The Philippines Today

Batangueños carved bamboo sheaths  The Batangueños are famous for their metal works, including the famous itak, the one-sided blades forged for their utilitarian use. However, alongside the itak, the Batangueños also provide artistically carved bamboo sheaths. This is made by carving both sides of the bamboo tube so they will mirror each other, leaving a … Read more

The shield of the Bontok is called the kalasag. It is typically blackened with three prongs at the top and two prongs at the bottom, similar to the form of other Cordillera groups’ shields. It is typically made of light wood, with the Bontok group blackening their shields using soot. The kalasag center is more … Read more

Mountain Province Wooden Spear This wooden spear from Mountain Province has a squatting human figure at the top. The placement of the figure is an ode to the anito or the spirit of the ancestor. The anito figure sits on top of the boar’s teeth, stylized as horns. For many groups in Cordillera, the spears … Read more

The Cordillera kalasag is a daunting warfare artifact made of light wood. This is not used to dissuade penetration of other weapons, rather it was made to deflect thrown weapons. Woven rattan at both ends of the shield is commonly thought to be used for joining but actually serves as a place to hang the … Read more

The Mansaka utilize the widely-known bolo or utilitarian knife used by many Southeast Asians, including other Philippine groups. The ubiquity of the bolo belies its complexity, from a tool for cutting to its use for digging. The hilt is carved hardwood, but the presence of a metal crossguard suggests a European influence. The sheath is … Read more