Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
Module 1: Introduction
Art to
Contemporary Arts
= Art is an imitation of life and the world
rendered beautifully, which gives
pleasure.
= The Greek Philosopher Aristotle may
have provided the earliest assumptions of
art as a linked to a human instinct.
= In his poetics, Aristotle claimed that
humans have instincts for imitation and
harmony. He described that these
instincts are "lying deep in our nature".
Human
= “Most imitative of living creature.”
Forms of Artistic Expression that
Humans have been able to Produce
1. Picture (Drawing, Painting,
Printmaking, and Photography)
= This is a two- dimensional
image of various subjects ranging
from real- life image to the
visually abstract.
2. Sculpture
= This is a three-dimensional
artwork that may be created using
wood, and concrete.
3. Architecture
= These are structure that meant to
be used as shelter. The art of
architecture is the design and
purpose of the structure.
4. Music
= This is the art form that appeals
to the sense of hearing. Music is
composed by combining notes
into harmony.
5. Literature
= This is the art form of language
through the combined use of
words, creating meaning and
experience.
6. Theater
= This is the art form of
performance.
7. Cinema
= This art form is a technological
translation of theater.
8. Dance
= This is the art of human form.
The body is used, mobilized, and
choreographed in a specific time,
form, and space.
Philippine Art as Filipino
= Leo Benesa, a Filipino poet, essayist,
and art critic said that, “The idea was the
depiction of scenes of everyday life and
the surroundings without idealizing them
was closest in spirit to the Filipino soul
and native soil.”
= As long as the work shows the Filipino
way of living (spending a day in a market,
doing laundry in the river, or attending a
fiesta in town.) It is “closest to the filipino
soul and native soil.”
= Benesa describes Amorsolo's works as
the "most expressive of the ethos of the
race and the predominantly agricultural
countryside". Most of the Amorsolo's
paintings depict life in the fields.
= Amorsolo’s Paintings:
 Depict life in the fields
 The men and women are
portrayed in hard work but with
smiles in their faces.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
 The landscape paintings feature
the rural lands of the Philippines.
Scene is mostly covered by
vegetation and nature.
= In the case of Philippine literature in
English, where language casts doubt on
the Filipino-ness on the literary work,
many regarded the work in Filipino or
other regional languages (Visayan,
Ilocano, or Bicolano) more Filipino than
those written on English.
Contemporary Arts
= The J Paul Getty Museum defines
contemporary arts as “art made and
produced by artist living today. Today's
artist work in and respond to a global
environment that is, culturally diverse,
technologically advancing, and
multifaceted.”
= Contemporary art today is not restricted
to the individual experience of the artist
but is reflective of the world that we live
in.
Elements and Principles of
Contemporary Arts
1. Appropriation
= When you see T-shirts with the
image of Jose Rizal
wearing shades or the walls of
Intramuros in canvas
bags, existing artworks are
“appropriated” to form
another artwork.
2. Performance
= Performance of contemporary
artists has
evolved to “emphasize
spontaneous, unpredictable
elements of chance” according to
the Walker Art Center.
= Performance artists have tried to
interpret various human activities,
from ordinary activities such as
chores, routines, and rituals, to
socially relevant themes such as
poverty, commercialism, and war.
 Yuan Moro Ocampo The
Shadow - Denmark
 Marilyn Arsem Philippine
International Performance
Art Festival
3. Space
= How art transforms a
space is now an occupation of
contemporary artists.
4. Hybridity
= Contemporary artists are now as
innovative as ever. In traditional
painting, only a few materials are
of conventional use.
Contemporary visual artists on the
other hand, may opt to use coffee
for painting or
carve miniature sculptures using
crayons.
 A painting by Karen Eland
using coffee as a medium.
 Crayons are engraved
meticulously to create
sculptures.
5. Technology
= This is a reality in the present-
day world, and contemporary
artists have used technology in the
creation and dissemination of
works of art. Artists have used
video and the internet as a way of
propagating art.
