balisong maker, stated the existence of

balisong factories then, wherein the work was divided by specialized labor. This means that there

would be people who specifically work on the handles, those who work on the blades, and those

who work on the filing and polishing. Sulite’s book backs up this statement.

The balisong maker stated that he used to manage a balisong factory back in the day, and

that he supervised, as well as worked with the workers. However, the rising prices of the materials

they were using for the balisong then, paired with the then unchanging price of the balisong knife,

ended the factory as he could no longer afford to pay his workers. No mention of another factory

was made by either the vendors, nor the balisong makers. The balisong maker stated that when the

factory had to close, he had to work as an extra for a variety of jobs. However, he came back to

making balisong knives after six (6) months because, he said, that it was the only livelihood that

he really knew.

Furthermore, the balisong maker stated that before, every house would have someone who

makes balisong knives. Nowadays, only a few of them are left. He says the other had went on with

other livelihoods, citing that other went abroad, other became tailors, others became tricycle

drivers, and the like.

The vendors and balisong makers are linked in that the vendors depend on the balisong

makers for their products. Furthermore, two of the vendors interviewed both state they made

designs for the balisong for their balisong makers to follow. One being more traditional in the

sense that he strictly commissions and sells knives, while the other is more flexible in the sense

that he commissions and sells a variety of balisong products regardless if they are blades or not,

stating that he continues to think of new designs every day.

When asked regarding about their daily routine, the vendors stated that they usually start

and end from six (6) am to six (6) pm, and that they are open daily. However, they note that this

is not really a case but just a rough estimation because they close early some days, and close late

in others. Two vendors stated that their daily routines include opening the shop, and cleaning the

knives. However, one vendor states that she only cleans the knives she thinks needs to be cleaned,

and the one that a customer wants to buy. The other vendor said that all the knives are cleaned

every day. A noteworthy observation is that the stalls do not only sell balisong products

exclusively. All of them also sell other types of blades and weapons. This set includes nunchakus;

brass, wooden, or plastic knuckles; arnis sticks; retractable batons; swords (traditional blades,

imported blades, hidden cane swords), shuriken (ninja stars), imported switchblades, imported

balisong products, and even some kitchen utensils like kitchen knives and serving spoons. One

vendor to note, however, only sells balisong knives and swords.

One vendor manages her stall on her own, and tells that it was a business of one of her in-

laws which she inherited once they passed. The business had been around for fifteen (15) years,

and that she’s been working it for the last three (3). At first, she expressed her doubts as to who
would ever buy the products as they were all blades. she was happy later on because she realized

that a lot of people do buy them as souvenirs. She said that she was encouraged to continue to run

the place because a lot of people were buying. When asked about what is special about the

balisong, she said that there really is nothing special about it. However, she stated that it is

something that is close to their identities. When asked of a memorable experience in her years of

running the shop, she mentioned it was those days when the customer would cut themselves by

accident with one of the knives, or when she would cut herself by accident with one of the knives.

Another memorable experience for her was when a drunk would come by. She said that by then,

she would just give them what they want. Lastly, an interesting detail that she mentioned is that

she is related to the two other balisong vendors in the area.

Another vendor said that he started with the business of selling balisong knives after he

graduated. He told the story of how he didn’t want to compete with his mother’s tailor business,

so he went to the balisong. The vendor said that he started only with buying and selling balisong

knives, and that he only had around thirty (30) items to sell at first, but later on he found his own

producer and has been in steady business since. He said that it really was up to him as to when

he’s going to wake up as he can count on someone to start up shop for him early in the morning.

He states that he wakes up at around six (6) or six-thirty (6:30) in the morning. He mentioned that

he goes to the market in the morning and comes back at around nine-thirty (9:30). From then, he

doesn’t leave the stall. He says that it’s easy for him because he lives in the house that houses his

stall. However, he notes that it is not his actual house, and that it is the house of his relatives, his

own house being somewhere among the houses behind this house.

According to him, his primary purpose for the balisong is for him to earn a living as it is

their main source of income, the second source being the small corner store his wife manages. He
also mentioned that it would be a regret if they, the vendors and balisong makers, did not continue

to make and sell balisong knives as it is one of the things that Batangas is known for.

His memorable experiences when it came to the balisong, according to him, was when he

was robbed. One time was when he woke up to find his glass casings smashed, and that some of

his items were gone. That happened two (2) years ago. Another incident was when he was robbed

again by a person who tricked him into believing that he was just about to get money from his car,

when it sped away from his shop. He tried to get the plate number, however he said that it didn’t

have one, leading him to believe that the thieves were professionals. Nevertheless, he says that the

place is generally peaceful and that no other incident has happened to him since. The vendor also

shared that the balisong is also known as “Batangas”, especially in the Visayas region.

The vendor also added that the sales of the balisong depends on the season. According to

him, December is a profitable month as a lot of people buy balisong merchandise as gifts for their

friends and family back in their homes. Furthermore, he states that he gains a lot of profits

especially if there are typhoons or storms. This is because he would be the only stall open and

everyone else would be closed. He attributes his confidence in remaining open, despite foul

weather, in his glass casings that he said were waterproof. Moreover, the vendor stated that he

doesn’t want to close because a regular might come looking for products, and in finding out that

his store is closed, look for products from other stalls. If this happens, he feared, they may

eventually start buying from the other stalls.

