LESSON 1 – IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING ABOUT
INDIGENOUS CREATIVE CRAFTS
“Culture is that complex whole of the people’s
way of life, which includes the knowledge,
belief, art, law, morals, customs, values, ideas,
sentiments, and other capabilities acquired by
a person as a member of society. It offers a
summation and distillation of the past that
provides a sound basis for living in the present
and marching into the future.”
- Preserving and enriching our culture
helps us uphold a strong sense of
nationhood and deep respect for
cultural diversity.
- Philippine government supports the
enrichment and preservation of our
culture through certain laws, agencies,
and programs.
- Culture is significant in nation building
Our constitution tells us to preserve and enrich
our culture based on the principle of unity in
diversity in a climate of free artistic and
intellectual expression.
SECTION 14, 15, 16, 17,
ARTICLE XIV of the 1987 Constitution declare
that the state shall foster the preservation,
enrichment and dynamic evolution of Filipino
culture based on the principle of unity in
diversity in a climate of free artistic and
intellectual expression.
THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF OUR
CULTURAL HERITAGE IS MANDATED BY LAW:
R.A 7356
- AN ACT OF CREATING THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE
ARTS, establishing national Endowment
Fund for cultural and the arts, and for
other purposes (Implemented April 3,
1992)
- The national commission for culture and
the arts (NCCA) was created to serve as
the presidential inter-agency
commission to coordinate cultural
policies and programs
- NCCA is the overall policy making body,
coordinating, and grants giving agency
for the preservation, development and
promotion of Philippine arts and
culture.
RA 8371 – THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RIGHTS
ACT OF 1997
- AN ACT TO RECOGNIZE, PROTECT ANF
PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,
creating a NATIONAL COMMISSION ON
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, Establishing
Implementing Mechanisms,
Appropriating funds Therefor, and for
other purposes
- Implemented October 29, 1997
RA 10066
- AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF
THE NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE,
STRENGHTENING THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION FOR THE CULTURAL AND
THE ARTS (NCCA) and its affiliated
cultural agencies, and for other
purposes
- Implemented March 25, 2009
The constitution likewise mandates the state to
conserve, develop, promote, and popularize
the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and
resources, as well as artistic creations.
It further provides that all the country’s artistic
and historic wealth constitutes the cultural
treasure of the nation and shall be under the
protection of the state, which may regulate its
disposition.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE FAIL TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR
CULTURE IN SHAPING OUR SOCIETY?
- Culture fragmentation
- Perceived distrust towards fellow
Filipinos
- Parochialism
- Perpetuation of historic injustice
- Inability to collaborate for nation
building
Culture is SIGNIFICANT IN A NATION’S
DEVELOPMENT. Therefore, we should help in
preserving and enriching our culture.
LESSON 2 – UNDERSTANDING INDIDENOUS
CREATIVE CRAFTS
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARTS AND CRAFTS
ISSUES IN CATEGORIZING ARTS AND CRAFTS
1. Confusion
2. Perceived Value
3. Actual Value
CONFUSION – some people have a strong desire
to categorize and name movements in the art
world. Certain works may make people feel
conflicted about considering the works as art
or craft
PERCEIVED VALUE – There are instances
wherein there is an idea wherein crafts are
perceived as lesser, and therefore, people who
work in specific mediums are lesser.
ACTUAL VALUE – Often times, if an artist
considers him/herself as a craft artist, their
work will be more affordable. Impart this is
because of the perceived value, in part it is
because of the decades of the medium’s history
in association with functional items, intended to
be purchased by the middle class
ART – Form of communication of expression by
an artist in a visual or non-visual way.
CRAFTS – a type of skilled work in a physical
form usually done using hand.
ARTS AND CRAFTS both come from the skill,
patience, and creativity of people. Both arts
and crafts should be appreciated.
THE NATURE AND SCOPES OF INDIGENOUS
CRAFTS
- Each region of the Philippines has its
own indigenous communities. These
communities have their own unique
arts and crafts
- Whether it be visual arts, song and
dance, handicrafts, tapestries and
clothing or pottery, each region boasts
of exceptional talent, skill and
creativity.
ISSUES REGARDING ARTS AND CRAFTS:
- Some consider the works of indigenous
people as only worthy of being sold in
tourist shops.
