Swordsmith slashes his way to fame

MANILA, Philippines - Would you like to have a sword like the one Tom Cruise used in “The Last Samurai?” What about the weapons of Russell Crowe in “Gladiator,” or Mel Gibson in “Braveheart,” or the ones from the “Beast Master” television series or the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy?

Collectors, especially foreigners, have been getting their replicas of these weapons from a company in Pangasinan.

Filomeno de Guzman, 65, manager of Neneng Cutlery in Barangay Palacpalac in Pozorrubio, produces replicas, as well as medieval, Viking, Irish, templar, and Teutonic swords that are sold in the US, Germany, the UK, and other countries.

It was not a hobby but the need to feed his family that motivated De Guzman to start this business in a small shop in his backyard after he resigned as staff sergeant from the Philippine Constabulary.

He sold his knives in Clarkfield in Pampanga, where US servicemen became his regular patrons. They asked him to make replicas of bladed weapons used in foreign movies.

He joined trade fairs where his products were noticed by buyers, mostly foreign. A fellow Filipino who had an import-export business partnered with him to sell his wares in the US, where his products made a mark.

De Guzman laughs when told his brand hardly connotes a manly or macho image. He said Neneng is his wife’s nickname, and it proved lucky.

Three other cutlery shops have emerged in his barangay, but de Guzman’s products are so popular his workers, mostly farmers, are kept busy seven days a week.

In 2011 the municipal government passed a resolution naming sword making its official “One Town One Product” brand, citing de Guzman as the lead sword maker.

De Guzman is quick to correct misconceptions that his products are the ones used in the foreign movies.

“I don’t know why some reporters said it that way but honestly, it’s like this – movies first, then our reproductions come in,” de Guzman said, adding, “These are not 100 per cent copied because our clients send specifications or details of the designs they want.”

Considering the intricate and fine craftsmanship of his products, they are priced reasonably from P5,500 to P7,000, but can go higher depending on the size and intricateness of the design.