by Alyssa Caldito
A Salakot is a type of traditional Filipino hat. This unique salakot is made from a flatback turtle shell lined with an intricately decorated fabric, and a hexagonal design of crisscrossing rattan. The inner side of the salakot also features a neck strap made of interlocking metal rings, tied to the hat with dark blue string.
The salakot were worn in the Pre-Colonial Philippines as a form of protection against sun and rain. They were made from a range of materials such as rattan and animal shells. This particular salakot comes from the flat back turtle, a rare species of turtle currently native to Australia and the Oceania region. Most of the scute, which is the colorful shell covering, is missing. It has likely flaked off over time. You can still see remnants of it around the rim. What is left is the boney structure of the shell.
During Spanish colonization, the salakot was used as a way to differentiate the socioeconomic statuses of Filipinos. The more elaborately decorated a salakot was, the higher the class of its wearer. Eventually, salakots also became a symbol of revolution, as they were adopted by Ilustrados, a class of wealthy, educated Filipinos who sought intellectual independence from the Spaniards. This symbol of revolution continued into the American Occupation, and up to the present day, where climate activist groups have adopted the salakot as a symbol of the natural biodiversity of the Philippines and our need to protect it for future generations.
Citation:
- The Filipino Salakot | Natural History Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://nhm.org/stories/filipino-salakot