Lessons Learned from a Master of Talibong, Art of Swordmanship

By: Aloysius Menez

° (didn’t know of tradition) that a sword not measured right is a delinquent blade

° Must be 18″ if it’s for carrying on a stroll or “pangpasiar”

° If 21″, 23″ & 25″ it’s to be hang on wall only, a sword used just to kill or defend, thus “ginasab’it”

° Pangkampo sa uma, to be used as tool in the farm, those are utility blades like Sanduko, Kinabasi, Linamay & Ginunting

° Based on blade’s size & measurement (ro sukat), paired number like 22 is 4, 17 is 8, sword tradition of those from the upland (mga taga’Ilaya).

° Siyaw also has its own measurement like 5 w/c is odd number such as 6.5″, an odd number too

° Wood materials used for blade handles, sheaths, scabbards are rare, special & costly species such as Lessons Learned from a Master of Talibong, Art of swordmanship

° Alinsyano uwa ka eubot (didn’t know of tradition) that a sword not measured right is a delinquent blade

° Must be 18″ if it’s for carrying on a stroll or “pangpasiar”

° If 21″, 23″ & 25″ it’s to be hang on wall only, a sword used just to kill or defend, thus “ginasab’it”

° Pangkampo sa uma, to be used as tool in the farm, those are utility blades like Sanduko, Kinabasi, Linamay & Ginunting

° Based on blade’s size & measurement, paired number like 22 is 4, 17 is 8, sword tradition of those from the upland (mga taga’Ilaya).

° Siyaw (knife) also has its own measurement like 5 w/c is odd number such as 6.5″, an odd number too (photo by: Papa Joselito Redecio Jr )