I've told this story before, so please feel free to skip it if you've seen it.

On a TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment) to the Philipines, I met a young lady who told me that men who cheat on women are called "butterfly" because, like the insect, they go from flower to flower. I knew this to be true in the PI, Korea, Guam and Japan, so that part of the story, at least, was true. She said that most Philipino women are very jealous, and will not hesitate to bring her intended back into line with a deft slash or two from her "butterfly" knife.

I had owned my Manila Folder for several years by then, but had given up on learning to flip it long before. All I saw as she said the words "butterfly knife" was a glittery flash and heard a clickety-clack, and her bali was out and pointed at my gut.

I didn't want to argue with her (needless to say, lol,) so I believed her story then, and I have no reason to doubt it now. The Tagalog word "bali-song" means "broken horn," which many assume to mean the likelihood of that material used as handles in the PI, since they weren't known for producing much in the way of metals, hundreds of years ago. The term butterfly knife probably came about as slang for the purposes that young lady illustrated to me.

I saw no need to mince words with the li'l cutie, as the bar manager only required the equivalent of $12.50 for the pleasure of her company until no later than 5:00pm the next day. That assignment was the shortest two weeks of my entire life, and it always will be.