Siling Sabturani, a Tausug artist of Muslim faith, creates vibrant Tutup — woven food covers with ceremonial significance. These covers are adorned with motifs inspired by seafaring traditions, including the five-pointed star (bintang), zigzags representing lightning, and undulating lines symbolising waves. Each Muslim community in Mindanao produces distinct styles of Tutup, and Sabturani’s work is characterised by the peaked tops typical of Tausug designs. Her navigational motifs are rendered through basic geometric forms: circles, squares, and triangles.

In 2017, Sabturani’s community in Patikul was displaced by battles between the Abu Sayyaf group and state forces. After five years away, she has only recently returned home. For many communities in Mindanao, including those displaced by conflict or former combatants, weaving has become more than a livelihood — it serves as a source of solidarity, a space for healing and a means of fostering a collective sense of renewal.

Return to Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago: Roots and Currents