June 03, 2024
WEAVING THE BANGSAMORO IDENTITY: Saruk Kambigasan of Sulu
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 Sulu, saruk kambigasan is a circular domed basketry hat worn to complement traditional male Tausug attire. It is meticulously crafted from shiny split stems of nito (genus Lygodium, most commonly used in basketware is Lygodium circinnatum), a climbing fern that thrives abundantly in Suluโs forests.
The surface of the saruk kambigasan features a complex weave of dark and light-colored patterns, culminating in a wooden finial at the crownโs center. Typical designs include circles, spirals, concentric lines, and the four-sectioned type adorned with various geometric motifsโcommonly found in the pis syabit, a handwoven traditional headcloth worn by the Tausug.
Interestingly, the saruk kambigasan is often worn over the pis syabit, integrating both headpieces into the Tausugโs customary clothing.
There exists a more utilitarian cone-shaped saruk worn by Tausug men while working on farms or at sea. This simpler version is fashioned from unbleached pangdan (Pandanus tectorius), coconut, or buri palm fronds, stitched together using twine, thin bamboo strips, or vines. In contrast, the colorful salakut, another similarly constructed conical hat with a broader brim, was traditionally worn by Tausug women.
Beyond its practical function as protection against the elements, the saruk kambigasan embodies not only cultural pride but also leadership and authority within the community.
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