Salacot

Hat made of woven “nito” (a black vine) and lined with black velvet. All of the outer surface of the hat is decorated with floral and animalistic motifs in embossed silver. On the panel at the top of the hat, the initials of the hat's owner, "J. M.," are also indicated in embossed silver.
Salakots are an important garment in Tagalog men's clothing and are indispensable in rural areas. The making of salakots was a widespread artisanal craft among women, and they came in various shapes and materials. The most decorated hats were saved for festivals and ceremonies; those decorated in silver symbolized the local authority established by Spain, and those who wore them were called "little governors" or "captains," though they did not correspond to these roles in their traditional sense.