 Magsaysay Philippine
Singers
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
Architecture
= Architecture in the Philippines
continues to be vibrant. With the
improvement of tourism, more first-class
architecture is expected to pour in. New
and fresh structures are sprouting all over
the country. Attributed to the designs
made by the likes of Carlos A. Santos-
Viola, Jason Buensalido, and Angelo
Manosa, these structures are ultra-
modern, functional, and aesthetically
sound.
= Architect and Critic Paulo Alcazaren
notes that today's Philippine architecture
is faced with threats from globalization.
He remarks, "Much of what we see, in
terms of iconic buildings is either
designed by foreigners, or are derivative
designs mimicking copies of western
forms.” This is a serious challenge that
present-day architects have to deal with,
and it takes serious commitment from the
architects, the government, and the
private sector to act on it.
Literature
= On Philippine contemporary literature,
eminent scholar and writer Roland
Tolentino describes that the Filipino
writing in today's world contains the
diasporic experience and the
incorporation of both the rural and the
urban experience. Writers have also
explored the western genre and have
produced legitimate texts on prose poetry,
flash fiction, magic realism, and science
fiction. Distinguished writers and editors
have gathered anthologies to collect into
volumes the newest and most innovative
works of Filipinos today, Dean Francis
Alfar, an award-winning writer,
pioneered the speculative fiction
movement and has been publishing the
Philippine Speculative Fiction series.
Flash fiction, with stories of 1 000 words
or less, has been gaining interest amongst
writers, such as the publication of Vince
Groyon's Very Short Stories for Harried
Readers and Anvil Publishing's Fast Food
Fiction Delivery. Filipino writers are also
getting recognition abroad. In 2008,
Miguel Syjuco bagged the Man Asian
Literary Prize for his novel Ilustrado.
Marivi Soliven published her novel The
Mango Bride in 2013 under Penguin
Books. Sophia Lee won the 2014
Scholastic Asian Book Award for her
novel What Things Mean.
= Contemporary Filipino writers are
continuing to struggle with the low
readership among the public and the
domination of foreign titles in the market.
Despite the odds, contemporary Filipino
writers continue to write without fail.
Theater
= Contemporary Philippine theater is still
alive despite the dominance of television,
movies, and the Internet. There are
multiple stage productions from
university-based theater groups to major
theater companies. The Tanghalang
Pilipino and the Philippine Educational
Theater Association (PETA) annually
stage memorable productions.
 PETA- Was founded in
1967 by Cecile Guidote-
Alvarez, advocates the use
of Filipino theater in
inspiring change and
development in society.
PETA is composed of
dedicated "artists-teacher-
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
cultural workers” who companies such as 9Works
strive for artistic Theatrical, Atlantis
excellence. PETA Productions, Repertory
volunteers work to Philippines, and Concertus
promote the transformative Manila. Universities have
power of theater through their own theatre
its production of companies such as
performances and Dulaang UP (UP Diliman),
workshops. PETA will be Ateneo Blue Repertory
celebrating its 50th (ADMU), and Teatro
anniversary in 2017. Tomasino (UST).
 Tanghalang Pilipino-  Virgin Labfest- Created
Established in 1987, in 2004, Virgin Labfest is
Tanghalang Pilipino is the a playwright's festival of
resident drama company of untried, untested, and
Cultural Center of the unpublished plays. This
Philippines (CCP). With project is a collaboration
its 15 seasons and 114 of the National Center for
productions, it is the most Culture and the Arts
attended among the CCP's (NCCA), CCP,
resident companies. Tanghalang Pilipino, and
Distinct in its offering is the Manila-based
its challenge to the playwright's group The
commitment of the Writer's Block. Many of
Filipino to justice, truth, the plays staged in Virgin
and patriotism. Labfest become repeat
Tanghalang Pilipino productions and some even
continues to push become award winners.
Philippine theater to
Visual Arts
artistic and professional
= Visual Arts The new breed of
excellence through the
contemporary Filipino visual artists is
development and
becoming bold regarding the expression
education of actors,
of personal feelings and perspectives. The
writers, directors, and
influence of radical and modern art
technical staff.
movements in Europe and the Americas
 Other Theater Groups-
has penetrated the Philippine arts scene
There are still more theater
with the proliferation of installation and
companies in the
experimental art. The institutionalization
Philippines. These include
of museums and galleries have also
the Gantimpala Theater
revitalized the Philippine art scene.
