Contemporary Philippine
romance novels in paperback
Arts from the Regions
1st Semester: Finals
Lesson 7: Philippine
Popular Art
• the art that is followed or accepted
by the Filipino masses
• the “masa” or the common people
are the primary consumers of
Philippine popular art that are for
entertainment
• Most of the art forms that the
general public consumes and
advocates are those that are for
entertainment
• Literature
• Music
• Dance
• Movies
Literature as popular art
• Komiks is one of the most read
forms of literature in the country
• Serialized komiks have brought to
life memorable characters of
heroism and goodness in the story
of Darna, Captain Barbell, Dyeseb
el, and Ang Panday
• Comic strips have also entertained
many Filipinos in years with the
humor and wit of Pol
Medina’s Pugad Baboy and
Washington Young’s Pupung
• Since Filipinos are romantic heart,
editions have proliferated in
bookstores and have acquired
many readers
• Then comes an internet publishing
site “Wattpad”, different platform
for aspiring Filipino writers to
publish and for the readers to read
new materials
Gerry Alaguinan
• also known in the Philippines by
his alias Komikero, was a Filipino
comic book artist, writer, and
architect from San Pablo, Laguna.
He was an important figure in the
Philippine comics renaissance of
the 1990s and early 2000s, and is
known internationally for his
graphic novels Wasted and Elmer
Mars Ravelos
Sunday Domingo
Music as popular art
• From the Traditional/Ethnic music
to the Modern music in the
country, the musical talent and
prowess of Filipinos shine bright in
the country’s local and even in
international music scene
• Original Pinoy Music or OPM is
still dominated by ballad songs
that show our romantic inclinations
• Filipino musicians tried also to
express about social/timely issues
through their songs and pop music
 has tried to follow also the foreign
musical genre
Moira Dela Torre
December Avenue
Ben&Ben
IV of Spades
Dance as popular art
• It is an important social activity in
the Filipino community
• From the different
cultural dances, the country has to
the Modern dances in the country,
Philippine dances went forward to
different styles of dances
• Although lots of variables
influenced the Philippine dance of
today still Filipinos manage to
perform dances that represent of
who we are
El Gamma Penumbra
D’Squared Cru
Movies as popular art
The Filipino movie industry is still
striving despite the dominance
of Hollywood-produced blockbuster
movies
At present, Filipino movies being
produced today are more on
romantic comedies, comedies, and
horror films. Good thing is historical
movies in the Philippines are slowly
being produced
Philippine Independent
Cinema
Year 1977 was the birth of Philippine
Independent Cinema in which a Baguio-
based filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik won the
International Critics’ Prize in the Berlin
Film Festival for His
film Mababangong Bangungot
Experimental Cinema of the Philippines
was created through Executive
Order No. 770 in 1982 – It was created
to promote the local film industry in
general, however, it was dissolved in
1986.
Also characterized by their
unconventional narratives,
experimentation on style and technique,
and their artful treatment of material
The demand of independent films to be
an unconventional genre of film pushes
filmmakers and artists to innovate and
push the filmmaking practice into
greater heights
Award-winning Films
Brillante Mendoza
• Masahista
• Tirador
• Serbis
• Kinatay
• Thy Womb
• described by critics as
“neorealist, and his films depict the
lives of ordinary people in
extraordinary situations, set
 against the universal struggle of
life, love, and death.”
