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can give more value and meaning to a work of art. We will not just easily dismiss it as
boring or grotesque.

Educating for taste?

What is taste? We Filipinos often associate this with dating. When we see a friend of
ours with a girlfriend or boyfriend who has good looks and even good background, we
can easily mutter, You have good taste. But this is not the kind of taste we are
interested in. Yes it can be applied to that, but taste it more concerned with our choices
of consumption; what we spend our time, our money, and our efforts on.

In our tastes, what do we value? The things we value, do they make the quality of our
lives better- mentally, emotionally, physically, economically, and even spiritually? Later
on, when you graduate from college and start earning money, you will instantly become
a market so many things. Wise expenditure or spending our money wisely is quite rare
these days. Reflect on these words by author Alian de Boton.

But how we should know which to value and in this sense, how to value art works and
products of our culture? Hence, we can start to understand the role of Art Critics.
These people who use writing as a means of communication are trained in seeing and
looking at works of art and judging their value based on a good set of premises.
Sometimes they are also art connoisseurs. Art Critics help us understand and
supplement our knowledge of art forms. With their indispensable role, we can better
evaluate our tastes and even be wiser in what we consume not only in art but life in
general.

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CHAPTER 2: I’M A FILIPINO BUT I DON’T KNOW MANANSALA!

REDISCOVERING PHILIPPINE ART

Introduction
Philippine art in general is poignant, romantic, and even nostalgic. Before we
were influenced by Westerns, we were already developing our own sets of culture
and values. During the colonial period, gradually we became infused by foreign
influence. In a way, it is quite saddening how the good heritage of old Filipino
manners, ethics, and even cultural markers like our own “ baybayin” were
superimposed by newer trends. Most of us, especially in our generation, cultivated
the idea that old fashioned is old school. Even the beautiful way of courtship is gone
in the mist of the past: no more haranas and fewer dalagang Filipinas. Philippine art,
on the other hand, has been conscious of these changes and has become a way to
reminisce and remember our old virtues and rich roots. That is why it is very
important to study Philippine art. It is part of our identity and that simply because
we have a beautiful culture worth celebrating.

LESSON 1: HOW PHILIPPINE IS PHILIPPINE ART?: A SURVEY ON THE MARKERS OF

OUR ARTISTIC CULTURE

Filipino artists are important forces in the formation of our national identity.
Images and the culture of making artwork have power in itself. These are some
notable artists who have captured our Filipino sensibilities in their own way:

1. Fernando Amorsolo interpreted the “ Philippine Light”

A. We can compare his style with the impressionist painters who also aimed to express
the simple beauties of nature and life. Such artists are Auguste Renoir, Edouard Manet
and 19- century portrait artist Auguste Dominique Ingres. Because of Amorsolo‟s
expertise on his medium, which is oil, and his sensitivity to light, Amorsolo was able to
paint luminous skin as light strikes it and creates a certain glow. Others even say that
you can almost feel the blood rushing underneath the flesh.
QUICK FACTS: ANALOGOUS IS A TYPE OF COLOR HARMONY WHICH TECHNICALLY MEANS THOSE
COLORS THAT ARE NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THE COLOR WHEEL:

B. He was coined as the master of Philippine Light. This is kind of light that when it
strikes tanned flesh or the leaves of trees for example, one can immediately see a
range of analogous or related colors such as yellow green, yellow and white that appear
at the same time and makes one feel the warmth if the scene created. Because of his,
excellent style, his paintings never fail to bring back the warmth and idyllic scenes of
Philippine provinces and traditions.

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2. Vicente Manansala developed his rendition of transparent cubism technique

A. Cubism was pioneered jointly by Pablo Picasso and George Braque and was
described to be most radical innovation of art
“isms‟ since it contrasted greatly with the
classical perception of beauty. It uses
overlapping and multi-perspective geometric
shapes and forms of the chosen subject to
produce depth.
B. The cubist aspect of Manansala has
broader facets and planes than original
cubism so they bring out larger rhythms and
is closer to Synthetic Cubism rather than its
earlier phase, which is Analytical Cubism. He
further developed it into transparent cubism,
which shows panels of shapes interfacing
each other.

C . Unlike Amorsolo, Manansala echoes the proletarian painters of the United States.
His works were non-idyllic: emotions and backgrounds showing evidence of real events
happening at his time like poverty and economic depression and skin tones are not
luminous kayumanngi.

3. Hernando R. Ocampo’s style was considered by some critics as the most Filipino

A . Most of HR Ocampo‟s works are purely abstraction, therefore it is hard to pinpoint

why he was described as the most Filipino painter ever. However, it is not the content
but rather the style of his works where one can see his unique painterly approach.

B . What is unique in his works are the abstract compositions of biological forms that
are portrayed in bold strokes of colors that seem to oscillate before your eyes. His
subject matters are usually nature‟s flora and fauna, hence reflective of the natural
beauty of his country.

4. Napoleon Abueva’s modernist but Filipino-themed sculptures

A . Characterized by the planar and geometric look of his sculptures, Abueva veered
away from the conservatism of his mentor , Guillermo Tolentino ( known for sculpting
the University of the Philippines “ Oblation”

B . He still kept Filipino themes in his sculptures such as rice planters, mother and
child, carabaos, and the like. However ,his bold and edgy interpretation of such themes
intensified the kind of spirit present in dynamic and often monumental sculptures.

