The Cloak of Takipsilim (literally meaning Cloak of Twilight) is Alexandra Trese's mystical cloak that serves to protect her in her duties as Babaylan-Mandirigma.
Creation and conception[]
Kajo's character design for Alexandra Trese was informed by his work in advertising, creating a character with a recognizable and iconic appearance.[1] The most visually striking of these choices, the four buttons on the Cloak of Takipsilim, was deliberately chosen to have a memorable silhouette.[2] The Cloak itself is based on a coat Jose Rizal wears in a famous photo.[3]
History[]
The cloak was created by a blind weaver from Basilan on the day of Alexandra's birth, weaving sigils of protection into the cloak. It was presented to her on her baptismal day, along with gifts from the tikbalang, aswang, duwende, diwata and kapre. It was finally given to her on her eighteenth birthday to help her undertake the Great Balete Tree Trials.[4]
Appearance[]
It is usually is seen as a long double-breasted black coat ending just a little above Alexandra's ankles, stylized with an asymmetrical high collar with white piping, white cuffs, and white frogs crisscrossing the front. It can also take many forms, including a trench coat, jacket, and evening gown, but its original form was a simple black cloak. It's fabric has been described as appearing to have been "woven from the night sky".[5]
Abilities[]
The cloak provides the wearer with protection through its sigils. Strong beings like Talagbusao have been shown to take off the cloak to do significant physical damage to Alexandra.[6] Although the cloak gives Alexandra magical protection, it is not completely impervious to physical damage and has been torn down before.[7]