ANSIF TAHA SIGAL LBUNG - Blaan Man's Upper garment

Text

Annotated text (Blaan Kastulen June, 2022)

ANSIF TAHA SIGAL LBUNG

Saol or Saul  is a general term for clothing. ANSIF (embroidered) TAHA SIGAL (long arm) LBUNG  (upper garment) is a more accurate term.

The cherry red like color is a color made from a tree named ‘sfang’. The brown like color is a color made from ‘lageh’. ‘Sfang’ and ‘lageh’ are all trees in Blaan.The material used is made from abaca ‘lutay’. Lutay Balngulan is the wild type of abaca which has a soft fiber.

Linambos (process of dyeing with red colorants) according to Maribeth Farnazo, is no longer practiced among the Blaan today.

The practice and process of dyeing with red colorants (e.g. Morinda) and its cultural significance in South Central Mindanao is given a  good introduction by Prof Cherubim Quizon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcrzlLYuhx0

See companion lower garment piece in this ensemble here.


Original Text
(From reference card of the Field Museum Catalogue Number: 129375)

Saōl Linambos: Man’s red hemp cloth jacket. Back is solidly embroidered also lower 1/2 of front. On left shoulder and on arms are realistic designs. Sleeves of black cloth. Shell disks are added. A Warrior’s coat. ( see notes) The embroidery in this specimen is unusually fine. 

Field Museum Catalogue Number: 129375

(Note: all instances of either B'laan, Bilaan or Bila-an in the Mapping Database have been changed to Blaan after specific requests from the Blaan of Sarangani Province June 2022. This would differ from the terminology in the original record, which is considered derogatory by the Blaan.)

Share this

Facebook    Twitter