From one era to another, the arts in the Philippines have been developed and

influenced by the multiple cultural, political, and social movements in the country.
Historically, Philippine arts began way before the coming of colonizers and this is called
the pre-colonial era. In this era, arts are of ethnic and ritual types which mostly focused
on their everyday lives. Then, Islamic era had its relevance since the 13 th century to the
present; emphasizing the Islamic faith which brought religious types of arts in the
southern part of the country. The theme of this era is characterized by geometric
designs and patterns.
With the 333 years of colonization, the Spanish era made art a medium to
propagate the Catholic faith. The arts already present were converted into religious
ones resulting to a fusion of both native and European elements. Clearly, the themes
were all about Catholicism and the colonial order. Right next to the Spanish colonizers,
the American era started. Fine arts became prominent in this era, and it favored idyllic
sceneries and secular forms. And the Japanese took over, advocating for the
indigenous arts and traditions of the Philippines. The themes were all about political
power and normality of daily living.
After the World War 2, modern era began along with the country’s independence.
National identity was the main theme of the various art forms in this era. The Philippine
contemporary art, on the other hand, was derived from social realism brought by Martial
Law. The arts expressed the aspiration for a just, free, and sovereign society.
The contributions of each era made the Philippine arts rich and diverse. Despite
the various artistic influences, it still had its recognizable identity as it preserved the
culture and traditions of Filipinos from different eras. This boils down to the idea that art
is a foundation of our freedom of choice and self-expression today.