- The accomplishments of indigenous
communities are rarely valued.’
HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK FOR INDIGENOUS
CULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES
DEFINITION OF INDIGENOUS GROUPS
- A group of people or homogenous
societies identified by self-ascription
and ascription by others,
- who have continuously lived as
organized community on communally
bounded and defined territory, and
- who have, under claims of ownership
since time immemorial, occupied,
possessed customs, tradition, and other
distinctive cultural traits, or
 - who have, through resistance to INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT HYPOTHESIS
political, social and cultural in roads of (MEACHAM)
colonization, non-indigenous religions
- There is an internal development and
and culture, become historically
internal human evolution happening
differentiated from the majority of the
within the so-called Austronesian region
Filipinos.
MULTIPLE HOMELAND HYPOTHESIS (BEYER)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCES
- 1ST wave – movement of the people
- An archeological finds in Palawan
coming from Indonesia to the
(TABON SKULL FRAGMENTS) suggest
Philippines
that There were already prehistoric
- 2nd wave – Movement also originated
inhabitants in the Philippines as early
from Indonesia – when the people
as the PLEISTOCENE Period
reached the country, they dispersed and
- The New Stone Age was the impetus of
proceeded to different islands
the development of Filipino modern
- 3rd wave – came from Indochina
societies
- 4th wave – came from Mainland China to
- Early Filipinos were starting to
the Philippines.
domesticate plants and animals, and
food production was no longer limited MELENESIAN HOMELAND HYPOTHESIS (DYEN)
to family consumption. People were
dependent on Agricultural as well as - Movement of people originated from
hunting and gathering activities. Melanesia around 3500 BC

PEOPLING IN THE PHILIPPINES UNIQUE SOUTH CHINA SEA HOMELAND

HYPOTHESIS (SOLHEIM)
- The work of Gaillard and Mallari (2004)
summarized the different schools of - Peopling of the Philippines was related
thought to explain the peopling of the to the thriving of the trade relations
Philippines. happening around Borneo and the
- Some of these hypotheses include: Celebes Sea.
o INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT - The trade activities brought the
Nusantao to the Philippines and even as
(MEACHAM)
far as Taiwan.
o MULTIPLE HOMLAND
HYPOTHESIS (BEYER) UNIQUE MAINLAND SOUTHEASTERN CHINA
o MELANESIAN HOMELAND HYPOTHESIS (HEINE-GELDERN version)
HYPOTHESIS (DYEN)
o UNIQUE MAINLAND - Movement started in the South China,
then proceeded to the Malay Peninsula
SOUTHEASTERN CHINA
moving toward Borneo and then finally
HYPOTHESIS (HEINE-GELDERN)
through Palawan
o UNIQUE SOUTH CHINA SEA
HOMELAND HYPOTHESIS
(SOLHEIM)
CULTURAL DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN ETHNOGRAPHIC REGIONS
FILIPINOS
- The IPRA identifies 8 ethnographic
- Spanish colonization from 1521 to 1896 regions in the country, namely:
succeeded in subjugating most islands o The Cordillera Administrative
of the archipelago, which eventually Region (CAR),
formed the Philippines. However, within o Region I,
the islands some communities o Region II,
remained independent from Spanish o Region III and the
colonial rule. o Rest of Luzon,
- Those who resisted the colonization and o Island Group,
withdrew to remote and inaccessible o Southern and Eastern
areas have Retained their original ways Mindanao,
of life. These group of people today o Central Mindanao, and
comprise the indigenous people of the o Northern and Western
Philippines. Mindanao.
SUMMARY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE
- There are many theories about PHILIPPINES INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
peopling in the Philippines (CARINO,2012)
- It can be seen from the theories that - IGOROTS
there are many cultural influences that - AETAS
have affected Philippine pre-colonial - CARABALLO GROUPS
society - MANGYANS
- Philippine culture is diverse due to - DUMAGATS
many reasons. Some reasons include - PALAWAN GROUPS
the geographical structure of the - ATI & TUMANDUK
country, as well as the varying effect of - LUMADS
colonization in the Philippines.
