CEBUANO ANCIENT BLADED WEAPONS

The ancient Filipino bladed weapon system consists of Pinuti, Sundang and Baraw. These 3 bladed weapons were part of the Bolo Weapon System employed by the Ancient Visayan fighter during the post Sri Vijayan Empire.

The Kampilan which is the forerunner of the Bolo is a weapon of Choice of Raja Lapulapu our First Filipino Hero.

During the time of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the kampilan were outlawed by the natives and only the multipurpose farm implements’ such as the guna (small un sharpen bolo) & the sundang (multi purpose bolo) were allowed by Spanish Authorities.

Because of these eventualities, the native Filipinos re-shaped the kampilan to a more realistic farm implements and thus the birth of the pinuti (bolo sword), they also re-sharpen the guna to form like a small multi purpose bolo, and thus the birth of plumenko or baraw (Filipino dagger) , and the multi purpose bolo known as sundang or itak is used for hacking coconuts and cutting trees.

Bolos were actually used by Katipuneros during the outbreak of Philippine Revolution. Notable Visayan Katipuneros were armed with Pinuti and baraw.

Bolos were instrumental in subduing American forces in Balangiga, Samar during the Philippine-American War. In that encounter, all American Expeditionary Forces were slaughtered by Filipino fighters using pinuti, sundang and baraw in one of the bloodiest encounter the American troops ever had in the entire U.S. military history.

During World War 2, bolos were matched with katana sword of the Japanese Imperial Army in one of the great encounter during Operation Victor at Kantipla and Tabunan Ridge, Cebu City.

Bolo Battalion were members of the USAFFE that had special skills in Bolo Fighting known as Eskrimador that would matched the Samurai warriors of Japanese Army.