THE BUTTERFLY KNIFE

In 1905, Perfecto de Leon introduced Balisong in the Philippines and considered it as a deadly weapon. The art of balisong is one of the famous internationally known products of the country from the year it was invented up to present.

Taal Batangas, is traditionally known for crafting butterfly knife or what Filipino used to called “Balisong”. It’s a folding pocket knife with two handles counter - rotating around the tang such that when closed the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles.

The word balisong was derived from tagalong words “baling sungay” literally, “broken horn” as the original balisongs were made from carved animal horns. These knives are also known as a fan knives or batangas knives which originally used by Batangueño since it was formerly well known in the Tagalog region.

Today, Taaleños utilized wood, metals and plastic for the handles seeing as many of the tourist and visitors of the place considered it as their souvenir in the town.

Mr. Diosdado Ona, owner of the Ona’s Batangas Blades Store where located at Barangay Balisong Taal, Batangas. According to him, the knives are handmade in the traditional manner. Since, he offers a collection of designs of the optimum balisong in town.

The customer has an option what type of blade and design to be used. Blades of modern knives are made of stainless steel while the materials used for the handles can be made by carabao horn, kamagong wood, horse leg bone, stainless square bar, and brass square bar. You can also buy other useful products like kitchen knife, samurai, bayonet, butterfly sword, bolo, and other garden tools.

If you are familiar with Veintinueve it was a spanish word for twenty nine. Veintinueve is the best selling type of balisong in Taal.

Balisong prices differ based on size and materials used to make them. It starts from Php 200 onwards, however, veintinueve cost around Php 600 – 800.

Taal and other Batangas area has been discovered as a significant marketing tool to attract travelers with special interest in heritage and arts. Batangas can also serve as your bread and butter since tourism has grown into one of the worlds industries and has thus also become important. And by that, I encourage everyone to enjoy and take the opportunities here in Batangas since not only balisong can be your source of income but also other livelihood products that are originated here in Batangas.

And if you’re planning to find a place to stay here in Batangas for good then I just have the right investment for you. Sto. Tomas, Batangas can be easily reached via STAR Tollway and SLEX. Lumina Sto. Tomas is just about 45 minutes from Alabang. Graced with Mt. Makiling’s majestic view, the 33-hectare Lumina Batangas is complete with a guard house, multi-purpose hall, mini gardens and playground, basketball court, and space for future commercial establishments.