This sarimanok is constructed in a typical way with a solid body mounted to a stand and appendages like wings, tail and head, are slotted into the body. The appendages are generally stylised and abstracted rather than realistic. The bright and colourful palette is the norm in Maranao art.According to a folk belief of the Maranao people which was derived from Islamic traditions, the sarimanok was said to be a giant rooster which Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) encountered in heaven. However, it actually relates to an earlier, pre-Islamic belief that the bird was a spirit medium that could communicate messages to its twin in the spirit world. Today, belief in such folk traditions is no longer widespread but the sarimanok has come to be celebrated as a symbol of the Maranao people and is often seen displayed at public events.
