A Mangyan man in a bahag (1904)
Part of the Visayan Principalia during the early Spanish colonial period, wearing richly-embroidered pre-Hispanic Visayan clothing typical of the upper classes in the 16-17th centuries. Note that the datu only wears a bahag under a long cotton tunic (baro), with clearly seen tattooed legs and face. He is accompanied by a binukot or local princess with golden bangles. Depicted in Historia de las Islas e Indios de Bisayas (1668) by Francisco Ignacio Alcina.

Bahag is a loincloth that was commonly used by men throughout the pre-colonial Philippines. They were either made from barkcloth or from hand-woven textiles. Before the colonial period, bahag were a common garment for commoners and the serf class (the alipin caste).[1] Bahag survives in some indigenous tribes of the Philippines today - most notably the Cordillerans in Northern Luzon.[2]

Description

The specific way to wear it involves first pulling the long piece of cloth (usually around 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in)) in between the legs and covering the genitals, with a longer back part. The back part is then twisted across the right leg and across the waist in an anti-clockwise direction. It goes under the flap of the front part and across the left leg. It is twisted back across the back loop above the buttocks. The result resembles two rectangles of cloth hanging in front of and behind the waist, with a loop around the legs resembling a belt. The design of the weave is often unique to the tribe of the person wearing the bahag. The colors of the bahag can also indicate social status among some Igorot groups, with commoners usually wearing bahag in plain white.[3] Among pre-colonial Visayans, wearing a bahag as casual clothing was common, even among nobility, because it showed off tattoos that indicate rank and prestige.[4][5]

Modern bahags have since found their way to the lowlands as table runners, serviettes, and other decor and fashion accoutrements.[2] The native Tagalog word for "rainbow", bahaghari, literally means "loincloth of the king".[6]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Lopez, Mellie Leandicho (2006). A Handbook of Philippine Folklore. UP Press. p. 385. ISBN 9789715425148.
  2. ^ a b Dalton, David; Keeling, Stephen (2013). The Rough Guide to the Philippines. Rough Guides UK. ISBN 9781405392075.
  3. ^ Belen, Yvonne (21 June 2014). "Loincloth (G-string, Bahag)". Grand Cañao. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. ^ Scott, William Henry (1994). Barangay: Sixteenth-century Philippine Culture and Society. Ateneo University Press. pp. 20–27. ISBN 9789715501354.
  5. ^ Francia, Luis H. (2013). History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos. Abrams. ISBN 9781468315455.
  6. ^ "Glossary of Confusing Pinoy Expressions". Spot.ph. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2021.

External links

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