May 20, 2024
WEAVING THE BANGSAMORO IDENTITY: Langkit of Lanao del Sur
โ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โ
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In a historic event, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH-BARMM) proudly presents the Bangsamoro Cultural Heritage Exhibit, taking the center stage at the Open Gallery of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) from May 7 to May 31, 2024.ย
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Featuring the indigenous textiles of the BARMM Regionโs Lanao del Sur, the Meranaw word langkit has two distinct meanings:ย When used as a verb, it denotes the act of embroidering or decorating with lace.
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As a noun, langkit refers to the strip of tapestry, often woven or embroidered, which is used to join pieces of fabric to create a single, broader section of the tubular garment called malong landap.
There are two kinds of langkit that run together across the malong landap: the narrow tobiran joins the three panels of cloth horizontally, while the wider lakban connects the two ends vertically to form the traditional tubular garment.
These tapestry panels are woven separately, made using a narrow specialized kind of tapestry loom. Discontinuous weft is used to introduce the colors and design into the cloth. Not only is it ornamental and colorful when set off against the solid color of the plain-woven panels, the designs hooked into the warp reflect the intricate curvilinear and geometric Okir designs characteristic of Meranaw art.
Clearly depicted are decorative motifs such as potiok (bud), dapal or raon (leaf), katorai (flower), pako or piako (fern), pako rabong (growing fern), mayan sa palaw (mountain-like), biabak (frog), and the sarimanok, a fabled fowl and important icon in Maranao art and culture.
The langkit weaves together tradition, creativity, and sophistication, showing the splendor of Meranaw heritage.
Everyone is invited to experience the colorful works of the Bangsamoro living cultural masters at the cultural exhibit, which will run from May 7 to May 31, 2024, at the Open Gallery of the National Commissions for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in Intramuros, Manila.