Foundation, Ballet
Philippines, and private
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
= Annual art competitions also play an
important role in encouraging emerging
artists to create and produce their works.
The Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. has
been recognizing young talents in the
visual arts for almost half a century.
Some past winners of this competition
who became National Artists include Jose
Joya, Benedicto "Bencab"Cabrera, and
Ang Kiukok. Some notable works of art
from this competition are Child
Trafficking by Leomar C. Conejos, Juan's
Struggle sa Mundong Nobody's Perfect
by Ferd Angelo A. Failano, Tragic
Bangus by Rene S. Sibulangcal (digital
art), and Bandilang Di Tumutumba by
Melvin G. Anglaser. These works of art
are reflection of social and environmental
issues.
= Philippine popular art is the art that
majority of Filipinos patronize. Mostly,
these art forms are found in Filipino daily
life, which brings entertainment to the
common people. In literature, komiks has
Module 2: Philippine Popular
Art
been a widespread form of entertainment.
In the music scene, Filipino musical
artists have adapted many styles and
techniques from all around the world and
have made these their own. Indeed,
Philippine popular art is a reflection of
the fun-loving, sentimental Filipino.
= Philippine independent cinema has
indeed grown into a formidable force in
the Philippine art scene. In recent years,
the films from the said industry have
given the country honor and recognition,
and many countries have taken notice of
the artistry of Filipino filmmakers. The
works of Brillante Mendoza, for example,
have been circulating around the globe,
making the world gain knowledge of the
Filipino experience. Availability of
resources, film festivals, and grants have
encouraged the youth to venture into
filmmaking as an art form.
= The Philippines 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. The works of Filipino artists
such as Ronald Ventura, Kiko Escora,
Annie Cabigting, Angeli Bayani, Joshua
Lim So, Ed Lacson, and Sophia Lee are
amazing evidence of the Filipino's artistic
soul.
= Philippine Popular Art is the art that is
followed or accepted by the Filipino
masses. Looking at Philippine Society,
most of the art forms that the general
public consumes and advocates are those
that are for entertainment such as songs,
dances, telenovelas, and movies.
Philippine popular art is around you:
listen to the chart-topping music hit,
watch the latest dance craze, or view
several box-office hits.
Literature
= The komiks is considered to be 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 works of Mars
Ravelo's Darna, Captain Barbell, and
Dyesebel, and Carlo J. Caparas's Ang
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
Panday. For many decades, these iconic
characters have been portrayed in
television and film. 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.
= Because Filipinos are romantic at heart,
romance novels in paperback editions
have proliferated in bookstores and have
acquired many readers. Recently, some
love stories from these paperbacks
published by local companies such as
Precious Hearts have been adapted as a
TV series. These stories show how
romantic Filipinos are. The Internet
publishing site Wattpad has recently been
a platform for aspiring Filipino writers to
publish and for readers to read new
materials. Some stories published in
Wattpad have been turned into movies
and TV series such as Ang Diary ng
Panget, She's Dating the Gangster, and
Talk Back and You're Dead.
Music
= Original Pinoy Music, or OPM, is a
strong force in Philippine arts. The
musical talent and prowess of Filipinos
shine bright in the country's local music
scene. From the traditional harana, OPM
is still dominated by balladeers that show
our romantic inclinations. Well-known
performers include Gary V., Martin
Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez,
and Sarah Geronimo. Filipino pop music
has tried to mimic foreign musical genre.
Examples of these artists include rock
bands such as Rivermaya and
Eraserheads, and rappers such as Francis
M., who pioneered the musical genre in
the country, Andrew E., and Gloc 9.
Filipino artists have made RnB, country,
and even bossa nova part of Filipino
music.
