Turtle Shell Salakot

Pictured is an image of a traditional Filipino hat called a salakot. While the top of the hat is made of a plain turtle’s shell, the salakot is lined with intricately decorated fabric, and a hexagonal design made of crisscrossing rattan nailed to wood outlining the hat. The inner side of the salakot also features a neck strap made of interlocking metal rings, tied to the hat with dark blue string. 

The salakot existed in the Pre-Colonial Philippines as a form of protection against sun and rain. The material they were made of ranged from rattan to animal shells, like the turtle shell salakot shown. In fact, this particular turtle shell comes from the flatback turtle, a rare species of turtle currently native to Australia and the Oceania region. The outside bone of the shell, known as the scute, was either removed during the manufacturing process or was chipped off over time. 

During times of Spanish colonization, the Salakot was used as a way to differentiate the socioeconomic statuses of Filipinos. The more elaborately decorated a salakot was, the higher the class of its wearer. Eventually, Salakots also became a symbol of revolution, as they were adopted by Ilustrados, a class of wealthy, educated Filipinos who seeked intellectual independence from Spaniards. Later on, this symbol of revolution continued into the American Occupation, and even present day, where climate activist groups have adopted the salakot as a symbol of the natural biodiversity of the Philippines and our need to protect it for future generations.

Citations:

1. The Filipino Salakot | Natural History Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://nhm.org/stories/filipino-salakot