2021-004 | THE 2ND JACOBEAN CONGRESS OF CEBU

WHEN THE MUNICIPALITY OF COMPOSTELA, Cebu, through its then mayor, Hon. Joel Quiño, accepted the invitation to host the Second National Congress of St. James the Apostle Parishes and Devotees during the first congress held in Alabang, Muntinlupa City in 2018; it was the best thing to happen because it would expose our Camino de Santiago to more pilgrims and people; and it would also place Compostela in the center of the Jacobean Pilgrimage of the country instead of just another provincial backwater. 

Our own Compostela, the namesake of that famous city in Spain, hosts another namesake of a church from its mother country, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela, established in 1866 by an Agustinian Recollect priest from Zaragoza, Spain who brought with him a statue of St. James that became a permanent fixture high above the parish door. Its parish priest then, Fr. Scipio Deligero, was all smile as his pet project would soon be demonstrated before a national congress.

The congress in Cebu was simply all about the Camino de Santiago. The devotion of St. James was and always been centered on how and why people came to know him better: the Camino. It was the Camino de Santiago that lured me closer to him for, without it, I barely knew the good saint. It was the Camino de Santiago in Spain that pushed Fr. Scipio to have one like this in Cebu, that is affordable to anybody but, at the same time, spiritually fulfilling. A poor man’s Camino. 

In the preparation leading to the event, a huge botafumeiro or censer, 11.5 feet tall and 150 kilograms in weight, was fabricated courtesy of a single donor; while a huge structure housing this botafumeiro was soon constructed infront of the parish, courtesy also of four other donors. The main thoroughfare was paved with thick earthen bricks where scallop images lined the edges. Then an FM radio station was installed to deliver the news of this event to the remotest areas. At short notice all proceeded to be available on the appointed date: February 5-6, 2019. 

Ten days before that date, I was leading ten pilgrims on January 27, 2019 from the St. James the Apostle Parish, in Poblacion, Badian to the Our Lady of Consolation Parish, in the mountains of Manlapay, Dalaguete. We were on our first day of the Camino Cebu, a 175-kilometer pilgrimage over the central backbones of Cebu that is walked for ten days. The first day is always the hardest for it is walked from near sea level to 780 meters of elevation and 18+ kilometers long.

The ten pilgrims were Fr. Wilfredo Genelazo of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima of Basak, Mandaue City; adventure entrepreneur Randy Salazar; Big C survivor Renelyn Reynes; journalists Erl Durano and Grace Lina; ship electrician Rafael Gica; Jocelyn Baran and Jean Antipuesto of Compostela; an OFW from Abu Dhabi, Sheen Mark Deligero; and Raszil Zuasola, our photographer who has a bag that his brother had carried in the Camino Primitivo in Spain. 

The second day, January 28, was a long day, 20+ kilometers, and warm, as we trudged over the “Vegetable Highway” from Manlapay to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish in Colawin, Argao. The third day, January 29, was almost the same but longer, 26+ kilometers, warm, following the same “Vegetable Highway” from Colawin, passing by Sibonga and parts of Carcar City to the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Mantalongon, Barili. 

The fourth day, January 30, was 19+ kilometers long, also a warm day, from Mantalongon, passing by the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Calidngan, Carcar City, to the St. Augustine de Hippo Parish in Magsico, San Fernando. The fifth day, January 31, was the last of the long days, at 22+ kilometers, from Magsico, passing by the San Roque Parish in Uling, Naga City, to the San Pedro Calungsod Parish in Cantabaco, Toledo City.

 

This was now the turning point of the Camino Cebu when the pilgrims would experience shorter days and longer rests. The sixth day, February 1, is shorter than usual, at 14+ kilometers, from Cantabaco, passing by Minglanilla, to the St. John the Baptist Parish in Sudlon I, Cebu City. The seventh day, February 2, shortest at 8+ kilometers, starts late from Sudlon I and meander down to the Birhen sa Guadalupe Parish in Babag, Cebu City. 

Day Eight, February 3, is 16+ kilometers long, from Babag to the Sto. Niño Parish in Guba, Cebu City. It was here that we watched in Facebook Live, the arrival of relics of St. James in the Mactan Cebu International Airport from Compostela, Spain. Fr. Deligero, Fr. Gonzalo Candado and Mayor Quiño led the contingent to receive the sacred cargo brought by Msgr. Elizardo Temperan Villaverde, Chancellor of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, who was with Fr. Manny Domingo SDB. 

