Would this be a typical Parang Barong from Sulu? From the little I know it doesn't seem to be like those found in Palawan or Sabah. The quality of the wood makes me think that it must have been for a wealthier warrior, and Sulu, if I'm not mistaken, became a regional power during its wars against the Spanish.
How old do you guys think this is? I know that more recent barongs tend to have more... blocky carvings? The older ones seem to have more elegant and thinner carvings. The Sabah kinds tend to be more machete-like in their use and tend to have very minimal kakatuas... I don't know how much can be discovered based on it's handle and pommel...
Would a restoration (i.e. new sheath, filling in the partly hollow handle where the wood is disintegrated, and fixing the thin crack) be good for this? I know some collectors consider a piece to sometimes be better left as is... I'm no collector, I'm a user, and while I don't intend to use this guy at this point, I don't like broken things.... any opinions on whether a new lease on life is appropriate?