Casitas, 2 others cut above rest

MANILA, Philippines - Moymoy Casitas, Rob Jumchai and Romeo Porlarez showcased their superb “cutting” skills and techniques to top the first XO Philippine Blade Olympics recently.

The event, which drew skilled blade competitors, also known as cutters, and knife hobbyists from various sectors, put to test their field’s skills and their steel in a course that required razor-sharp focus and good blade.

Organized by XO Knives and backed by a special WISAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue) team for medical support, in cooperation with Hahn, the Melchor Foundation, Overboard, Solar Force, Dukes Project, Top Gun F. A. Technologies, Street Smarts, A255 and Glock Personal Defense and Protection Philippines, the competition featured challenges that called for chopping power, precision cutting, finesse and technique.

In the end, Casitas, a welder from Balading, Albay, Jumchai, an artist from Baguio and Porlarez, of Team Hahn from Bicol, bested a host of others to emerge as the event’s top blade masters.

All sorts of blades were also showcased in the event, from imported high-end customs blades to locally made special from different provinces.

“Filipinos in all probability will do very well at blade sports because of cultural and historical reasons,” said Nino Lopez of XO Knives. “Ancient Filipinos have made their own blades for purposes of agriculture and self-defense such as bolo and balisong or butterfly knife. Through the Blade Olympics, we hope to bring out the best not only in the mastery of handling blades but also to showcase the Filipinos’ craftsmanship.”

For details on the first XO Blade Olympics, contact Lopez at 0915-7057288 or visit its Facebook page (X.O. Knives) or visit the XO Knives shop at 119 Sct. Dr. Lazcano St., Brgy. Sacred Heart, QC.