There was a motorcade from the airport to the Archbishop’s Palace, in Cebu City, for viewing, and then to its permanent home in the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela, where it will await of our arrival on February 5. That night, in our sleeping quarters of the multi-purpose hall of the Sto. Niño Parish, we celebrated the occasion with a small party, courtesy of then parish priest Fr. Peter Necesario. A pilgrim of the previous Camino of July 2017, Jonathan Apurado, joined us here to walk with us for the last two days.

 

On the ninth day, February 4, everybody were now excited as we were now on the threshold of Compostela. It is just 15+ kilometers away and, possibly, we would meet the first pilgrims doing another Camino de Santiago later in the day, who would be starting from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela. We left Guba and passed by Consolacion where, at 2:00 PM, we met Xenon Walde, Angie Villanueva, Cleo Villanueva and Eric Cuisia of the St. James the Greater Parish of Alabang, at Mulao, Liloan. 

There were 78 pilgrims on this shorter Camino Cebu, plus the 11 of us, converging at Basak, Compostela. Most of the pilgrims were housed in the covered court, while the rest were distributed among private homes and the Gatubod Spring Resort. We were just fortunate to be accommodated in the humble home of Bro. Frank Catampatan and family. There was a barrio fiesta atmosphere in the covered court as utan bisayà (traditional Cebuano vegetable soup), inasal (roasted pig) and pusò (rice wrapped in coconut leaves) were served as dinner.    

The last day of the Camino de Santiago for both the 2 days and the 10 days, February 5, begins from Basak, going up to the peak where the “Cross of Triumph” is located, in Bagalnga, Compostela; and then going down to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela. There, we were met by a cheerful crowd and the unceasing pealing of bells announcing our arrival. A Eucharistic Celebration was celebrated by the freshly-ordained Fr. Vhen Jesus Fernandez of Compostela.

After venerating the relics of St. James that I saw brought here two days ago in Facebook, I turned myself in to my host, Capt. Lito Ramon and family. I then proceeded to the parish where there was an evening program. Dances and songs from the best talents of Compostela were presented to the pilgrims. Amidst all that, a buffet dinner was served. Saw many familiar faces, especially of the contingent from Alabang, led by Bro. Benjie Bernardo and wife. 

Two pilgrims were selected to give their own personal testimonies of their experience of the Camino de Santiago: one was from the 2-day Camino which was beautifully expounded by Cris Evert Lato-Ruffulo and the other was from the 10-day Camino which that honor belonged to Randy Salazar, who equally dished out a good testimony. I shared a table with Fr. Deligero where a cold bottle of beer came my way. He seemed so peaceful as if a big needle was removed from his back. 

The last day of the congress, there was a separate presentation done by Bro. Benjie Bernardo of St. James Alabang and then by Msgr. Elizardo Temperan Villaverde, who was speaking in Spanish but translated by Fr. Manny Domingo SDB. Both speakers were extolling the virtues and the origins of St. James, who was also known as Jacob, Yago and Diago; with the latter explaining how the Camino de Santiago began; and how it changed the course of Spain’s history and its fortune.

 

Then the last program of the Jacobean Congress was the Concelebrated Eucharistic Celebration presided by His Excellency Jose Palma DD, the Archbishop of Cebu. Then the exchange of the "Spiritual Bond of Affinity" between the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela of Galicia, Spain by Msgr. Temperan and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela, of Cebu, Philippines by Fr. Deligero were presented to all pilgrims and parishioners which elicit a loud response. The documents states "that you would receive the same spiritual rewards and plenary indulgences" in either the Camino in Spain or in Cebu. It is a good feeling to see this possibility coming through in my lifetime. GOD IS GOOD! 

I bid goodbye to Fr. Deligero, Fr. Candado, Fr. Fernandez, my fellow pilgrims and my good hosts of Compostela and settled in a Toyota Hilux, driven by Markus Immer who was with wife, Analyn, for home. The couple came just to give me support and to witness the most important program of this once-in-a-lifetime event that would soon change the way of life of Compostela. The 2nd National Congress was a success because of a very warm cooperation of government and church and the population that boasts of good charisma by its priests and local government officials. 

As I end this article, I would like to thank the following for their support of the 2nd National Congress that was jointly hosted by the Municipality of Compostela and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela; and the Camino de Santiago that progressed forth along the way on January 27 to February 5, 2019; to include me. They were: 

My understanding wife and my family.

Fr. Marlon Mejia of St. James the Apostle Parish, Badian.

Mr. Tirso Cominghod of Barangay Tigbao, Badian.

