Bisayan Anitu/Tau-tau Figures (PRE-ORDER)

The Bisayan Anitu/Tau-Tau Figure are handcarved by our partnered artist and woodcarver, Jerom Dubongco from Napo, San Juan, Siquijor. 

Inspired by his father, Jerom began using a chisel and paintbrush at the young age of 10. Little did Jerom know that art would be enough for him to independently support and sustain himself.

Art funded his high school and college education. His skill in lettering, charcoal art, rubber stamp carving, and other art forms allowed him to pursue formal training in the College of Fine Arts in the University of the East–Caloocan. During his time there, he developed a deep interest in native spirituality and mythology, nurtured alongside like-minded peers. 

He returned to Siquijor and led the revival of the tawtaw/anitu, the carved wooden representation of ancestral spirits in pre-colonial Philippines. Today, thanks to Jerom, these wooden idols are displayed in Siquijor’s major establishments, such as government offices, restaurants, resorts, inns, and more. He also sells his paintings, mythological sculptures, and other handcrafted works throughout Siquijor. He has been invited to local art exhibits and events not only in Siquijor but also in Bohol and Dumaguete.

The Tau-Tau Figures:

Each figure is hand carved with intention, honoring our ancestors and the traditional human like figures that represented the ancestors, known as tau-tau, likha, larawan, etc. in various different languages. 

These tau-tau have "tusks" which are inspired by the historical writings of Antonio Pigafetta’s description of the ancestral wooden figure's he witnessed. They are also influenced by the batuk, or tattoo, illustrated in the Boxer Codex.

These figures are carved in honor of the pre-colonial Bisayan past and to our ancestors. Place them on your altar, especially if you are of Bisayan descent, to represent your ancestors. 

There are three sizes available:

Small: 6 inches
Medium: 8 inches
Large: 16 inches

Material: Various types of wood, depending on the artist's choice and supply.
Made in: Napo, San Juan, Siquijor

❗️NOTE❗️:

THIS IS A ❗️PRE-ORDER ITEM❗️PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED IN THE END OF AUGUST-SEPTEMBER.

 If you are ordering an item that is currently in stock in the same order, the order will be held until the pre-ordered book or item arrives from the Philippines. Shipping of pre-ordered items from our partners in the Philippines to New York are scheduled to take place in May, August and November 2026 ONLY.

Once pre-ordered items ship and arrive from the Philippines to New York, items will be dispatched from New York to their final destination.

Due to the gas situation worldwide and especially in the Philippines, shipping of pre-ordered items are delayed and shipping from the Philippines has been set to ease our partner's in the Philippines.

Shipping during these 3 months for 2026 also allow our partnered local artisans from the Philippines such as our weavers, anitu sculptors, and brass pre-colonial gold replica jewelry pieces, the time needed they need to work on your one of a kind, handmade pieces. 

These pieces are all handmade by our local partners and traditional artisans, not mass produced. If you want a ready made and in stock clothing piece, figure, ceramic, or jewelry piece, if we have any available in stock and on hand, you purchase those. Every shipment from the Philippines we do order extra's to put up on the shop for those who want to keep an eye out for in stock items. 

❗️CURRENT SHIPPING❗️

If you are going to be pre-ordering an item and ordering an in stock item, two separate orders must be placed to guarantee arrival of in stock products within 2-3 weeks.

Our shipping days for in-stock items from New York are currently only being shipped at the beginning and end of each month. This allows time for packing and shipping items. Also due to the rising gas prices, we have decided to cut back on shipping days to make it easier on ourselves (two person team) to pack and deliver items to the Post Office 2x a month.