Darhata Sawabi Explained

Darhata Sawabi
Nationality:Filipino
Known For:Textile
Style:Pis syabit weaving

Darhata Sawabi was a Filipino weaver from Parang, Sulu known for pis syabit, a traditional Tausūg cloth tapestry worn as a head covering by the people of Jolo. She is a recipient of the National Living Treasures Award, having given the distinction in 2004.[1] Pis refers to the geometric pattern that is said to be derived from the Indic mandala, and siyabit stands for the hook and technique.[2]

Unmarried, Sawabi wove as a means of livelihood since farming, a common source of income for Parang families, was not sustainable for herself. Pis syabit weaving is a tedious work. It takes three days for the warp alone to be made. By age 48, she employed the help of apprentice weavers and children in her work. In the 1970s, she moved residence at least twice due to the Moro conflict.[1] Sawabi died on March 12, 2005,[3] about a year after she was given the National Living Treasures Award.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tobias. Maricris Jan. National Living Treasures: Darhata Sawabi. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225163330/https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/gamaba/national-living-treasures-darhata-sawabi/. February 25, 2022. December 13, 2020. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. dead.
  2. News: Estrella . Fiel . 13 indigenous artists who have kept Filipino creativity alive . December 13, 2020 . CNN Philippines . October 10, 2017 . en . October 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020121901/https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/10/10/indigenous-artists-national-living-treasures.html?fbcid . dead .
  3. Women and their Weaves . Agung . August 2015 . XVIII . 4 . 10. December 13, 2020 . en.
  4. News: Estremera. Stella. August 27, 2017. Weavers of peace and dreams. English. Sunstar. December 13, 2020.