RESEARCH DATA:

The pinagpagan is worn by the affluent in traditional Bontoc society as a funerary blanket. When an ancestor is wrapped in the pinagpagan, it is customary for the same blanket to be used for their predecessors when an elder of the family dies. As noted by Celino (1990), the pinagpagan is highly sought after by affluent families, with the choice depending on the clan’s discretion and traditional practices. An ancestor’s use of the pinagpagan implies that their descendants will also be wrapped in the same blanket upon their death. Additionally, the diamonds, X’s, and V’s are common weave patterns in the Mountain Province, representing rice grains, rice mortar, and shields, respectively. Bontoc handwoven blankets are also adorned with figurative motifs, such as images of men, lizards, mountains, and flowers.