Of bolo rush & bolomen

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Nonoy Tan

I suspect that there was hardly any so called "tourist" blades during the period of Spanish “rule” - because the tourist market and the "tourism industry" was not yet developed. Furthermore, almost every Filipino household probably owned a bladed weapon - pointed or not. And even if a pointed weapon was outlawed, it did not stop anybody (including the lowlanders paying tribute to the colonial government) from owning and keeping one at home (i.e. not brought out in public).

Thus, the likely answer to your question is "No".

Nonoy, thanks!

If I may add a point or two in support of that, the Leyte-Samar sundang (also known as garab or talibon in some parts of those Visayan islands) is for instance configured that way for a reason.

Like the sagging (i.e., convex) shape of the cutting edge is supposed to split more efficiently a coconut nut

And then the pointy tip was designed to scoop out the copra [dried coconut kernel] efficiently ... like what the tourist in the pic below is trying to learn.

And then the (short) length of the sundang/garab/talibon was deliberate -- that was done so that the coconut farmer need not spread his arms farther apart than necessary, while extracting the copra from the shell.

And so even if pointed bolos were outlawed then, in many instances and for very practical reasons, the prohibition simply couldn't had been followed.

[kai]

Hello Miguel,

If I may add a point or two in support of that, the Leyte-Samar sundang (also known as garab or talibon in some parts of those Visayan islands) is for instance configured that way for a reason.

Like the sagging (i.e., convex) shape of the cutting edge is supposed to split more efficiently a coconut nut

And then the pointy tip was designed to scoop out the copra [dried coconut kernel] efficiently ... like what the tourist in the pic below is trying to learn.

Well, he's obviously playing with a freshly opened coconut not copra. Else he wouldn't smile that much anymore...

AFAIK, copra is really not that difficult to remove from the shell since most of it is already detached due to the drying process - wouldn't something like a spoon work much better/faster? I somehow have a problem imagining the thin tip of Bill's nice garab being used for working copra! BTW, isn't the copra trade a fairly recent (i.e. colonial) phenomenon? From my travels, ripe coconuts seemed to be of very little interest to any local population - they only utilized young coconuts (or, at least, still fairly soft ones for making coconut cream).

And then the (short) length of the sundang/garab/talibon was deliberate -- that was done so that the coconut farmer need not spread his arms farther apart than necessary, while extracting the copra from the shell.

That's definitely too much of a stretch for me...

Regards,
Kai

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by kai

To me #1 looks like a bat-head "bolo" (usually attributed to Batangas)...

Thanks for the info, Kai!

Originally Posted by kai

Well, he's obviously playing with a freshly opened coconut not copra. Else he wouldn't smile that much anymore...

Thanks for pointing that out ... yes indeed, copra's smell is an acquired taste

But yes, as you noted the photo shows a freshly opened mature coconut. And thus to scoop out that fresh kernel, you really need a sharp and pointed bolo, as at that point the kernel still sticks very much to the shell.

Originally Posted by kai

AFAIK, copra is really not that difficult to remove from the shell since most of it is already detached due to the drying process - wouldn't something like a spoon work much better/faster?

Actually, I made the mistake in my earlier post by saying the tourist is scooping out copra.

The process of making copra is as follows: you split a mature coconut in two, then you scoop out the fresh thick & hard kernel with a bolo and you throw away the shell (for some later other use), and then you dry that kernel (without the shell), and after some time, the kernel becomes copra.

So one will really initially need that sharp and pointed bolo to separate that fresh kernel from the shell

BTW, isn't the copra trade a fairly recent (i.e. colonial) phenomenon? From my travels, ripe coconuts seemed to be of very little interest to any local population - they only utilized young coconuts (or, at least, still fairly soft ones for making coconut cream).

Copra's mass production would date back to at least the mid-1800s I think.

As to which is used more, young or old coconuts, in the Philippines the latter would have much many more uses. Young coconut (i.e., buko, pronounced BOO-koh) is commonly used merely for dessert as buko salad. Mature coconut however would have a host of domestic, commercial, and industrial applications, and copra would just be one of the many

[migueldiaz]

In studying the story of the bolomen, I have yet to read Muddy Glory: America's Indian Wars in the Philippines (1981) and Bullets & Bolos: Fifteen Years in the Philippine Islands (1928).

I've read several times however, Vic Hurley's Jungle Patrol (1938) and Swish of the Kris (1936).

Can anybody please comment on whether Hurley has romanticized too much his accounts of the antagonists and protagonists?

