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Binakol (Kusikus or Alipugpug)

LOCAL NAME:

Binakol (Kusikus or Alipugpug)

ENGLISH NAME:

Old textile yardage

DESCRIPTION:

Abra, Tinguian, & Itneg:
A binakol yardage featuring sphere-like patterns and a red plaid design

COMMONLY USED BY/IN:

Abra, Tinguian, Itneg

MATERIAL COMPOSITION:

Cotton threads, Dye

ITEM CONSTRUCTION:

Double-toned basket weave, Stitching

DIMENSIONS:

Length
756 cm

Width
41.5 cm

ACQUISITION YEAR:

2021

RESEARCH DATA:

This is an old cloth textile that features a specific type of binakol – the kusikus/alipugpug or the whirlpool/whirlwind pattern – which looks like spherical patterns made out of graduated rectangles in negative and positive hues emanating from a center. By interlocking the weft and the warp, double-toned basket weaves that appear “twilled” are produced, which creates a mesmerizing or throbbing effect when seen by the viewer. The effect is meant to ward off malicious spirits (Salvador-Amores, 2019), and has references to the Itneg or Tinguian wind god – Alipugpug (Respicio, 2000). The patterns are separated by a red plaid design, arranging them into rows and providing a stark contrast to the monotonous double-toned spherical weave patterns (Respicio, 2014).

REFERENCES:

Respicio, N. A. (2014). The design techniques. In Journey of a thousand shuttles: The Philippine Weave (pp. 70-73). The National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Salvador-Amores, A. (2019). Anthropological Analysis of Itneg Textiles. In Anthropological analysis, mathematical symmetry and technical characterization of Cordillera Textiles. Corditex Research Report, UP Baguio 2016-2019.

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