Art by Heide Reynes

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Zarok is what the Maharlika in Daracka call their patterned clothing. The designs may vary slightly with white, yellow, or blue accents, but the zarok is usually woven as a red and black striped patterned attire.

The Maharlika from Daranu prefers their zarok with yellow accenting stripes, while those from Aradack keep them simple, following the traditional red and black.

Zarok can be turned into vests for men and are usually paired with trousers. For women, they are made into wrap-around skirts and breast covers.

Sometimes, for the colder seasons, especially when the rains and typhoons come in, they are woven into ponchos or shawls.

The zarok is also made into headbands and armbands where feathers are knitted into. Like the tattoo marks on a Maharlika's body, the number of feathers on their headbands and armbands represents their authority in their cities or towns.

***In the Philippines, the red and black striped clothing is the traditional fashion of the Igorot. They do not call the cloth anything, They call their attire tapis (a rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and turned into a skirt) and bahag (g-string for men).

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