Butit

Weaving is a tradition that is as old as the history of man. Southeast Asia, containing one-fifth of the world’s existing Tropical forests, is one of the most prolific regions for basket production through the procurement of natural resources. When you visit museums, they are often relegated into utilitarian objects because they like one quality to be classified as artwork. Baskets are made by plaiting, twisting, coiling, and weaving. Most materials must be softened up by soaking, stripping, or caning prior to use. Multicolored materials for embroidery may be natural or dyed by soaking or boiling with fruits, barks, and other materials.

In the Philippines, the baskets are an important element to many of the spiritual festivals of the indigenous people of the Mountain Provinces. Majority of the basket weavers in Bontoc and the Cordillera region are men, while the women are the expert textile weaves of the region. But nevertheless, the two crafts share a strong affinity with one another, highlighting the Bontoc people’s belief of the complementary relationship of the two sexes. The butit is constructed from bamboo, abaca, and rattan. The shapes of these baskets are generally narrow towards the mouth and bulge at the waist; with some sources arguing that the rice baskets supposedly mimic the shape of Chinese porcelain jars as these objects often store valuable items. Like the kalbong and ulbong baskets of the Ifugaos, these are single-rod coiled baskets with a sooty black finish, which is a result of the special heat-conserving construction of the houses.

Due to the rugged terrain, the Bontok carries most of their produce and equipment to the field or village on their backs, shoulders, or heads. Women traditionally carry baskets such as tallak or lavfa balanced on the head, enabling them to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Men on the other hand, transport goods using either back baskets like the pasiking or through a shoulder pole (khimata) fitted with baskets on both ends, reflecting different yet complementary modes of labor. These methods of carrying are not only practical adaptations to the landscape but also integral aspects of daily labor and communal activities. Beyond utility, baskets like the butit embody cultural values and social meanings. Their form, materials, and methods of use reflect long-standing traditions that connect the makers to their environment and community. As emphasized in studies of indigenous basketry, these objects are not only functional containers but also expressions of cultural identity and continuity, passed down through generations.