Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

In Philippine art, as in its culture, one notes various shades, lines and tones, and even the contrasting
characters that have been absorbed and blended into new forms that are particularly Filipino
(Santos,2016).

Art forms found in the Philippines

 Painting and Sculpture

Artistic painting where introduced to the Filipinos in the 16 th century when the Spaniards arrived
in the Philippines. During this time, Spaniards used paintings in their religious propaganda to spread
Catholicism.

 Weaving

Philippine weaving involves many threads being measured, cut and mounted on a wooden
platform. The threads are dyed and weaved on a loom ( “Art of the Philippines” ).

 Architecture

the basic forms of the architecture in the Philippines before the Spanish came was governed by
the building’s functional uses as shelter and by the materials available.

 Pottery

Native Filipinos created pottery since 3500 years ago. They used these ceramic jars to hold the
deceased ( “ Art of the Philippines” ).

 Music

A type of contemporary music that relates to the tribal music with its stringed instruments, and
to western music as well, is the Rondalla, a native string band which again best typifies the blending of
many influences that go into the cultivation of an indigenous art form (Santos,2016).

 Literature and Theatre

Philippine literature includes the legends of prehistory and the colonial legacy of the Philippines.

 Dance

There are different types of Filipino dances varying in the influence and region. Types of Filipino
dance includes Cordillera, Muslim, tribal, rural, and the Spanish styles dances ( “ Arts of the
Philippines,2016” ).

*Dramas

Mariones

Refers to the helmets of the participants dressed as Roman soldiers,their identities hidden behind
colorful, sometimes grotisque, wooden masks. Found only in the island of Marinduque during Holy
week.It is the culmanating of the passion play that adds the scene of Saint Longinus’ convertion and
martrydom.

Panunuluyan

Tagalog version of the Mexican Las Posadas “seeking passage” .held during christmas time.

Pangangaluwa

A practice during All Saints day which literary means for the soul.

Salubong
A ritual performed during the early morning of Easter Sunday a few hours after the Easter Vigil and
before the easter mass. Dramatizing the meeting between the resurrected Jesus and his mother.

Senakulo

Essentially a passio play, which depicts the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Performed during Holy
Week.

Santacruzan

Performed during month of May, which reenacts Saints Helena’s finding of the true cross and serves
expression of devoton to Virgin Mary.

Comedia

A courtly love between, a prince and a princess of different religions, and highlights concepts of colonial
attitudes to Christian-Muslim relations.

Duplo

A fore runner of balagtasan. The performance cosist of two teams;one composed of young women
called Dupleras or Belyakas; and the young men Dupleros or Belyakos.

Karagatan

Comes from the legendary practice of testing the mettle of young men vying for a maide’s hand. The
maidens ring would be dropped into the sea and whoever retrieves it would have the girls hand in
marriage.

 Visual Arts

The Higantes of Angono Rizal

It started during colonial Spanish time, barrowed to Kapong of Binangonan when Angono was once a
hacienda and ruled by Spanish hacienderos. It was the Angono land tillers way of protesting to the
landowners.

The Sculptures of Paete Laguna

Paete is derived from the Tagalog word paet, which means chisel. The town has had a long reputation
for its craftsman highly skilled in wood carving and its embellishment.

The Taka of Paete Laguna

Taka refers to paper mache using carved wooden sculpture used as a mold. The craft originated on the
town of Paete, Laguna in the Philippine.

The Giant Lantern Festival of Pampanga

The Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) in the
City of San Fernando in the Philippine. The festival features a competition of giant lanterns. Because of
the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.”

Saniculas Cookie Mold carvings of Pampanga

Saniculas cookies are arrowroot cookies that have the image of St. Nicholas molded on it, hence
the name Saniculas. St. Nicholas is also known as “the healer” and is the go-to saint for those who need
“healing”from illnesses.
 Singkaban or Bamboo Art of Bulacan

Singkaban is the art of shaving bamboo into artful creations that can be used as decor for arches or for
the home. Skilled craftsman patiently shave off the bamboo, layer by layer, to create curls and delicate
twirls of thin bamboo.

The Bul-ul of Ifugao

A Bul-ul is a carved wooden figure used to guard the rice crop by the Igorot of northern Luzon. The
sculptures are highly stylized representation of ancestors, and are thought to gain power from the
presence of the ancestral spirit.

Okir design of Maranao

Okir is the term for geometric and flowing designs which are often based on an elaborate leaf and vine
pattern and folk motifs that can be usually found in Maranao and Muslim-influenced artwork, especially
in the southern Philippines, and in some parts of Southeast Asia.

Sarimanok of Maranao

The Sarimanok is a legendary bird of the Maranao people who originated from Mindanao. It comes from
the words “sari” and “manok”. “Sari” means cloth or garment, which is generally of assorted
colors.”manok” means feather tail, holding a fish on its beak or talons.

The Hagabi of Ifugao

The Hagabi of the Ifugaos is a long wooden bench placed under the eaves in the stoned-paved yard that
surrounds the house. It signifies an individual or family’s wealth and prestige belonging to the rank of
Cadangyan (wealthy) who can afford to perform the “Hagabi Feast.”

Philippine Music Scene

If the Filipino’s is to present a show, he will go all the way to enchant his audience. And if the
show is intended to honor our National Artists, he’ll spare nothing- he’ll throw in everything including
the proverbial kitchen sink- to mount an extravaganza of sight and sound, of dance and song, an
entertainment spectacle that should make Kuya Germs turn green with envy.
Traditional Folk dance of the Philippines

The Itik-Itik form Surigao

The Tinikling from Leyte and the Visayas Region

The Sayaw sa Bangko from Pangasinan

The Binasuan from Pangasinan

The Pandanggo sa Ilaw from Mindanao

The Manlalatik from Binan, Laguna

Kuratsa from the Visayas Region

The Kapa Malong-Malong from Mindanao

The Surtido from Cebu and Samar

The Singkil from Maranao

The Carinosa from Panay