LESSON 1
Art Defined/Philippine Arts in Different Eras
The word art is derived from the Latin word ARS
or ARTIS which means “to do” or “manmade”.
Therefore, arts define as a medium of
expression because through arts we express
ideas, feelings, and emotions without using
words. Also, it is a creative activity which
involves skills or expertness in handling materials
and organizing them into new one.
Importance of Arts
• Satisfies the needs for personal
expression
• Develops our skills to express ourselves
• Challenges us to see things differently
• Unleashes our hidden desires and
passion
• Changes our ways in life
• Sees the truth that we might not
understand before
• Gives pleasure, satisfaction, and
gratification
• Drives our existence
The History of Philippine Arts
The development of Philippine Art comes from
three major traditions. These are Ethnic
Tradition, Spanish Colonial Tradition, and the
American Colonial and Contemporary
Traditions.
1. Ethnic Tradition
Before colonization, our country already has
an indigenous art. This art form is primarily
influenced by the geographical location and
the experiences of the Filipinos. Examples here
are the distinct dances from different locality
where our ancestors thrive. In the highlands like
in the Cordillera, dance steps were imitations
of the movements of certain animals like birds
while the movements of the people living near
the sea were mimics of the movements of the
fishes.
On this period, visual arts, sculpture, pottery,
metal crafting and weaving were dominant
making use of the available materials around
them. In the field of architecture, particularly in
building their shelters, they used local materials
such as Anahaw, bamboo, rattan, cogon,
cane and other light materials. Our ancestors
also have their own form of entertainment like
folk literature, folk speeches, songs and
narratives. Regarding to theater arts, tribal
presentations were the early theatrical
performances based on their beliefs. In music,
tour ancestors have their indigenous musical
instruments like bamboo flutes and gongs.
2. Spanish Colonial Tradition
This art tradition when the Spaniard came tend
to change the Philippine indigenous arts with
Western art forms. Spanish colonizers introduce
Christianity and secularization in which it has a
great impact in the Philippine Arts. Back then,
the friars or the priest were the one who
supervise the practice of arts in the country
with their motive of propagating Christianity
and maintaining the power of colonizers. In
Literature, the literary works could be classified
into religions and secular prose and poetry,
while in the theater arts, secular and sacred
plays like “komedya” became popular. In
dances, religious dances usually performed to
worship patron and saints, dances in secular
forms are valse, fandango, polka, mazurka,
minuet and others performed in social
gatherings and other functions. The Spaniard
also introduced piano and other western
musical instruments. Zarzuela and opera were
cultivated with bands and orchestra. In the
field of architecture, they introduced the use
of bricks and stones in constructing buildings
such as churches, houses and government
offices. The exterior and interior of the buildings
were embellished with wood carvings or metal
works with intricate decorative designs. But,
with the changes brought to us by these
colonizers, the arts in our country did not result
to pure Western art but a mixed of Western
and indigenous arts. Filipino artists still put of new
Philippine touch of arts in their crafts. technology
affected the
way of art
making in
3. American Colonial and Contemporary this period.
Traditions Modern art
After more than 300 years of Spanish continuously
develops
colonization, the Americans took over the
even after
country which led to the declaration of the WWII, which
independence on June 12, 1898. Just like led the
Spaniards, the brought many changes in the contempora
politics, economy. Education and culture in ry way of
the Philippines. In the area of Education, some making art
Filipinos studied in America by the tutelage of today.
Characteristic There was It uses the
the American Educators, and some learned
an combination
through observation and personal experience.
experimenta of different
As they came back in our native land, they l approach methods,
carried the concept of modern art. in materials, and
developing ideas that
All Philippine art forms had a different twist as the art rose came from
the American way of life became a part of above the traditional
lives of Filipinos. Philippine art was broadened, traditional way of art
and artists experimented different medium and art practices making.
methodologies and produced non- and
methodologi
conventional artworks with a wide range of
es. New form
themes of expression
came which
were avant-
Modern Art vs. Contemporary Art garde in
nature.
Modern Art Contemporary
Art
Definition Refers to the Refers to the
practice of recent and
arts in the current
1860s-1960s. practice of art
ranging from
1970s up to
present.