Badian Municipal Police Station.

Fr. Elegio Almazol Jr. of Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Dalaguete.

Fr. Mario Villacastin of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, Argao.

Fr. Benedict Into of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, Argao.

Argao Municipal Police Station.

SPO3 Dante Estenzo of Sibonga Municipal Police Station.

PO3 Paul Baclay of Sibonga Municipal Police Station.

Fr. Dennis James Acedo of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Barili.

Fr. Lyle Carungay of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Barili.

Fr. Benjie Contapay of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Carcar City.

SPO1 Eduardo Bagol of Carcar City Police Station.

PO1 Chuck Dayuja of Carcar City Police Station.

Fr. Murphy Sarsua of St. Augustine de Hippo Parish, San Fernando.

Fr. Armando Orehuela of San Pedro Calungsod Parish, Toledo City.

Fr. Bernardo Oyao of St. John the Baptist Parish, Cebu City.

Fr. Mark Barneso of Birhen sa Guadalupe Parish, Cebu City.

Fr. Peter Necesario of Santo Niño Parish, Cebu City.

Mr. Markus Immer and Mrs. Analyn Pocong-Immer, Cebu City.

Bro. Frank Catampatan and Family of Basak, Compostela.

Bro. Cedee Neo and Sis. Julie Neo of Doneo Host Making, Cebu City.

Bro. Mizar Bacalla of Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela.

Sis. Mimi Montecino of Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela.

Capt. Lito Ramon and Family of Poblacion, Compostela.

Mr. Jose Neo of Camp Red Bushcraft and Survival Guild, Cebu City.

Mr. Jet Manuel of Ham Radio Cebu, Consolacion.

Mr. Ed Soronio of Versa 2-Way Radio, Mandaue City. 

But, most importantly, to all the nameless parish workers and volunteers who served us our food, our beddings and who attended to our comfort as we engaged on our pilgrimage of the soul. I am most indebted to them and may St. James intercede my prayers whispered for them at the foot of the Cross of Triumph, upon his relics and the Abrazado, which is located in the chapel of Doneo Host Making in Banawa, Cebu City.

 

Photos courtesy of Pilgrims and the Organizing Committee.

2021-003 | THE WALKING STAFF

OUTDOOR COMMON SENSE TIPS: When choosing a walking staff while hiking outdoors, choose one that is taller than your head. The taller stick would remove the possibility of getting poked on the throat, on the face or on one of your eyes when you slip from the trail, especially when you are placing the lower end of the stick on a lower slope. That way the stick would still be much higher than you or go level with the top of your head. 

Do not cut a green limb. Our forest has lots of that left by wood gatherers and farmers. If you think you need it very badly and nothing to pick up along the trail, choose from a madre de cacao (kakawati) shrub. It is an introduced species from Central America. The more you cut the more it thrive. 

First seen in Facebook

December 31, 2017 

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THREE POINTS OF CONTACT to the ground is the best and the most stable balance you can get when walking the backcountry and you can most appreciate that when you are treading on difficult terrain of steep inclines downhill where surface grounds are loose. The feet, the ankles, the knees and the hip joints would benefit tremendously from the shifting of the weight to a third “leg”, in this case, a walking staff.

 

It is a piece of wood that is almost straight, about a foot taller over you which you would ordinarily find in the countryside and just as expendable when you do not need it. It could be dry or a still green stick but not a dead wood. It is everywhere and not for sale. It could be found on the ground or left standing beside a tree trunk or it could be part of a bundle of sticks that would soon become firewood.

 

Its length you could appreciate well when you would find the extra leverage as you set the stick below the height of where your feet is standing upon. When in that position you could retain your balance well since you shift part of your weight to the stick while maintaining an erect position unlike a shorter stick where you need to bend forward along with your weight to reach down.

 

The rod’s length also would not threaten nor interfere on your face and neck should you slip. Some accidents to the face and the neck, very vital parts, happen when the stick used was shorter. We must avoid, as much as possible, injuries to those parts of our body. The longer reach gives us advantage when poking places you suspect as dangerous to step on or something venomous lying underneath grass.

 

In semi-arctic regions, the extra length of staffs are much favored by adventurers and snow travelers for the longer reach could test the rigidness of ice on water from a safe distance, especially when crossing streams and marshes. You could also wedge it across the edges when falling into a hole caused by brittle ice or on a waterlogged ground.

