Balisong practitioners of various levels and styles gathered on August 25 in Manila to celebrate, preserve, and revive the culture and art of the Filipino handmade pocketknife.

The balisong, also known as the butterfly knife, traces its origins to Taal, Batangas. The name is derived from the word “bali,” meaning broken, and “song,” from the word “sungay,” meaning horns. It is often crafted from various spare parts, such as broken carabao horns, animal bones, or even leaf springs from jeepneys, which makers piece together to form a blade that can be flipped with one hand.

Balisong practicioners of various levels as well as beginners gather for the first event of non-profit Kultura ng Balisong in Manila on August 25, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Organized by the non-profit organization Kultura ng Balisong, the event included seminars for beginners, a "Daloy ng Balisong" (balisong flow) competition for practitioners, and a drum circle open to all levels and styles.

In line with its objective of preserving culture, the group has been collaborating with some of the remaining local handcrafters from Taal for more than a decade to produce balisongs. These foldable knives, made either with real blades or as 'trainers' featuring blunt edges, were sold during the event to support the makers' families.

Different types of balisong are on display, with balisong makers from Taal, Batangas, attending the event. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

"Unfortunately, over the years, this has been a fading part of our culture. And it has been my life's mission to bring back to our people, to make it relevant again in our culture, and to remind people especially here in the Philippines that this is a part of our culture," says Ron Cariño, Kultura ng Balisong's founder.

"And it's so important that we preserve it because in the next generation or two, we're not going to have the balisong anymore."

One hurdle seen in the preservation and revival of the Filipino blade is a standing law on illegal possession of bladed, pointed, or blunt weapons. 

Under Batasang Pambansa number 6, it is unlawful to carry outside of one's residence any bladed, pointed, or blunt weapons except where such articles are being used as necessary tools or implements to earn a livelihood or in pursuit of a lawful activity.

Filipino martial arts practitioner and instructor Ronnie Royce Base believes that the current law, along with the negative perceptions surrounding the balisong—often associated with criminal activity and negative portrayals in the media—has contributed to the decline in its use and demand, relegating the blade to being merely a collector's item.

Kultura ng Balisong founder Ron Cariño teaches the basics of balisong flipping and other techniques.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Siguro ang iniisip ng mga tao, bakit namin ito pag-aaralan, e delikado siya? Even acquiring it, delikado na e. So bakit kami bibili o a-acquire niyan?" says Base, who heads Laraw Kali Pamuok FMA International, an FMA group that partners with Kultura ng Balisong in various capacities.

Practicing with the balisong has diminished over time, even among Filipino martial arts practitioners who work with weapons. Base hopes that these practitioners could become primary champions for the blade, given its local heritage and identity.

"Even yung mga balisong makers, mga balisong or blade lovers, nag aaquire sila ng balisong, nakikita namin na kulang ang skills. Kumbaga hindi talaga napapractice yung art ng balisong," Base adds.

In response to the decline in the use of the balisong, advocates are exploring, developing, and promoting alternative modalities for the blade. One such modality is balisong freestyle and flow, which showcases various ways of manipulating the blade, influenced by the user’s movements—whether flipping, martial arts, or dance. Other modalities include combining the balisong with Filipino Martial Arts, as well as Balisong Sayaw, where the user flips and flows to music, using the balisong as a therapeutic, meditative, and mindfulness tool.

A balisong practitioner shows how the tool can be used as part of Filipino martial arts. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

"A lot of kids and adults as well can flip the balisong for hours. There's something therapeutic about flipping a balisong” according to Carino. “And when you think about it, it's actually one of our first original fidget spinners. But there are so much more things that you can do to the balisong. It's endless," Carino added.

Participants join a free-flow exercise as they practice different techniques using the balisong. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

The organization is currently exploring ways to promote the art, craft, and culture of the balisong while respecting the current law. This includes meeting with the local government of Taal, Batangas, to discuss potential future partnerships centered around the town's homegrown product. In addition to preserving, reviving, and promoting the blade, advocates hope to foster a community that will appreciate and promote the craft for generations to come. "We're building a community around the balisong. We're not just making the balisong, but we're building a community around it," says Cariño.