For instance we read of this account by Hurley about the famous Lt. Leonard Furlong:

Beyond doubt, the most romantic figure of the entire American-Moro conflict, was this same Furlong. His career as a fighting man was so remarkable that to this day the Moros of Cotobato bow their heads when his name is mentioned. Furlong has become an undying tradition to these fierce Moros who respected, more than anything else, the terrific valor displayed by this man. Furlong had a strange and tragic history, the details of which were supplied to the writer by men who knew him well and who fought beside him in Mindanao. After an unfortunate love affair which made life futile to him, he came to Mindanao to seek death on the krises of the Moros. He was in the thick of the Moro fighting for several years and it was said by his associates that no odds were too great and no charge too forlorn for this soldier seeking death. His reckless disregard for his own life often took him alone across open country to the very walls of cottas swarming with hostile Moros. It is said that it was his habit to enter the cottas, far in advance of his men, and that the Moros gave way before him, denying him the death he sought. Furlong seemed to lead a charmed life. To the Moros he was supernatural, and he came through the campaigns without a scratch. When the period of cotta warfare came to and end Furlong resigned his commission and sailed for Manila. There in the capital city, he took is own life, accomplishing that which the Moros had been unable or unwilling to do.

Poetic license (i.e., the underscored portion above) or the plain truth?

But let us not miss out on the most important lesson here -- any man can survive a lot of battles and hardships, but nothing is as lethal as unrequited love

[Rick]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

In studying the story of the bolomen, I have yet to read Muddy Glory: America's Indian Wars in the Philippines (1981) and Bullets & Bolos: Fifteen Years in the Philippine Islands (1928).

I've read several times however, Vic Hurley's Jungle Patrol (1938) and Swish of the Kris (1936).

Can anybody please comment on whether Hurley has romanticized too much his accounts of the antagonists and protagonists?

For instance we read of this account by Hurley about the famous Lt. Leonard Furlong:

Beyond doubt, the most romantic figure of the entire American-Moro conflict, was this same Furlong. His career as a fighting man was so remarkable that to this day the Moros of Cotobato bow their heads when his name is mentioned. Furlong has become an undying tradition to these fierce Moros who respected, more than anything else, the terrific valor displayed by this man. Furlong had a strange and tragic history, the details of which were supplied to the writer by men who knew him well and who fought beside him in Mindanao. After an unfortunate love affair which made life futile to him, he came to Mindanao to seek death on the krises of the Moros. He was in the thick of the Moro fighting for several years and it was said by his associates that no odds were too great and no charge too forlorn for this soldier seeking death. His reckless disregard for his own life often took him alone across open country to the very walls of cottas swarming with hostile Moros. It is said that it was his habit to enter the cottas, far in advance of his men, and that the Moros gave way before him, denying him the death he sought. Furlong seemed to lead a charmed life. To the Moros he was supernatural, and he came through the campaigns without a scratch. When the period of cotta warfare came to and end Furlong resigned his commission and sailed for Manila. There in the capital city, he took is own life, accomplishing that which the Moros had been unable or unwilling to do.

Poetic license (i.e., the underscored portion above) or the plain truth?

But let us not miss out on the most important lesson here -- any man can survive a lot of battles and hardships, but nothing is as lethal as unrequited love

I think the truth may be somewhat clouded in the mists of the past yet the deeds go down in history . I would suspect that Furlong with many of his contemporarys in the Constabulary found that leading from the front inspired the ranks .\

People will always follow those who lead .

"Denying him the death he sought " ....... well, there's maybe the Journalist ..


I have both the books you mention above Miguel; both are worthwhile reads along with MYSELF AND A FEW MOROS by Cloman from the same era; all of the titles are fairly affordable .

Rick

[Dimasalang]

Originally Posted by Rick

I think the truth may be somewhat clouded in the mists of the past yet the deeds go down in history . I would suspect that Furlong with many of his contemporarys in the Constabulary found that leading from the front inspired the ranks .\

People will always follow those who lead .

"Denying him the death he sought " ....... well, there's maybe the Journalist ..


I have both the books you mention above Miguel; both are worthwhile reads along with MYSELF AND A FEW MOROS by Cloman from the same era; all of the titles are fairly affordable .

Rick

More on Leonard Furlong.
http://www.bakbakan.org/furlong.html

Given the era, I have no doubt that Furlong would have led in the front of his men. The Phil-Am War is the last war where US generals and colonels actually rode on horseback in to battle with their troops. After the Moro/Pulahan uprisings and prior to WWI, looking back on the deaths of both Gen Lawton and Col Stotsenberg makes me believe the US Military now required high ranking officers to stay in the rear or back at HQ.

[trenchwarfare]

Couldn't find mile file photo. Image at top of page depicts both the US Spring & Bumper Co. Machete (bright blade) and the one mfg by Creuver Mfg. Co. The second, reported to be dropped by air, to guerillas fighting the Japanese. In reality, it was part of aircraft emergency bail-out kits, in tropical areas. M.P.http://www.lulu.com/content/1253892

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Rick

I think the truth may be somewhat clouded in the mists of the past yet the deeds go down in history . I would suspect that Furlong with many of his contemporarys in the Constabulary found that leading from the front inspired the ranks .\

People will always follow those who lead .

"Denying him the death he sought " ....... well, there's maybe the Journalist ..


I have both the books you mention above Miguel; both are worthwhile reads along with MYSELF AND A FEW MOROS by Cloman from the same era; all of the titles are fairly affordable .

Rick

Thanks for the comments, Ric

And the "Moros [giving] way before him" reminds me of Moses parting the Red Sea

Thanks also for the book referral ... I just ordered a copy!