Brussels’ Manneken Pis Receives an Ifugao Costume

During a sunny Tuesday in early July in Brussels, the Manneken Pis (the little man who pees) received a new outfit, a stunning traditional Ifugao costume made of handwoven deep red, black and white Ifugao cloth, complemented by a headdress of cock feathers and a woodcarving of a chicken head.

The Philippine costume donation was part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Philippine-Belgium diplomatic relations. Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda, welcomed by the Friends of the Manneken Pis at the Brussels City Hall, led the “procession” with a large number of Filipinos, to where the Manneken Pis stands at the corner of rue de l’Étuve and rue du Chêne in central Brussels.

Belgium-based fashion designer Amy Balbawang, who has her roots in the Cordillera, created this piece, a veritable Ifugao costume, tailor-made to the 55.5 cm height of the statue, one of Brussels’ most important tourist attractions.  

Manneken Pis has in fact two Filipino costumes, a camiso de chino that the Order of the Friends of Manneken Pis puts on every Philippine Independence Day. This will probably be replaced by the new Cordillera outfit from now on, a decision best left to his official dresser.

The costume stayed on display for a day but 24 hours is enough to stir curiosity among flocks of tourists because your visit in Brussels is not complete without a pilgrimage to this statue, which reflects very much the Belgian cheeky spirit.

The Ifugao costume will join the over a thousand costumes and outfits kept in great care in his wardrobe-turned-museum. And yet, he is naked most of the time, come rain or shine, in heatwaves or freezing winters.

Legend tells the story of a little boy separated from his father during a fair and he was eventually found peeing in this corner, not far from the Grand Place.

A heroic act is also attributed to him. He saved Brussels from the enemy who wanted to explode the thick walls of the city. Needing to pee urgently, he passed in front of the cannon and unknowingly doused the flaming fuse.

But what is true is that this little boy has become an important landmark of Brussels, very much like the Little Mermaid of Copenhagen or the Chizhik-Pyzhik miniature bronze bird in Saint Petersburg. 

Perhaps not many know but Manneken Pis has a "sister," Jeanneke Pis (little Jeanne who pees) in the Alley of Fidelity. Unlike the little boy, who "never grew up" despite his 400 years, Jeanneke is only 39 years old. She symbolizes fidelity and equality for women, though prison bars in front of her may lead to confused interpretations.

Manneken Pis has an open entire street corner reserved for him and this has not prevented attempts at kidnapping. Rumors say it is not the original one on the pedestal...who knows? And if you fancy having one in your living room or in your garden, get one at a tourist shop two steps away where replicas painted in black, yellow, red, orange or violet stand in line, holding their P but not ready to pee.

Photo credits: Friends of the Manneken Pis