Pre-Colonial Filipino Attire

• Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Filipinos possessed their own civilization, influenced by the environment. The practices of pre-colonial Filipinos persist in many parts of the country.

Clothing

• Ancient Filipino male attire consisted of upper and lower parts.
• The upper part was called kanggan: a black or blue collarless jacket with short sleeves.
• The kanggan's color indicated the wearer's rank; chiefs wore red jackets, while those below wore blue or black based on their position.
• The lower part, called bahág, comprised a strip of cloth wrapped around the waist, passing between the thighs.
• This style of dress left the thighs and legs exposed.
• The woman's dress also had upper and lower parts.
• The upper part was called baro or camisa: A jacket with sleeves.
• The lower part was a loose skirt:
  • Called saya by the Tagalogs,
  • Called patadyong by the Visayans.
• A piece of red or white cloth, called tapis, was usually wrapped around the waist.
• People generally walked barefoot; sandals and shoes were Spanish innovations.
• Males wore a headgear called putong: a piece of wrapped cloth.
• The color of the putong indicated the wearer's "manliness"; a red putong signified the wearer had killed someone in war.

Explore the traditional clothing of pre-colonial Filipinos. Learn about the 'kanggan' for men and the 'baro' and 'saya' for women. Discover how clothing indicated social status and regional variations.