- The groups of people who resisted OVERVIEW OF SOME MAJOR GROUPINGS OF
colonization in Philippine history were INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE PHILIPPINES
able to retain their way of life. These
IGOROT TRIBES
people today comprise the indigenous
people of the Philippines’ - Indigenous people of the Cordillera
Mountain range in northern Luzon
LESSON 4 – INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND - Has several tribes in the northern
EVIDENCE portion of the Philippines
KEY IDEAS - Some tribes can be found in the Banaue
Rice Terraces (IFUGAO), CARABLLO
- People who have resisted the effects of MOUNTAINS and SIERRA MADRE
colonization and non-indigenous culture (ILONGOTS)
and religion.
- said to be historically differentiated
from most of the Filipinos
AETAS
- Part of the Negrito ethnic group, a
diverse ethnic group found in parts of
SEA and the Andaman Islands
MANGYAN
- Indigenous people of the island of
MINDORO and in SIBUYAN ISLAND
PALAWAN GROUP
- Includes the AGBANUAS and the
PALAW’ANS who are said to be
descendants of the Tabon Cave
Inhabitants.
LUMAD
- Indigenous people of Mindanao
- Said to make up the largest number of
indigenous people in the country
- LUMAD = Visayan for “of the land,”
indigenous
Some groups engage in hunting and gathering
and agriculture, while other groups are now
engaged in a mix of off-farm and non-farm
activities, such as handicrafts production, small-
scale mining, construction, service, and other
occasional/seasonal labour.
LESSON 5 – CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MULTI
CULTURALISM
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
- Cultural Diversity is where a society or
group is made up of many different
people.
- These people are from different
countries, races, and religions, and have
different interests, skills, and beliefs.
(Twose, 2021)
MULTICULTURALISM
- A system of belief and Behaviors that
recognizes and respects the presence
of all diverse group in an organization
or society, Acknowledges and values
their socio-cultural differences, and
engages and enables their continued
contribution within an inclusive cultural
context which Empowers all within the
organization or society
INVOLVES
- Recognition and respect
- Acknowledging the validity of cultural
expressions and contributions of various
groups
- Encouraging and enabling contributions
of various groups for empowerment.
LESSON 6 – INDIGENOUS MINDSET
- Indigenous groups in the Philippines
share common bonds of language,
customs, traditions, and other
distinguishing cultural traits.
- They also live as a community with
defined territory, and they have
resisted colonization which makes them
historically differentiated.
INDIGENOUS KNWOLEDGE SYSTEMS AND
PRACTICES (IKSP)
- Indigenous knowledge refers to
knowledge that people in each
community have developed over time.
This knowledge could be in the form of
information, practices, and
technologies, beliefs, tools, materials,
local experimentation, biological
resources, human resources,
indigenous education, and
communication systems.
- Indigenous knowledge is based on
indigenous people’s exp across time.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S IKSP
- The IKSP of indigenous people consider
their IKSP as their means of survival
and basis of cultural identity
- A national IP congress held in Antipolo;
Rizal last November 1996 had IP analyze
their own IKSP. The characteristics of
their IKSP are as follows:
o Simple to understand and easy
to transmit to other
generations.
o Low-cost, locally available.
o Affinity to and with harmony in
nature
o Sustainable
o Strong sense of community and
cooperation
o Health and environmentally
friendly
o Self-reliant
Simple to understand and easy to transmit to
other generations.
- Their IKSP can be easily understood and
communicated within their community.
IKSPs are learned by apprenticeship and
practice
Low-cost, locally available.
- The practices of indigenous people are
rooted to local resources.
Affinity to and with harmony in nature
- Indigenous people uphold the integrity
of land, forest, and natural resources.
Their respect for sacred sites conforms
to environmental conservation and
management. They have a system using
resources without causing undue stress
to such resources
Sustainable
- Resources being used by indigenous
people are developed and managed in
such a way that such resources are
ecologically stable and productive over
time.
Strong sense of community and cooperation
- Cooperation and mutual help have
helped reinforce their knowledge
system and practices.
Health and environment-friendly
- IP’S IKSP shuns the use of external
inputs like chemicals, so the resulting
products are safe for the health and
conservation of the environment.
Self-reliant
- Promotes reliance on their own capacity
and resources. It also encourages
expression of creativity, ingenuity, and
spirituality.
