[Federico]

Datu class can be bought in a round about way. A prime example was Datu Piang, or Datu Pedro around the turn of the century. Though more pronounced in the case of Datu Piang, who was the child of a slave. With enough wealth, particularly Datu Piang, he improved his own standing through marriage, and then subsequently improved his children's standing through arranging upward marriages for them. The role of wealth really comes out through dowry prices. Poor datus need money, marriage to rich people becomes a win win situation.

As for backwards channels of money, shabu, kidnappings, and smuggling are very good ways to make money these days that are not as traceable as selling ones family heirlooms. I am Pilipino, and very much aware how family connections work in PI. But at a certain extent, things die down the further away one is related. A seventh cousin, five times removed may be able to get a few bucks from a richer relative, but to sell ones family heirloom, particularly if one still follows old traditions? Moroland would not be in as such dire straits if people were truly that magnaminous, yet one hears all the time of Muslim brothers living in Manila ghettos. I know I can only give so much to poor relations, and at a certain point, with my own child to feed it does become a question of the fact that you are still only my seventh cousin five times removed. Utang na loob, is not some mysterious blood debt as some Westerners would have it described, and while has meanings, is often not as strong as some would believe. I know a good test is at funerals. When my own father died, I watched who truly paid back their debts through their respects, and who were false and did not. Unfortunately, the number who were false, and knew only how to ask was quite high. Chismis and lipservices is just as common as Utang, though not paying attention to utang will destroy what little chance you have to move forward.

Anyways, as I stated before, old blades in newer made fittings, which in turn are made of older materials (eg. old ivory or wood), are becoming more and more common. These are the blades targetted towards the doctors, lawyers, and those with money, and have been popping up more and more in recent years. These are the trickiest pieces, and as with all the debate this piece is pulling up, are the most difficult to detect. I am glad to hear there was not a story put along with the blade. In itself it is great quality work, which is a testament ot Mr. Ven's integrity, as many other dealers will give a story. And in itself has quality that is inate. My primary concern is knowledge that, A. it is not completely original and B. many out there will use the upgrade as a selling point. Almost all the dealers in antiques in PI, have a similar story. An old Moro comes around, and that's how they buy their swords. For the vast majority of them it is not safe to go deep into Moroland. But there are some who do, it is from those I have heard and seen pictures of these pieces being cobbled together. It is from other collectors that who have seen people tear apart old pieces, re-hilt them, age them, and then pass them off as original that makes me wary. Hence my little warning, that the practice occurs. Now with rapid turnover, and the precarious nature of dealing, I can understand that stuff creeps in, even amongst the most honest, hence the need to be always alert.