History The
urbanization,
consumerism
, rise of the
middle class,
changes of
political
system,
Contemporary Art vs. Contemporary
secularizatio
n and the Performance
emergence
Contemporary Contemporary honor. It is the highest recognition given to
Art Performance Filipino artists (film, visual arts, dance, etc). In
order to be considered for selection, the artist
• Refers to • It is hybrid work must meet certain criteria such as work
current and that integrates text,
towards nation-building and has reviewed
very recent dance, objects,
music, costumes, prestigious national and international
practice. It also
refers to works lighting, image, recognition.
of art made by sound, sets, and vocal
living artists. expression into The Order of National Artists is the highest
• Tends to be complex interactive recognition given to Filipinos who have
assessed systems. contributed significantly to the status of
thematically • Contemporary Philippine arts, such as music, visual arts,
and performance collages literature, film, broadcast arts, theater, dance,
subjectively, are often non- architecture, design, and allied arts. The
drawing on an narrative, technically
recognition is sparsely given to artists, with
expanded rigorous, and carefully
range of orchestrated anarchic awards sometimes taking place years apart.
theoretical and chaos. They unsettle
perception, demand Since its inception in 1972, only 73 individuals
practical
disciplines. critical engagement have been conferred this highest honor of
• Can be driven from audiences, becoming a National Artist of the Philippines.
by both theory address conceptual Of that number, 26 were awarded
and ideas, and debates within posthumously, including the first National Artist,
is also aesthetics, draw on a Fernando Amorsolo.
characterized diverse range of
by a blurring of cultural interests, and Originally, the recognition was called National
the distinction bring pleasure to
Artists Award, until it was elevated in 2003 by
between art populations across the
globe.” then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the
and other
categories of rank of Order. The Order is conferred to
cultural individuals by the National Commission for the
experience, Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural
such as Center of the Philippines (CCP) at a ceremony
television, in Malacañang Palace.
cinema, mass
media, The rank and title of a National Artist, although
entertainment conferred by the NCCA and the CCP, bears
and digital
the power of a presidential proclamation.
technology.
Criteria of Selection for the Philippine National
LESSON 2 Artist
National Artist Awardees: Their Roles and
Contributions to Philippine Contemporary Arts The National Artist of the Philippines are based
on a broad criterion, as set forth by the Cultural
Get to Know All the National Artists of the Center of the Philippines and the National
Philippines Commission on Culture and the Arts:
Since its inception in 1972, only 73 individuals 1. Living artists who have been Filipino citizens
have been conferred this highest honor. for the last ten years prior to nomination as well
Fernando Amorsolo was the first Philippine as those who have died after the
National Artist in 1972 and since then only 73
talented individuals have been given this
establishment of the award in 1972 but were
Filipino citizens at the time of their death;
2. Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense
of nationhood through the content and form
of their works;
3. Artists who have distinguished themselves by
pioneering in a mode of creative expression or
style, making an impact on succeeding
generations of artists;
4. Artists who have created a significant body
of works and/or have consistently displayed
excellence in the practice of their art form,
enriching artistic expression or style; and
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance
through prestigious national and/or
international recognition, awards in prestigious
national and/or international events, critical
acclaim and/or reviews of their works, and/or
respect and esteem from peers within an
artistic discipline.
Benefits of being Philippine National Artist
• The rank and title of National Artist, as
proclaimed by the President of the
Philippines;
• The insignia of a National Artist and a
citation;
• A lifetime emolument and material and
physical benefits comparable in value
to those received by the highest officers
of the land such as:
• a cash award of one hundred thousand
pesos (₱100,000.00) net of taxes, for
living awardees;
• a cash award of seventy-five thousand
pesos (₱75,000.00) net of taxes, for
posthumous awardees, payable to
legal heir/s; 3. a monthly life pension,
medical and hospitalization benefits;
• life insurance coverage for Awardees
who are still insurable;
• a state funeral and burial at the
Libingan ng mga Bayani;
• a place of honor, in line with protocolar
precedence, at national state functions,
and recognition at cultural events;
LESSON 3
Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan: Their Roles and
Contributions to Philippine Contemporary Arts
In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award
was institutionalized through Republic Act No.
7355. Tasked with the administration and
implementation of the Award is the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
the highest policy-making and coordinating
body for culture and the arts of the State. The
NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan Committee and an Ad Hoc Panel of
Experts, conducts the search for the finest
traditional artists of the land, adopts a program
that will ensure the transfer of their skills to
others and undertakes measures to promote a
genuine appreciation of and instill pride
among our people about the genius of the
Manlilikha ng Bayan.
