Swordsman's Journey

  Balila   I'm excitedly waiting for the 'balila' I requested, it will come from the Mindoro province. I thought of doing a blog on this topic. The Balila refers to a flat wooden weapon in some parts of Ilocandia, also called the brokil , a weapon for self-defense, it has a length of 30 inches, a width of 1.5 inches, and a thickness of half an inch. It is wide and has a design on the handle, like a wooden sword, only that there is usually no point at the end of it. The balila is usually made from hard wood such as mahogany, bahi, or gijo. I first saw it when I was a kid around the early 70s, from the typical Batanguenos hawking and selling mosquito nets and blankets. Their product is wrapped in a common white blanket, the products are folded properly, and they carry it on their shoulders with the help of a wooden handle, this is brokil or balila.  Apart from its use in carrying products, it is also definitely used to defend against possible robbers.   Even in...

  Balila   Excited ako sa paghighintay sa pinagawa kong ‘balila,’ mangagaling pa ito sa lalawigan ng Mindoro. Naisip ko na gawan ng blog ang paksa tungkol sa balila. Ang balila ang katawqan sa ilang bahagi ng Ilocandia; ito yun brokil sa katagalugan. Isang sandatang gamit sa pagtatanggol sa sarli, ito ay may karaniwang haba na 30 pulgada, may lapad an 1.5 na pulgada at kapal na kalahating pulgada. Lapad ito at may desenyo ang hawakan, para bang wooden sword, yun nga lang ay karaniwang walang tulis sa duluhan nito.  Ang balila ay karaniwang gawa mula sa matibay na kahoy gaya ng kamagong, bahi, o kaya’y gijo. Una akong nakakita nito noong paslit pa ako mga around early 70s, sa mga tipikal na Batangueno na naglalako at nagbebenta ng kulambo at kumot sa kamaynilaan noon. Ang kanilang produkto ay nakabalot sa isang karaniwang puting kumot, ang mga produkto at nakatupi ng maayos, ito ay binubuhat nila sa kanilang balikat gamit ang isang lapad na kahoy na may handle, ito yun...

  Filipino escrima is a weapon-based martial art developed as a mixture of European swordsmanship and indigenous Filipino movements. This is a martial art focused on the method of using weapons that can be used to defend oneself and the community against the pirates from the South and against the enemies of Spain during the colonial period (16 th to 19 th centuries).   Escrima was developed according to the time, place, and needs of each area in the Philippines, so there are some differences in its so-called traditional forms. What is common is, that escrima practices use a stick as an alternative and training tool on how to use weapons such as a sword, dagger, machete, and so on.   The Filipinas Sala de Armas as an Association of escrimadores believes that this martial art is effective in close-quarter battles, so we maintain its practice. However, as recreation and sports, it should not lose its true nature, effective fighting.   To Hit and Not to be Hit ...