moro pira elongated pommel for discussion

[Pinoy Blade Hunter]

I have recently had a modern Pira Yakan commisioned, from a smith in southern Palawan Philippines.

The smith is said to be from a family of generations of smiths, coming from Mindanao and sailed to southern parts of Palawan (which is very near Mindanao).

The blade part is of the modern variation of the Pira, but the handle part is made like the older traditions, with the elongated pommel/ prong.

question: what was the elongated pommel's purpose, does anybody know? (the smiths do not know why anymore, and actually they have not done it in a very long time. we just requested them to do it in this build.