RESEARCH DATA:

This bowl-shaped basket, called akub (also spelled as akkob, akkop, or naakuban), is found in the Mountain Province and Ifugao. Similar to tayaan in terms of its structure, akub, which means “covered” or simply “cover,” is the Bontoc general-purpose basket primarily used as a container for cooked food for a large group of workers in the rice field during cultivation, preparation for planting, planting and harvesting seasons (Bacdayan, 1998). At home, this large lidded basket is used as a common storage for various foods and household items, such as husked rice, meat, and clothing. Due to its large size, the akub is considered a luxurious basket that only a few can afford, and only some particular basket weavers are skilled enough to make one (Bacdayan, 1998).