 It is the direct precursor to the pith helmet (also called "salacot" in Spanish and French) widely used by European military forces in the colonial era.Salakot is a general term for a range of related traditional headgear used by virtually all ethnic groups of the Philippines.It is usually dome-shaped or cone-shaped, but various other styles also exist, including versions with dome-shaped, cone-shaped, or flat crowns with a flat or gently sloping brim.