First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding
artists in music and poetry, the Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan has its roots in the 1988
National Folk Artists Award organized by the
Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. As a group, these
folk and traditional artists reflect the diverse
heritage and cultural traditions that transcend
their beginnings to become part of our
national character. As Filipinos, they bring age-
old customs, crafts and ways of living to the
attention and appreciation of Filipino life. They
provide us with a vision of ourselves and of our
nation, a vision we might be able to realize
someday, once we are given the opportunity
to be true to ourselves as these artists have
remained truthful to their art.
As envisioned under R.A. 7355, “Manlilikha ng
Bayan” shall mean a citizen engaged in any
traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive
skills have reached such a high level of
technical and artistic excellence and have
been passed on to and widely practiced by
the present generation in his/her community
with the same degree of technical and artistic
competence.
Criteria
To become a National Living Treasure, the
candidate must possess the following
qualifications:
1. Is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional
cultural community anywhere in the Philippines
that has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs,
rituals and traditions and/or has syncretized
whatever external elements that have
influenced it.
2. Must have engaged in a folk art tradition
that has been in existence and documented
for at least 50 years.
3. Must have consistently performed or
produced over a significant period, works of
superior and distinctive quality.
4. Must possess a mastery of tools and
materials needed by the art, and must have
an established reputation in the art as master
and maker of works of extraordinary technical
quality.
5. Must have passed on and/or will pass on to
other members of the community their skills in
the folk art for which the community is
traditionally known.
A traditional artist who possesses all the
qualities of a Manlilikha ng Bayan candidate,
but due to age or infirmity has left them
incapable of teaching further their craft, may
still be recognized if:
1. Had created a significant body of works
and/or has consistently displayed excellence in
the practice of their art, thus achieving
important contributions for its development.
2. Has been instrumental in the revitalization of
their community's artistic tradition.
3. Has passed on to the other members of the
community skills in the folk art for which the
community is traditionally known.
4. Community has recognized them as master
and teacher of their craft
Some Famous National and GAMABA
Awardees
Levi Celerio – Known for making music
using a leaf and included for Guinnes book
of records for such talent.
Daisy Avellana – First Lady of the Philippine
Theater.
Francisca Reyes Aquino – Mother of
Philippine Folk Dancing
Guillermo Tolentino – Up Oblation
Napoleon Abueva – Father of Philippine
modern sculpture.
Jose Nepomuceno – “Father of Philippine
Movies”.
Ginaw Bilog – Ambahan
Masino Intaray – outstanding master of the
basal, kulilal and bagit
Darhata Sawabi – Pisyabit
Lang Dulay – A T'boli traditional weaver of
T'nalak or T'boli cloth made of colorful
abaca fabrics.
Federico Caballero – A Sulod Bukidnon
epic chanter from Kalinog, Iloilo who
ceasesly works for then documentation of
the oral literature, particularly the epics of
his people.
Eduardo Mutuc – An Artist from Apalit,
Pampanga who has dedicated his life
creating religious and secular art in silver,
bronze, and wood.
LESSON 4
(ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS)
Art aesthetics is in the eyes of the
beholder, as they say, abstract art or painting
seems to be unclear that ordinary viewers
would not easily appreciate. However,
objectivity is looking beyond style and
techniques. Principles are followed to provide
interpretative endeavor to go beyond visuals.
The principles are meant to provide security,
stability and objectivity of evaluation. If the
principles are followed, confidently the
interpretation is in the right direction. It is also
vital to follow the guidelines for analysis to
avoid biases and misconceptions.

Art Elements

1. Line (straight, curved, angular, flowing,

horizontal, vertical, diagonal, contour, thick,
thin, implied etc.)
2. Shape (what shapes are created and how)
3. Light and Value (source, flat, strong,
contrasting, even, values, emphasis, shadows)
4. Color (primary, secondary, mixed,
complimentary, warm, cool, decorative,
values)
5. Texture and Pattern (real, implied, repeating)
6. Space (depth, overlapping, kinds of
perspective)
7. Forms (A Form is a shape that has become 3-
Dimensional (3-D) Form has HEIGHT, WIDTH and
DEPTH--which is Depth shows the thickness of
the object)