• Adolf Alix
• Donsol
• Lav Diaz
Melancholia
• Dante Nico Garcia
• Ploning
Film Festivals
• The popularity and success of
Philippine independent cinema
also lies in the flourishing of film
festivals in the country
• Major film festivals sponsored by
the Philippine government include
the Metro Manila Film Festival, the
Film Development Council of the
Philippines’ Sineng Pambansa,
Cinema Rehiyon, Cinemalaya,
privately initiated fim festivals such
as Cinema One Originals
and CineFilipino
Contemporary
Philippines Arts from the
Regions
1st Semester: Finals
Lesson 8: Contemporary
Art Practices
and Production
Contemporary Art
• an active part of society as it
represents and mediates social
conditions with human aspirations
• According to Michelle Watts, an
art educator, the following are the
characteristics of contemporary art
practices;
• Changes to Accepted Tradition
and Accepted Taste
• Understanding of a Multiplicity of
Viewpoints
• Issues and Ideas about the Role
of Objects in Space and
Relationships between Objects
• Use of Everyday Materials
• Employment of Contemporary
Technology
Changes to Accepted
Tradition and Accepted
Taste
• Contemporary art tries to
challenge age-old practices that
hinder personal growth
and development
• Many visual artists are now
expanding their expression by
using mixed media from
unlikely materials
• Contemporary artist are also not
afraid to create art that goes
against personal beliefs and public
taste
 Understanding of
Multiplicity of View points
• Contemporary art bridges the gap
of geography, ethnicity, gender
and beliefs
• The artworks that they create are
not anymore ignorant of the
complexities of history, politics,
and economics
• Artists are becoming more
exposed to
the interconnectedness of people
and realities, and these become
part of their work
Issues and Ideas about the
Role of Objects in Space
and Relationships between
Objects
• Contemporary art works with
existing object or structures to
maintain balance and harmony
• Contemporary artworks are no
longer limited to museums and
galleries
• Public spaces are now considered
by contemporary artists in the
display and installation of
their artworks
Use of Everyday Materials
• Contemporary art transforms
simple objects and brings them to
life
• Everyday objects such as
furniture, car parts, electronics,
and kitchen appliances are being
transformed by
contemporary artists into beautiful
artworks
• Recycle art has become a trend
for contemporary artists
Employment of
Contemporary Technology
• Contemporary art makes use of
available technology in the
process of creating an artwork
• Technology has revolutionized the
way the contemporary artist
produced art
• The process involved in some
art productions has become less
tedious
• Artists in the 21st Century have
many means of creating art, with a
multitude of available materials
and with the aid of modern
technological advances, artists
engage themselves in various
artistic activities and endeavors
• The contemporary artist of today is
becoming more enterprising than
ever
Emerging Artists in the
Philippines
• when it comes to creativity,
Filipinos are unparalleled
• Emerging Filipino artists are
immensely influenced by issues in
Philippine society
• In choosing a vocation, art is not
exactly the career of choice for
most people in the country,
however, there are still
outstanding individuals who exhibit
passion and world-class artistry in
their craft
RONALD VENTURA
• His works have been
exhibited worldwide
• He holds the record for the
highest bid at Sotheby’s
contemporary Southeast
Asian painting auction
• He is known for his
application of multiple layers of
mixed media techniques
KIKO ESCORA
• KulayDiwa describes Kiko E
scora’s works as “an emotion
expressed in a canvas and
interpreted by the individual’s
recognition of intelligence mixed
with beauty”
• His works have been
featured in several galleries and
Web sites such as The
Drawing Room, Artnet, Altrono
mo, and Christie’s
ANNIE CABIGTING
• •
An eclectic artist with varied
works of paintings and
installations
• Her works are historical
perspectives on the constitution
of art and have been included in
the Prague Biennale in
the Czech Republic
ANGELI BAYANI
• A theater and film actress
who gained acclaim for her
performance in Lav Diaz’ Norte:
The End of History
• Nominated for Best Actress
in the Singapore-produced
independent film Ilo Ilo in the
56th Asia Pacific Film Festival
JOSHUA LIM SO
• Palanca winning fictionist
and playwright, his works that
won the first prize was
shortlisted in the 23rd BBC
International
Playwriting Competition
• The play wa described as “an
extraordinary piece of writing” by
the BBC panel of judges
• One of the founders of
the Destiyero Theater Commun
e
ED LACSON
• One of Philippine theater’s
rising star, directing the Games
People Play in 2014
• His directorial debut
was Remi Karen Velasco’s Ond
oy: Ang Buhay sa Bubong in
the 2010 Virgin Labfest
He also worked as second
assistant director for
the Cinemalaya independent
films Niño (2011)
and Requieme! (2012)
SOPHIA LEE
• 2014 Scholastic Asian Book
Awards grand prize winner for
her novel What Things Mean
 • an active member of the
storyteller for the
group Kwentista ng mga Tsikitin
g (KUTING)
• Received the
NCCA Ani ng Dangal 2015 for
her International recognition

Conclusion
• The Philippine has a rich art and
culture tradition
• In the age of technology and
globalization, the art and culture
scene in the country is at its losing
point
• But still, hope is in the hands of
emerging Filipino contemporary
artists whose works bring pride
and glory to the country