I went to customs and paid the tax for my iaito katana after I saw on the internet that it arrived yesterday in customs.
Just as I mentioned and suspected in my previous blog, they will higher the tax since I already have a record with them and they know that I can pay. The customs officer didn't believe that the price is just US$30, disregard the note that it is a "gift", searched the internet and charged me PHP1,672. This is the summary of the computation.:
Price of the sword = US$108.74 x PHP43.418
= PHP4,271.27 x 10%
= PHP427.13
+ PHP250
+ PHP213
= PHP5,708.4 x 12%
= PHP685
Summary:
PHP472
+ PHP685
PHP250
PHP265
=PHP1,672 or US$38.51
The actual price of the sword is US$119.99 so I saved almost 12 bucks.
Customs here charges a lot although their office still smells like shit. I bet nothing goes to the people but only to their pockets. Anyway, it's still cheaper than with private freight companies here. They charge by weight and when I inquired to 2GO, the minimum price is PHP2,000 for 500 gram product from the US (based on weight, not on price). You might think that it's just 38 bucks but here in the Philippines, you can buy 2 weeks worth of groceries with that. Also, those freight companies here don't handle dangerous materials like swords so I kinda thankful that my iaito katana arrived fast, safely and didn't get lost like what usually happen to most customers here in the Philippines. I should just don't mind what happened with the high tax because just like what Steve Jobs said: "Let's just invent tomorrow than worry about what happened yesterday." I'm also thankful that I can now practice basic iaijutsu kata.
When it comes to my sword, I really liked it.
It has unsharpened/blunt edge and tip as I requested but still has its hamon.
It's kinda heavy and I see a few nicks on the tsuba.
I really like the vortex design of the tsuba . It signifies that my sword blows should be as powerful as a hurricane.
It also reminds me of how my ancestors made swords during ancient times; like the Kampilan which has a reptile design on its handle....
...which symbolizes that maybe this sword was used to kill crocodiles or alligators during ancient times.
Also the tinigre (tigered sword)
Maybe used to kill tigers during ancient times.
I don't know. According to History Channel's Human Weapon, my ancestors practiced Kali with a water buffalo/carabao as their sparring partner so it's possible that they also fought wild beasts in the forest.
The only things left are for me to buy/customize:
Sword Stand.
for the swords:
Sword Bag,
Suburito:
or the
and Animé Swords:
Kenshin Himura's Sakabatou Katana
Uchiha Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword
I'm thinking of including Filipino swords like Kampilan and Panabas if I find anyone here who makes affordable but good quality Filipino swords.
