Philippine Costumes and Tradition

BAHAG

Pre-Colonial Period
Early Filipinos used bark or plain woven fabric as material for bahag. The bahag
was wrapped around the waist line.

CAMISA De CHINO
18th Century
The camisa de chino is a collarless garment with long cuffless sleeves, worn first by Indios who had to labor under tropical heat. The shirt cut evokes its Chinese origins.

BARONG TAGALOG
19th Century
The barong tagalong has become the national Filipino costume for men, worn for all significant events.

TAPIS
Early Spanish Colonial Period
The tapis was used first by tagalong women who had to wrap a thicker material over skirts made of sheer fabric. It was usually worn with the opening in front, and with colors that contrasted with the skirt.

BARO'T SAYA
Circa 17th Century
The baro, a collarless blouse, was influenced by the costume of statues by the Blessed Virgin brought by Spanish missionaries. The saya was adapted from the basic lines of European skirt styles during the 1600s.

MARIA CLARA
Late 19th Century
The Maria Clara, named after Jose Rizal’s heroine in Noli Me Tangere, consists of the bell sleeved camisa, floor-length saya, the panuelo and the tapis, or overskirt.

BALINTAWAK
1930s
The Balintawak consisted of a skirt, butterfly sleeves and a low-cut bodice. Filipinas wore the ensemble during visits to the countryside, particularly Antipolo, Rizal, a popular summer destination for Manila residents.

TERNO
Early 20th Century
The Filipino “terno” evolved from the baro’t saya and the Maria Clara, and pertains to the matching of blouse and skirt, forming a one-piece creation made of a homogeneous material throughout.





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