A Short Introduction

The Yakans are the traditional settlers of Basilan

Island in the Southern Philippines, situated to the

west of Zamboanga in Mindanao. It is said that

their typical physical characteristics are strikingly

different when compared to the other ethnic

Filipino groups (relatively high-bridged noses and

tall stature). Traditionally they wear colorful,

handwoven clothes. The women wear tightfitting

short blouses and both sexes wear narrowcut

pants resembling breeches. The women covers it

partly with a wrap-around material while the man

wraps a sash-like cloth around the waist where he

places his weapon - usually a long knife.

Nowadays most the Yakans wear western clothes

and use their traditional clothes only for special

festivals.

The Yakans settled originally in Basilan island and

in the early seventies, due to political unrest which

led the armed conflicts between the militant

Muslims and government solders, some of them

settled in the region of Zamboanga City. The Yakan

Village in Upper Calarian is famous among local

and foreign tourists because of their art of

weaving. Traditionally, they have used plants like

pineapple and abaca converted into fibers as basic

material for weaving. Using herbal extracts from

leaves, roots and barks, the Yakans dyed the fibers