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.