Another vendor noted that the reason she started and continues to sell the balisong is

because of it being a profitable venture. She has people who she can count on to handle the shop

while she is away. Again, the time given was from six (6) am to six (6) pm, adding that it still

depends on the day and that they may close later or sooner that six (6) in the afternoon. The vendor
stated that she started small back in the year 2000. A small space, few items, just enough for a

budding business. Seventeen (17) years later, and her stall sells a wide variety of products ranging

from blunt, to edged weapons, or souvenirs, depending on one’s purpose. She stated that the special

thing about the balisong is that it is what Batangas is famous for. For her, she has no other use for

the balisong other than selling and making a profit out of it. She says that she doesn't have a

particularly memorable memory when it comes to her relationship with the balisong, as far as she

can tell. Lastly, she stated that the locally made balisong knives, compared to most but not all

others, are of a higher quality.

One more vendor who was interviewed said that he was inspired to start his shop because

he wanted to contribute to the livelihood as he saw that it was very widespread in the area, and that

he wanted it to be known internationally as well. The vendor said that you needed to market

something remarkable, something that would catch the attention of others. According to him, the

balisong before were all the same, and was of low quality. He stated that he first tried to upgrade

the quality first to encourage not just the Filipinos, but the international community as well. He

said that they have reached that point now. The indicator for him being that the balisong is now

sought after by other countries as well, not just by the Filipinos.

He said that the only thing that needs to be addressed is the issue of legality, expressing his

dismay that other countries can market their blades here in the country, while the balisong is under

close watch. He further expresses his woes that the government does not help with the legalization

of the balisong market, and that the only reason they can display and sell it here is that it is already

the livelihood associated with the place, a cultural product. The vendor then shared that his boxes’

contents are not listed as blades because if they were, it would be stopped by the country from

being shipped out. This is why he labels them under “utility tools and other materials”.
 Based on his experience, he says that the buyers are primarily collectors. Filipinos usually

going for the lesser priced balisong knives, as compared to the foreign collectors. He states that

there is more or less an even balance between Filipino and foreign buyers. Although he says that

there are Filipinos who go for the expensive varieties, he notes that they are the really well-off

ones.

With regards to the future of the balisong industry, he says that hope is now lost because

the number of balisong makers are dwindling. Furthermore, he adds that the children of those who

are making balisong knives now do not have the interest to continue the tradition because it is a

difficult job, and that the interests of the people nowadays is more inclined to technologies like

cellphones and the like.

He says that the handmade balisong craft must not be allowed to die because it is what

made known Batangas and Taal to both the Filipinos and other countries. That our identity is in

the balisong, that it is uniquely ours. He shares that his dream is that at least before he dies, he

wants to win the lottery so that he can commission the work of balisong structures that would be

placed at roads that would enter the border of Batangas province. He ends by saying that money

is not happiness, it is the proof that you lived.

According to the balisong maker who has been in the business for twenty-eight (28) years,

he was only young when he began to take an interest in making balisong knives. He said that his

parents owned a balisong factory which is why he learned the processes at an early age and as he

was growing up. According to him, he continues to make balisong knives because it was his

livelihood and that that is what makes the balisong special for him. He further states that he doesn’t

have any use for the balisong apart from selling it.
 He states that they sell balisong knives per order, and that they used to deliver it back then

to whoever ordered it. Nowadays, delivering is now too expensive, and thus they just bring it to

their respective vendors. When it come to their schedules, the balisong maker said that they do not

have fixed schedules, given that they work within their homes. He said that the work or don’t work

according to their own volition. However, according to him, they do generally work until five (5)

in the afternoon, or four (4) if their bodies begin to ache by then. He said that they work all day

every week, stopping only if they’re sick.

VII. The Balisong Industry as of Now

The balisong industry as of now is in danger of disappearing, according to most of those

interviewed. Only one vendor expressed that although the numbers of the balisong makers is

dwindling, he said that the tradition will not cease. All the other interviewees expressed their fear

that the local balisong industry may indeed disappear. One stated that the balisong industry may

even be gone in five years’ time. Expressing that this saddens her as the balisong is well known,

and is close to their identity as a people. The balisong maker expressed that it would be lucky if

he were able to continue for ten (10) more years in the industry, given is failing eyesight and

unsteadying hands.

The prime reason that they link with this apparent crisis in the balisong industry is the case

of the next generation of people who no longer have any interest in studying how to make balisong

knives for a living. This, plus the fact that the current balisong makers are getting older, and that a

lot of those who did use to work as balisong makers sought other livelihoods.
 According to them, one factor that contributes to the lack of interest nowadays among the

youth, is the hopes of the families who want a higher standard of living for their children. One

vendor explains it as like how a farmer would not want his children to grow up as farmers, but as

doctors and the like, the craft of making balisong knives being not as profitable as other forms of

livelihood. This is the reason as to why the former balisong maker interviewed left the industry in

pursuit of a more culinary occupation. He stated explicitly that the gains from making balisong

knives are low. Moreover, back to the case of the youth, their parents send them to finish school,

so they are more inclined to get into jobs that have something to do with what studies they finished

or go and making a living abroad, as compared to getting into manufacturing balisong knives.

Furthermore, one vendor stated that, the blacksmiths also face the same problem as to who will

succeed them in the years to come.

However, it was mentioned that the local government is taking steps to ensure that the

balisong industry does not die out. According to a vendor and the former balisong maker, their

current mayor spearheaded a project that seeks to offer a free training course in the production of

balisong knives to the people. The project is still apparently in its early stages, but they hope that

the project would be successful so as to help further promote the local tradition, and thus prevent

it from disappearing as a tradition.

VIII. Conclusion