 

Cutting a green limb is a last resort but it is heavier than the one that was cut several days old. Choose invasive species or an introduced tree. We have many but be on the lookout for the Mexican lilac tree (kakawati) because it is the best to use. Branches grow straight and it loves to be cut like a mythical Hydra. Like the kakawati, bamboo grows fast when one is cut. Choose the buho or the bagakay variety. Although hollow, but they are lighter and tough.     

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WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions.

 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

 

Photo Nr 1 courtesy of Michael Schwarz

Photo Nr 2 courtesy of Christopher Ngosiok

2021-002 | THE LEGEND & LEGACY OF ANTONIO ILUSTRISIMO

ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 27, 2020, I saw two men practicing the traditional Filipino art of fighting with sticks at the Luneta National Park. “Whup-whup-whup! Whup-whup-whup…” The rhythm of rattan sticks slashing air echoed clearly in a secluded spot of the hallowed grounds. “Whup-whup-whup! Whup-whup-whup…” Outside was the familiar traffic noise of metropolitan Manila which were muffled by the trees and the concrete barriers. “Whup-whup-whup! Whup-whup-whup…”

But, on closer look, these two men were not holding rattan sticks that most favored because it is very light, round, friendly to the hands and very easy to control. They were using wooden sticks made in the shape of a traditional Filipino blade which looked like a cross of the Cebuano pinuti and a Waray sansibar. Nevertheless, this is no eye-candy form-lovely dancing-stick style. This could be the real deal! The one art that could still be in its unadulterated medieval form.

During the break of the practice session, Ramon “Jay Z” Jorge introduced me to Master Arnold Narzo. I was surprised that he is also a Cebuano like me and we Cebuanos prided ourselves of having the best schools and the best masters when it comes to eskrima, arnis or kali. Mention either terms and the Doce Pares, the Balintawak and the Lapunti, and even Lapulapu himself; would emerge in a conversation and these are all in Cebu.

Master Narzo explained to me that what he and Jay Z were doing is called the KALIS ILUSTRISIMO REPETICION ORIGINAL. It is a form of kali which the late Great Grandmaster Antonio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo personally taught to only a few disciples like Master Antonio Diego, a Cebuano from Pasil, and Master Narzo, of Malabuyoc, Cebu. After the death of Grandmaster Ilustrisimo, Master Diego took over and documented all the moves into a training syllabus which benefitted Master Narzo, who also learned from Master Diego before he died. 

Kali taught by Tatang Ilustrisimo is simply a dangerous form of martial art for it uses real blades instead of sticks and he cannot understand why people would want to learn from him to kill more people? He was the exception, of course. He rejected a lot of them because of that but he is willing to accept a duel from anyone, regardless if it was just for fun or a deadly one. He would always win because his style is very simple and he would even taunt other masters of their propensity to memorize and teach so many number of figure forms. 

But who was Tatang Ilustrisimo really? I found out that he was born in Kinatarkan, a small islet located off the north of Cebu and is part of the Municipality of Santa Fe. According to a story published in a blog, Tatang at age nine, stole away from home without the blessings and approval of his family, carrying with him his clothes, money he saved, food, a traditional blade and a small family boat. He rowed alone following his dream of setting foot in America.

His basic knowledge of stick-fighting, learned from his uncles and his father, emboldened him to go on an adventure which most of the youths of those long-gone days would take, like my own late grandfather who took a one-way trip to Cebu from Iloilo. Unknown to him, he was embarking on his own warrior’s pilgrimage, a personal wanderlust seeking out knowledge in survival through learning of martial arts that only battles and individual duels could give. The most famous warrior’s pilgrimage was made by Miyamoto Musashi in 16th-century Japan. 

I have been to Kinatarkan Island many times, especially at the very place where he was born: Sitio Dapdap, in Barangay Langub. A neighboring barangay, Hagdan, has a percentage of its population with Micronesian features of larger body mass and their Cebuano dialect has a sprinkling of Waray. Tatang, at the prime of his life, was extremely tall for a Filipino. He was a six-footer, more or less. That longer reach would figure more prominently in his adult years when fighting was a way of life. 

Fate would always be kind to him. According to one of Tatang’s student, Master Romy Macapagal, when he was at sea on his small boat and utterly exhausted fighting physical fatigue, loneliness, hunger, thirst, cold and heat, fishermen who passed by would toss their catch to him. He ultimately reach the Port of Cebu where there were many steel-hulled trading ships of whom he thought would be capable of bringing him to America and smuggled himself into the biggest one where it brought him to the Port of Zamboanga instead. There he met an acquaintance and jumped ship.

