Itanum kalinaw I : Peace Sambolayang

 The participating artists representing the Visual Artists for Peace from SOCSARGEN

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The sambolayang—is a large type of tapestry with the sole purpose as a hanging decoration displayed outdoors suspended on a horizontal pole attached to long vertical bamboo pole. The immense cloth is in a three or more-pronged rectangular shaped with tassels serving as weights.

Colorful flags and banners were used in the past both festivals and wars signifying one rank and clan. Imperial crests and noble heralds were produced as standard coat of arms of one ruling clan or a vassal family. These heralds were to proclaim such noble lineage and the extent of its influence and power.

On the other hand, display of flags and banners would suggest a festivity or an act of war.

Mindanao sultanates had used an elaborate display of colorful awnings, banners, flaglettes, tapestries, hanging tiered-parasols, large vertical flags, and the three-forked tapestry are still used in two major cultural events such as wedding and noble coronation.

These colorful displays of flags and banners are to signify as ‘tous’—or landmarks of such fanfare and celebration. Flaglettes—pandji—along the roads would become markers giving direction to where the festivity is located, and large flags—pasandalan—would become familiar sight of attraction. But an immense sign post is usually above any house, fluttering in the wind, the sambolayang—the mark and status symbol of the greatness of such festival and the grandness of such occasion. Its uses became very exclusive among the members of the nobility and it became a symbol anything than the lords of the land to wield absolute power over its people.

The colorful landmarks hence became the symbol of this meeting of the upper and lower segments of society showcasing its power and strength through this bond of solidarity and shared aims. The sambolayang, though it retained its exclusivity of used for the nobility, its sole purpose was to recognize such grand gathering of the varied segments of society where everyone’s support was needed. The sambolayang became a very important marker that proclaims such unity and harmony.

Using such premise, our resolve to use the sambolayang imagery as part of our desire to promote peace through arts is strengthened. We saw that by using the power of its message—a landmark and attraction—we can also advance our advocacy of peace, and somehow cross boundaries and reach multitudes. The sambolayang imagery would become our landmark and signpost of peacemaking in this part of Mindanao. A milestone of peace initiative through the arts using the sambolayang image and innate meaning as marker—‘tous’—that would initiate gathering among the various segments of society creating important discussion and dialogue in the process.