Dance
= Dance is an important social activity in
the Filipino community. A barangay or
town fiesta is not complete without a
morning parade or caracol and the
evening bayle. Although dance crazes in
the country have foreign origins such as
the “Macarena” or the “Gangnam Style",
Filipinos have still invented dance moves
that were repeated in every corner, such
as the Spaghetti Dance and “Otso-otso.”
Filipino dance groups such as the
Philippine All Stars Dance Crew,
Jabbawockeez, and El Gamma Penumbra
have made Filipino talent known
worldwide.
Movies
= The Filipino movie industry is still
striving despite the dominance of
Hollywood-produced blockbusters. At
present, Filipino movies being produced
today are romantic comedies (rom-
coms), comedies, and horror films. Rom-
coms are staples featuring popular love
teams. Although the stories are patterned
after existing formulas of boy meets girl,
rich girl falls in love with poor boy, or the
love triangle, fans still patronize these
films. Slapstick comedies of Vice Ganda,
Ai Ai Delas Alas, and Vic Sotto still
make moviegoers laugh. Horror movies,
such as the Shake, Rattle, and Roll series,
still manage to entertain the Filipino
audience.
Philippine Independent Cinema
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
= The year 1977 was the birth of
Philippine independent cinema. Baguio-
based filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik won the
International Critics' Prize in the Berlin
Film Festival for his film Mababangong
Bangungot (Perfumed Nightmare). The
Experimental Cinema of the Philippines
(ECP) was created through Executive
Order No. 770 in 1982. Though this
government-owned big corporation was
created to promote the local film Idea of
industry in general, it was instrumental in
the funding of art films such as Peque
Gallaga's Oro, Plata, Mata and Ishmael
Bernal's Himala. The ECP, however, was
dissolved in 1986.
= Independent or indie films are a break
from the mainstream, highly budgeted
productions of established movie
production companies such as Star
Cinema and Regal Films. Independent
films are 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 Big Idea practice
into greater heights. Today, more indie
films are being produced than mainstream
movies.
Award Winning Films
= Many Filipino-made indie films have
been harvesting worldwide recognition.
Some of these were the following:
1. Masahista by Brilliante
Mendoza
= Won the Interfaith award at the
15th Brisbane international Film
Festival
2. Tirador
= Won the Caligari Film Prize at
Berlin Film Festival
3. Serbis
= Won the Golden Kinnaree
Award at the 2008 Bangkok
International Film Festival
4. Thy Womb
= Won the La Navicella Venezia
Cinema Award at the 69th Venice
Film Festival
Brilliante Mendoza
= He has been described by critics as “a
neorealist, and his films depict lives of
ordinary people in extraordinary
situations, set against the universal
struggle of life, love and death.”
= In 2014, the French government
awarded Mendoza the Chevalier dans
l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the
Order of Arts and Letters) for his
contributions in world cinema.
Donsol by Adolf Alix
= Special Jury Prize, Fort Lauderdale
International Film Festival and the Asian
Marine Film Festival.
Melancholia by Lav Diaz
= Orizzonti Grand Prize at the 65th
Venice International Film Festival.
Ploning by Dante Nico Garcia
= Best Director, Asian Festival of First
Film Award
 Other notable indie filmmakers
are Jerrold Tarog, Jeffrey Jeturian,
Mark Meily, and Chris Martinez.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
Film Festivals
= Perhaps the popularity and success of
Philippine independent cinema also lies in
the flourishing of film festivals in the
country. These film festivals provide seed
money for writers and directors to begin
with production. Also, these film festivals
are good marketing avenues for
filmmakers to let the general public
experience their works.
= 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, the
CCP's Cinemalaya, privately initiated
film festivals such as Cinema One
Originals and CineFilipino. These film
festivals allow the public to patronize
indie films, which would otherwise not be
shown in commercial theaters. Many
colleges and universities have started
integrating filmmaking as a field
specialization. With the rise and
popularity of digital cameras today,
almost anyone can make a film. Many
young Filipinos have used portable
recording devices in the convenience of
their own homes and communities to
make films.

Emerging Artists of the Philippines

= 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.
= These artists have proven that arts and
culture in the country is very much alive.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Grade 12 Second Semester