New Info on Panay Sandukos

[Battara]

The following information comes from Nacho who works with the Iloilo Museum on the island of Panay, Philippines. He has done interviews and research with the descendants whose ancestors and tribe made these wonderful pieces of work. I thank Nacho (and Migueldiaz) for their help and passing this research on to me and the rest of us (by Nacho's permission).

The term "sanduko" is actually a lowland term for this type of piece. The lowlanders make the tenegre which always has a short nose and can be in wood, horn, or silver covered (rarely). What makes the sanduko starkly different is the nose which is much longer.

Sandukos are made by the highlanders, once called Mondo, Sulod, or Buki, but more properly called Panay Bukidnon. They call their sword not sanduko but taribong. The taribong is probably the oldest in form and design, perhaps going back to pre-Hispanic times, whereas the tenegre has been modified by the influence of the Spanish occupation.

There are 3 types of taribong that this tribe makes: sapot, tinitilaan, and the wala-pilak:

sapot taribong : this is the top of the line for the taribong. The best ones are made by a subgroup called the Aklan Bukidnon. Sapot means "covered all over" and it usually kamagong (makasar ebony) wood covered in silver. It is a dress sword to show wealth and worn to events and ceremonies like fiestas, feasts, cock fights, etc. It is the most valuable and expensive of the 3 types. A complete one has 3 small "balls" or "beads" that are called moro-monggo which look like monggo beans (over time many of these have been broken off and lost). Eyes, "ears" and a "hat" on top are made of silver coins, usually Spanish or American, and sometimes even Mexican.

tinitilaan taribong : this is second in value. It is like the sapot in form but is made of carved wood and bottom half is covered in silver sheet, sometimes the eyes and the nose. Sometimes these also have moro-monggo "balls" on the tip of the nose if the nose is silvered.

wala-pilak : this is third in line. It is made of carved wood and no silver is used. This type is the least in value of the 3.

NOTE: binangon is the generic term for bolo in Iloilo, Panay.

Below are some examples of these types from the Iloilo Museum:

1. sapot taribong
2. tinitilaan taribong
3. wala-pilak taribong

Note: taribong scabbards, especially sapot ones, have upturned ends. The straight and blunt ended scabbards tend to be lowlander made scabbards and are usually seen on tenegres.

There is more information but this is good enough for now.

[Battara]

Here are more pictures from the Iloilo Museum:

[Maurice]

Thank you for this interesting information.

So if I understand it right, the sanduko (taribong) has always an extended nose (when not broken ofcourse) and is made by the highlanders, unlike the tenegre which has a short nose and made by the lowlanders.

Does the bladeshape has anything to do with being high- or lowlanders? Or are the different shapes used by both?

Maurice

[TVV]

Great information, thank you!

[Battara]

My understanding is the the nomenclature does not apply to the blades. I have seen the same type of blades used on both highlander and lowlander pieces. There may be nomenclature for blade types as well, but the types are shared between both peoples.

[migueldiaz]

hi battara, thanks for starting this thread! we sure would all like to clarify these many terms pertaining to filipino swords.

just some minor clarifications please, if i may add -- nacho does not work for the iloilo [panay island, visayas] museum, but i understand he is one of its benefactors. and in post no. 2, those pieces are privately owned (but yes, they are truly museum-quality ones).

for everybody's info, 'bukid' in the philippines means farm/field or rural. one living in a bukid is called a 'bukidnon'. thus, bukidnon is a generic term.

'bukidnon' more popularly refers to a mindanao province (as maurice mentioned), originally exclusively inhabited by lumad peoples.

but as also mentioned, the highlanders of panay island in the visayas also call themselves bukidnon, that is, panay bukidnon.

[Dimasalang]

Awesome thread! Thanks for starting this thread Battera. And thanks to Nacho and Miguel for providing us this info.

Thought I would add these photos to this thread. Not my sword but was on eBay a year ago that did not sell. Im sure some folks on here have seen it, but in case others here haven't, here are pics for reference. This one has provenance to Teofilo Advincula, a WWII Guerrilla fighter from Romblon islands and Capiz, Panay.







Short story of Teofilo Advincula.
http://integrator.hanscom.af.mil/200...2012005-05.htm

[nacho]

Thanks, Dimasalang for the pics. The sword is now with me.

I found it very interesting because my very first sword (given by my grandfather when I was 10 yrs old) is identical to this one. He was a guerilla Captain based in the mountains of Mt. Baloy (land of the Mundo tribe) during WW2. I used the sword as a jungle bolo in my Boy Scout camping days. I did not think it was special. The sword got lost -- no doubt someone at home threw away what they thought was junk.

My grandmother's maiden name is Advincula. There is a strong posibility we might be related. But as he migrated to the U.S. right after WW2, none of our relatives know him.

Another interesting thing I dug up in the book, "Guerilla's of Panay" -- there were two Lt. Advincula's who served under my grandfather's unit. Unfortunately, no first names were given.

[Dimasalang]

Great to know the sword is with you! Hope you didn't mind me sharing the photos. hehe

[nacho]

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

Great to know the sword is with you! Hope you didn't mind me sharing the photos. hehe

I don't mind at all. Helps us all learn from each other.

[Royston]

Thanks Battara - great timing for the questions in my post

Roy

[ThePepperSkull]

Just curious -- I have seen some (modern made, but have not seen any antiques) blades that I would call Taribong, also made by Aklan bukidnon, but without horns. The pommels are instead round. What would these be called? Is it less-than-traditional or is there any cultural/historical precedence to this form of hilt?

[ThePepperSkull]

A little update on my question: The round-pommelled hilts I speak of actually do have horns depicted on them, but are folded over the head to make the pommel round, if that makes any sense.

Here is a pic of a modern aklan taribung handle with straight horn made of wood




And here is a modern aklan taribung handle from the same maker with the rounded, 'folded horn' hilt made of wood. Note the horn, which begins at the monster's nose and extends past the back of its head as if 'slicked back' so to speak:






Another folded horn hilt, in Carabao horn:





From what I have gathered, this came into being when those who wielded these requested that the horn not protrude ad prominently in order for a slash or swing of the blade to be less inhibited. I am still unure of when this came to be or even if it is traditional. It could be a modern design adjustment in order to satisfy modern eskrimador needs.

[Battara]

I think you made the point - modern escrimador needs.

I am glad you posted these - never seen this form before. I will wait for Migueldiaz and Nacho to respond.

[migueldiaz]

I've also seen these new form of the taribong hilt, from the (Manila) seller's website. It also struck me as something new and recent.

But Nacho is more familiar with Panay swords, thus it's better that we wait for his comments. Thanks.