Hi Battara & Charles,
I do believe that there are still quite a few quality pieces in Moroland (and the Philippines in general). However, they will usually be closely guarded family treasures and not available to the public (for several valid reasons
), and pretty unlikely to change hands. Whereas "souvenirs" brought back by soldiers may be appreciated by the person who obtained it but more rarely enter true family heritage status. So, when grandpa dies, stuff gets sold off. That's a good thing since these real pieces of history will hopefully end up with sincere collectors with genuine interest in Moro art & culture and the knowledge to take care of these treasures. I'd expect that, in the future, more and more kris will be acquired and brought back into the Philippines (as has been happening with precious Japanese and Chinese blades).
Regards,
Kai