Barrel man
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A barrel man or barrelman is a souvenir doll or statuette popular in the Philippines. The statuette usually consists of a crude male figurine carved out of wood, partially hidden inside a round wooden barrel. When the barrel is taken off, the male figure inside is revealed, sporting a prominent phallic protrusion in the lower part of the figure's anatomy.[1]
The souvenir is fairly common in gift shops in the Philippines and is somewhat popular among tourists[2] who may be surprised the first time they encounter the object and lift its barrel.
The barrel man has also been identified as a part of Philippine culture and art, often as the subject of Filipino jokes. In 2005, the Filipino American Network sponsored an exhibit called "Beyond the Barrelman" in Chicago.[3] The event showcased artworks of Filipino artists from North America and the Philippines.[4] The barrel man was also featured in the Filipino-American movie The Debut in 2001 starring Dante Basco.[5]
In recent years, a female version of the figurine has appeared. The surprise is the woman's breasts.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Ignacio, Emily (2005). Building Diaspora. Rutgers University Press. pp. 129. ISBN 9780813535142. http://books.google.com/books?id=aRHfTP-0uEIC&pg=PA129&dq=%22barrel+man%22+Philippines. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ de Jesus, Totel V. (2007-10-02). "Models, gym buffs and barrel men join the race". Business Mirror. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/10022007/life04.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ "Beyond the Barrelman Exhibition of Filipino Art". http://www.beyondthebarrelman.com/.
- ^ "Filipino Artists Invited To Submit Entries For The Biggest Filipino Art Exhibit in Midwest". Mindanao Express. 2008-05-23. http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20080522194455. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ Lim, Elizabeth (2008-10-08). "‘Debut’ a breakthrough for Filipino-Americans". Daily Trojan. http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/dt/V144/N29/03-deb2.29d.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ Palacios, Joel P. (2007-02-02). "One to sawa". The Manila Times. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/may/04/yehey/opinion/20070504opi3.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.