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Old 25th March 2005, 12:21 AM   #9
Federico
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Ok, just wanted to clarify. While it has been theorized (eg. Bob Cato) that the weapon Panabas that we are so fond of collecting evolved from an agricultural tool, the Panabas as a weapon was not a dual use sword like a Xtian bolo. Like the Kampilan they were symbols of State power, and one can see many period pics of Mindanao court gatherings with Panabas born on the shoulders of a Datu's followers. Furthermore they played a deep role in state executions. While it has errors, Bob Cato's book does offer some glimpse into the historic role of the Panabas.
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