 

His friend brought him to Sulu where he was introduced to Islam and adopted a Muslim name of Muntisali. He was entrusted to serve under a very influential person as an adopted son. He took advantage of this privilege to study in a school together with his foster father’s sons and then train with several Tausug warriors as his physical age and growth began to fine-tune him into one of the better warriors under the nobleman’s protection. His learning in academics and the fighting arts began to reach a favorable curve which were greatly appreciated by his patron. 

His mastery of kali at the young age of 17 learned under the wings of his foster family enabled him to kill his first opponent during an altercation. Both men drew their barung almost simultaneously but he was more agile and has the longer reach which offset his more experienced opponent. The fight started when he was reprimanded for intoxicating himself with alcoholic drinks, which is totally forbidden in Islam. He was banished from Sulu after his benefactor paid blood money to his dead opponent’s family. 

Back in Kinatarkan Island and reunited with his family, he soon found his old life boring and the call of individual combat would, once again, beckon him to make another journey to Zamboanga, this time, teaming up with Pedro Cortes, his father’s former sparring partner, as bounty hunters in the employ of the Americans in the early 1920s. Cortes taught him the finer things of the Cebuano fighting art, which Tatang fused with the fighting art he learned in Sulu. It was, at this time, that he developed his own style: the economy of movement, the simple steps and that formidable stance that complement his natural reach which had ensured him many success.  

 

He was now engaged in a very serious warrior’s pilgrimage in Mindanao and around the Visayas in the 1920s up to the middle of the 1930s, fighting adversaries during barrio fiestas and pre-arranged duels. He would win every match, whether with blade or with sticks, and this journey made him so famous that masters from other countries would come here to seek him out. His opponents would protect themselves with armor and paddings but he fought bare, knowing that, should he lose, it would be the end of his career or his life. His reputation was so intimidating that many grandmasters turned his dares down. 

One of the most difficult opponents that he faced was in Bohol. His reach advantage was negated by his rival’s longer weapon, which was in the shape of a wooden pestle. It took him many tries before he was able to subdue the Boholano fighter whose strange technique he called the “inal-ho”. When he ran out of worthy opponents, he tried the big city of Manila and lived on the fringes of the waterfront area where he was contracted as an enforcer for cargo shippers. 

For a time, he found favor with a shipping company where he travelled outside the country as a deck officer after neutralizing a very problematic hoodlum. Then World War II came and he offered his fighting skills as a member of a guerrilla unit. In the 1950s through the 1960s, he was now a revered grandmaster that other masters would pay him a visit to test their techniques against him. While they wore protection, he would not, and he would continue to insult them when they stuck to their age-old habit of memorizing endless fighting sequences which were useless in fast fluid actions.

 

In his travel outside the country as a seafarer, he would spar with other fighters. It was at this time that he became obsessed with amulets and incantations. He says that other masters used spiritual warfare to confuse and defeat their opponents. One of those that used this power effectively in tandem with fighting was an Indonesian pencak silat master. During the heat of the duel, the Indonesian lost a thumb and threw the proverbial “white towel”. In the process, Tatang won the $5,000 wager without killing his opponent. 

Badgered for ten years by Antonio Diego, he finally relented and shared his technique to him and a few others. Master Narzo benefitted from both when they were still alive and continued the legacy of Grandmaster Ilustrisimo and, to a lesser degree, of Master Diego. He is invited frequently in the US and in Europe to teach foreigners and overseas Filipinos the art of Kalis Ilustrisimo. Since Kalis Ilustrisimo is well-preserved by Master Diego and then to him, this is the Original.

While other schools-of-thought preferred the rattan sticks as their practice weapons instead of real blades, Kalis Ilustrisimo does the opposite. Kalis Ilustrisimo maintained their fatal-blow accuracy with a correct angle provided only by holding a real blade or its sword dummies during training. Then it never placed their style inside a series of templates like everybody are doing and repeats the same technique over and over again, as in Repeticion, and encourages improvisation and the free flow of movements based on target opportunities.

 

Tatang Ilustrisimo made a very small fortune by winning all his fights and through his industry but he died a poor man because he shared what little he had to his needy neighbors, friends and relatives. He was 93 years old when he passed away and his grave was never remembered by his closest relatives and, in fact, his remains were exhumed by the cemetery management when his closest of kin failed to pay for its upkeep and cannot be located anymore. Master Narzo tried his best efforts to locate his remains but all to no avail. 

