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Banig

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Banig

Baníg (/bəˈnɪɡ/ bə-NIG; Tagalog: [bɐˈnɪɡ]) are traditional handwoven mats of the Philippines predominantly used as a sleeping mat or a floor mat. Banig mats are typically made from pandanus or sedge leaves. They can also utilize other materials, including buri palm leaves, reed leaves, and rattan strips, depending on the region and ethnic group. The leaves are dried, usually dyed, then cut into strips and woven into mats, which may be plain or intricate.

Prior to the motorization of native bangka and other traditional Filipino sailing vessels, banig made from pandanus leaves were also the material used as traditional sails by Filipinos and other Austronesians due to the natural salt-resistant properties of pandanus and sedge leaves. They were also formerly used during the pre-colonial period to wrap the deceased prior to interment.

Most banig are made from pandanus leaves, specifically from the endemic Pandanus simplex (locally known as karagumoy, kalagimay, or karagamoi, among other names) or Pandanus tectorius (locally known as pandan, pangdan, or panhakad, among other names). Pandanus leaves are also used widely for other weaving traditions, including for bags and hats. But the type of material used for mats can vary by region and ethnic group.

Among the Cebuano people, mats are made from karagumoy. They typically come in two shades that are then woven into different patterns: the natural light brown color and a darker shade of brown. The darker shade is achieved by soaking the dried leaves in seawater for a few days. Soaking in seawater also makes the leaves resistant to insects.

The Bukidnon-Tagoloanen people weave mats using sodsod (also spelled sud-sod or sudsud) sedge (Fimbristylis umbellaris). Not all the women in the tribe are taught how to weave the banig. Only the daughters with the sharpest mind and persistent attitude are taught how to weave ("lala"). The designs woven onto the banig are inspired from nature. The designs woven to this day have usually been learned from the mothers and grandmothers. The Bukidnon-Tagoloanen banig mats are notable for their intricate designs that are formed directly as the sedge leaves are woven together (and not inserted onto a finished blank mat). The Bukidnon weavers (or "maglalala") make circular and rectangular banig mats. "The Tagoloanen generally prefer three design forms or guwat...Tinulisan are diamonds, squares, and rectangles arranged in straight rows and columns; binakusan, those arranged diagonally; and bukanayo... or the repetition of small refined design details and arranging them into a crisp gridlike fashion." The Bukidnon-Tagoloanen mat weaving tradition almost died out, until it was revived in 2012 by the Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association (TWWA), formed to preserve and promote the weaving, as well as the traditions and customs that surround it.

Among the Cordilleran people, mats are typically woven from rono reeds (Miscanthus sinensis), the same material also used for basket-weaving, fencing, and roofing. Rono reed mats are uneven and often uncomfortable, so they usually have another layer of soft bark strips woven on the upper layer. Cordilleran mats can also be used as a blanket due to the colder temperatures of the Cordilleran highlands.

Banig weaving in Panay Island — especially at the northwestern tip, in the municipalities of Nabas in Aklan and Libertad in Antique, is a long-standing traditional craft locally known as Pagrara it Banig, where artisans create both functional mats and various woven products. The artistry of these weavers is highlighted during the annual Bariw Festival in Nabas and the Banigan Festival in Libertad. It primarily uses the bariw (pandanus leaves), which is carefully dried and woven into mats. The process is intricate, involving 14 stages such as pagsasa (stripping), pagbulad (drying), pagpalpag (beating), and pagrara (weaving). Recognized as a heritage practice, the skill has been passed down through generations. Many elders believe weaving is best done during the rainy season, when the bariw becomes softer and easier to handle. This craft serves as an important source of livelihood for residents.

Among the Maguindanao and Maranao people, banig are typically woven from sesed (Fimbristylis miliacea), which is abundant in the floodplains of Cotabato and in Lake Lanao. They are predominantly used for sleeping mats and for drying rice.

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