This is an interesting question which I'm sure many are interested in seeing answered. It's a basic question, but without a simple answer. Asking this question is like opening Pandora's Box. The answer would be complex and will invite more questions. Even having access to many of these swords and being able to visit the areas where they are made...and still used...has brought about even more questions. Labantayo and I are still working on a survey of just Visayan weapons, and the closer we get to finding answers, even more questions are posed....sometimes the answers are more questions. Ariel, you are not alone.
One of the reasons for confusion is the lack of written material on Philippine swords. Sure we have Cato's book, but that deals mainly with Moro weapons. But what about the rest of the Philippines? Not much material is available in journals, books, etc. And the reason for that is because most people (outside the Moro realm and maybe the Lumad tribes) take their swords for granted. It's just an everyday tool that may be drawn in self defense. And to the average filipino, not interesting enough to write about.
The biggest obstacle though is the linguistic variations throughout the Philippines. Tagalog may be the "national" language, but not in Cebu, Samar, Negros, Mindanao, etc. Sure everyone might understand Tagalog or "Pilipino," but most people will speak their native dialect whether it's Ilongo, Kapapangan, Ilocano, Cebuano, Aklanon, Mandaya, Tausug, etc. And it's this dialectal differences that really adds to the confusion. One sword in one region may be called another name in a different region....but it would be the exact same sword. In another recent thread I said to call a particular sword a "sundang" just to be safe since the term sundang is used everywhere. It may not mean the same thing between say the Tagalogs and the Warays, but they would both understand that it's a long bladed weapon. Calling a sword a paricular name is almost pointless unless you mention it among people with the same dialect and familiarity of that particular sword. Because a different linguistic group may call that same particular sword a completely different name. And if you know Filipinos, they would argue that point...and arguments are sometimes settled with drawn blades
. Calling any sword a bolo would be the safest thing. Even the National Museum in Manila has every sword labeled as an "Espada" whether it's a talibong, kris, or kampilan. The Davao museum has all it's swords labelled "bolo."
So you could see the confusion with terminology. For instance, the Pulahan sword of Samar. It was known as a talibon for awhile here, then it was more properly called a garab. Both terms are used for the same sword, but garab has been more formally accepted here on this forum. However, in Eastern Samar where the sword comes from, the Waray use the term garab for a curved bladed sword...and even the bolo used for harvesting rice. They call the same sword with a straight blade a sundang. I have an old Pulahan "talibon", I was calling it a garab, but it has a straighter blade. Should I now call it a sundang?
And then you come to the endless varieties of swords itself. The variety of blade shapes and forms is confusing itself. And when is it a tool and not a weapon....is there any difference. There's a fine line there. A bolo used in the field to chop sugar cane can easily be turned on someone, and now it becomes a sword. There are subtle differences where an ordinary field bolo used for harvesting produce and clearing jungle becomes a purpose built weapon...used for harvesting lives. Furthermore, are the blade forms develeoped for the way the sword is used...or vice versa? The chicken vs. egg theory. A Filipino Martial Artist would ponder this question and it will help determine what region the sword is from.
So there are no easy answers.
But to help you out, Antonio, here's my suggestion.
Regionalize, the swords to the major regional areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. From there, regionalize it down further. Define what major linguistic or tribal groups are within those sub-regions and and discuss those particular groups swords.
That's a start....
I'll elaborate more later if you would like....this was just my disclaimer.
Good luck!