Sadly, this gifted Cebuano swordsman did not receive any accolade nor words of appreciation from the place where he was born. His journey of life were fraught with dangers, real threats and challenges, at a time when lawlessness was prevalent, and made us all lesser mortals, if we compare our own troubles with him. His skills, even though demonstrated in bravado and very fatal, was a deterrent that have benefitted those who may have been under his protection. Sadly, what Cebu lost, Manila has gained, because it had welcomed him. 

 

Sources:

1.   Master Arnold Narzo

2.   Master Romeo Macapagal

3.   Ramon Jorge

4.   Tita Rosos

5.   Queen City.com

6.   Mandirigma.org

7.   Kali Filippino.it  

2021-001 | KNIFE CARRY & LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

WISDOM TRAILS: Only ignorant people fantasized of bringing a knife as a weapon. Good luck to them since I know what they will reply when questioned.

First seen in Facebook

December 23, 2017

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THE BLADE HAD SUFFERED so much of its reputation since the time it was used as an instrument of early warfare. It was invented by early man as a tool to aid him and his clan in processing their food and to make their existence tolerable. It took many eons and the forms changed from stones to bones-and-shells to copper to iron, until it was perfected in its present state as steel, which created a big industry globally. 

However, I changed people's perception about the knife here in the Philippines with proper education and dissemination of only the good information. From there, people I taught now know the law pertaining to the possession of a blade or their blades, their rights, the ethics of ownership, safety-carry and handling, the names of the most common shapes and the parts, field sharpening techniques and, altogether, removed ignorance and the wrong ideas.

 

There were no such formal education then in ownership rights, safety carry and the ethical use of blades here until I formulated the Knife Care and Safety in 2011 which I integrated as one of the subjects of the first Philippine Independence Bushcraft Camp. Participants began to appreciate the value of learning this as required in the PIBC and its other related training because bushcraft is labor intensive where the use of a blade takes most of the general work. 

Moving into another stage, I introduced the Knife Care and Safety to the younger generation when invited by schools, kiddie clubs and orphanages. I firmly believed that safety in handling a blade should start while young. I had that privilege since I lived and grew up among older people who worked with blades in the course of earning a living and who taught me the complexities of its use, handling and the ethics of possessing one.

When Armscor Global Arms, maker of the Rock Island line of firearms, gave me an opportunity to speak before a crowd during the 2018 Tactical Survival and Arms Expo held in SM, Cebu City, one of the three topics I talked about was Knife Carry Rights and Ethics. And which I gave a talk once more during the 2019 TACS Expo. My advocacy of knife-carry rights created an awareness on a bigger stage. 

By the way, possession of a knife here in the Philippines is not a right. Not even a privilege. It is more of CHANCE. You can only possess and travel with it if you have a permit, if you are in a lawful calling or if you are in a lawful activity. So far, the only known permit I know authorizing people to carry sharp instruments in the course of their work are municipal and city permits issued to butchers who worked in abattoirs and public markets.

In as much as we liked it, there are blades that can never fit in to the order of things for these can never be considered tools like a karambit, a Batangas knife, a push dagger, a dirk, a sword, a saber, a tres cantos or any traditional blades that are popularly-known and have served its use in conflicts and warfare. It is never a good idea to possess and travel with these in public unless you are in a lawful activity or a calling like cultural exhibits of traditional blades.

Aside from the lawful occupation of a butcher, lawful calling refers to a person engaged in work whose blade is a vital TOOL where it is always carried from residence to place of work and back. The best examples are farmers, fishermen, foresters, firemen, gardeners, bladesmiths, blacksmiths, hunters, fruit vendors, electricians, linemen, trail guides and, in a different classification because it is used as a weapon, are members of the military, and policemen who are in special tactical units.

Here in the Philippines, where blades may be used, displayed and carried in the pursuit of a lawful activity either as tools for labor, tools for education or tools for leisure are farming, fishing, collections and exhibitions, commerce and marketing, bladesmithing, hiking and camping, explorations and expeditions, gardening, sports, martial arts demonstrations and cultural celebrations and dances where it is used for symbolism as in the Bangsamoro, northern highlands and the indigenous peoples culture. 

All public places are off-limits to blades and those who travel with blades. You may only pass through provided you are in a lawful calling and is part of your baggage; in transit to and from a lawful activity. It is a gray area really and it depends how a law enforcer would interpret the law and how the owner would present himself. Most often there had been few problems with this, especially in airports and seaports. Never travel on MRT and the LRT nor go to a cemetery on a November 1 and 2 nor say “for self-defense only” in a checkpoint. 

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WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.