LESSON 7 – OVERCOMING THE THREAT TO
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
THREATS TO INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
DIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES
- Lack of documentation for the diverse
culture in the Philippines
- Issues with Filipino Identity.
- Effects of Globalization and Migration
- Effects of Climate change and human-
induces risks to the environment
- Issues related to governance
Indigenous people have established responses
and coping mechanisms-grounded in traditional
knowledge, customs, and practices – to
differentiate circumstances affecting their
communities.
There are also programs implemented by social
institutions in the Philippines to help protect
culture diversity.
- Ex. In the 2017-2022 Philippine
Development Plan, priority areas of the
cultural agenda include:
o Safeguarding and enshrining
our cultural heritage
o Achieving equity and inclusion
in access to cultural resources
and services
o Sustaining and enhancing
cultural assets to foster
creativity and innovation for
socio-economic growth.
FORMS OF INDIGENOUS CRAFTS
INDIGENOUS CRAFTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
- Philippine indigenous people are
creative and artistic.
- Nature’s beauty is said to be a source of
inspiration, and making arts and crafts
bring joy and a sense of being near to
nature when making arts and craft.
EXAMPLES OF INDIGENOUS ARTS AND CRAFTS:
- WEAVING
- SCULPTURE
- ARCHITECTURE
- OTHER ART FORMS, SUCH AS
TATTOOING, JEWELRY MAKING,
SEALING AND PAPER-MAKING,
CALLIGRAPHY, METAL CRAFTS, FOLK
DRAWING AND FOLK PAINTING
WEAVING
- Cloth weaving has existed since the pre-
colonial times
- This tradition is kept and preserved to
this day by Filipinos/ some examples of
woven crafts are cloth and baskets.
o Hingyon Weaver uses dye to
make traditional designs.
o T’boli craft production
SCULPTURE
- An artistic form in which hard or plastic
materials are worked into three-
dimensional art objects.
o An example piece is the BULUL,
which is a carved wooden figure
used to guard the rice crop by
the Ifugao
ARCHITECTURE
- The art and technique of designing and
building
o An example of an indigenous
architecture is the BALE, which
is commonly seen in Ifugao
Other art forms, such as tattooing, jewelry
making, sealing and paper-making, calligraphy,
metal crafts, folk drawing and folk painting.
MATERIALS USED IN INDIGENOUS CRAFTS
- ABACA (Musa textiles) is a tree-like
herb resembling the banana plant.
o Processes: dyed into different
colors, used in handicrafts as
pulp material for paper
making, cordage or fibers to be
woven into rope and braids.
- RATTAN (Calamus maximus) is the most
versatile material used in the craft
industry. It is the general name for all
climbing palms.
o Used to make furniture, and
accessories, mostly baskets
- BAMBOO (Bambusa spinosa) is mostly
used for the furniture industry because
- COCONUT (Cocos nucifera) probably is
of its strength and durability.
the most utilized palm in the
o Often also used in basket and
Philippines.
hat making.
o It can be dyed easily and
- BURI (Corypha elata) is the largest palm
formed into interesting
found in the Philippines. It is one of the
products in combination with
most important palms, next to the
other materials.
coconut, in terms of economic and
- Sea Grass (Rhynchospora corymbose) is
industrial importance. The buri leaf is
coarse sedge, about 1 meter in height.
the most versatile material used in the
The stems are distinctly triangular, and
handicraft industry.
the leaves are broad and long. It
o Used for hats, boxes, and other
abounds in the marshlands and rice
novelty items. It can be easily
paddies of southern Luzon.
dyed and woven into many
shapes.
- KALAS is derivative of the buri palms.
Locally, the term “kalas” means “to
loosen” and refers to the loosened
strands of a buri rope.
o When woven, kalas create an
interesting, rustic pattern with
distinct characteristics from the
original material.
- CARAGUMOY (Pandanus simplex) is a
variety of screw pine distributed mostly
in the inlands of Luzon and Visayas
Island.
o It is greenish grey in color as it
dries and is used traditionally
for making mats, hats, bags, and
baskets.
- PANDAN-DAGAT (Pandanus tectorius)
is a variety of screw pine which grows
abundantly along seashores of the
Philippines.
o It is made into hats and mats
has evolved to be a favored
material for cushions and
canisters.