Lesson 2: What‟s Happening? A Bite Of Visual Arts History of the Country

1. Pre -colonial Indigenous Art

A . Characterized by use of materials found in the immediate environment combining

functionality with aesthetics and art forms are usually connected to traditional belief
systems and local values.
B . Clay pottery is one of the earliest forms of ancient art which is evidence of artistic
skill. The Manunggul jar of Palawan is a prominent example. Other forms are the
Calatagan jar which displays inscriptions on its body and the Maitum burial jar. The
maitum is anthropomorphic, meaning it mimics a human figure with facial expressions
of sadness and joy on its face.
C. Other variations are the palayok which is used for cooking, the banga, tapayan (
liquid container) and the burnay pottery of Ilocos.

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D. Wood Carving is another prominent art form. Our animistic ,mostly from the
Cordilleras, carved the bul-ul and many variations of it. The bul-ul bi-functional ,both a
granary God and an ancestral spirit.

E. Weaving was also predominant we are very rich in materials like the buri, rattan,
pandan and bamboo splits. used in making hats and baskets like the pasiking backpack.

2. Hispanic Influence ( 1800’s)

A. The main force of art is the church, hence works were mostly concerned with
religious subject matters.
B. Notable artworks are (Philippine flora and fauna) and the Letras Y Figuras.
C. Filipinos were trained by friars and but they adhered to a more rich palette like
red, blue, and yellow.

3. American Influence ( 1990’s)

A. Closing of the Escuela de Pintura, Grabado Y Escultura which paved for the opening
of small workshops led by artists to train pupils.
B. Photo ethnography was done by American soldiers to “prove” the uncivilized and
primitive people of the Philippines.
C. Forces of art were commissions, sales, gifts, and opening of new American-based
businesses.
D. Filipinos started getting involved in international art expositions like Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo.

4. Second Republic: 1942-1945

A. Japan occupies the country and laid the groundwork for cultural regeneration,
dissipating American influence
B .Some artists involved in the movement were conservatives Fernando Amorsolo his
brother Pablo , Guillermo Tolentino, Dominador and Castaneda and modernists
Victorio Edades , Galo Ocampo and Hernando Ocampo.
C. Art became a vehicle of influence for the Japanese to control the Filipino spirit by
restricting their artistic expression.

5. Third Republic: 1946-1972

A. Rise of modernism spearhead mostly by H.R. Ocampo, Victorio Edades, and
Napoleon Abueva.
B. Art Association of the Philippines was formed along with the Philippine Art Gallery
(PAG).
C. Main art movements were realism and neo realism with media- related conventions
like komiks and editorial cartoons.

6. Fourth Republic 1972-1986

A. Marcos era; Marcos monument was created but was later destroyed.
B. First Lady Imelda Marcos efforts: Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), National
Arts Center, and Philippine High School for the Arts among others. The CCP was
envisioned as a shrine for high art and the avante garde.
C . Prominent artists were Chabet, Fernando Zobel, Raymundo Albano along with
modern artists Manansala who painted “ Madonna of the Slums” Benedicto Cabrera (
Bencab) produced protest and revolutionary art through his paintings and prints.
D . Antipas Delovato painted with watercolor a very striking work entitled “Itak sa puso
ni Mang Juan.

7. Fifth Republic Onwards 1986- Present

A. Contemporary Philippine art

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B. Rise of commercial galleries, improvement of institutions, and formation of more art

groups and collectives.

Lesson 3: What is the Shape of Philippine Art?: Forms of our Art

In the field of Visual Arts, it is not much different. We can look back to one of the
greatest Filipino artist of all time who were in the ranks with world-renowned painters
and sculptors. Among them are Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, both of
whom represented the Philippines in the international exposition, Exposicion Nacional
de Bellas Artes (national Demonstration of Beautiful Arts) in Madrid in the 1900‟s. These
artists were first sponsored to study abroad and later on mastered their new knowledge
to a different level of competency.

Forms of local art-The Philippines is very rich in terms of materials and resources. These
materials are sometimes readily available and can be used in its raw forms , but others
need to be processed. When these materials are put into use., many techniques are
given birth. The following are some of the major forms of Philippine art. Some have
descriptions for us to further identify them.
Graphic Arts- usually identified with Assemblage - characterized by the
advertising art because of their flat and collection and assembly of found objects
graphic style for easy reproduction usually on a flat surface. Imagine a collage
but with volumetric objects.
Bamboo Art Food Art
Basketry Furniture
Book Design Installation and Site- specific Art
Dress Komiks and Editorial Cartoon
Embroidery Leaf Art
Effigies- protest art in sculptural form Printmaking - reproduction of several
made with paper machine which is mostly originals using a series of printmaking
burned later to symbolize opposition. techniques . These are all made by hand
,one by one.
Mat Weaving Photography
Metalcraft Pottery
Multimedia Sculpture
Painting and Related Forms Sound Art
Paper Art Tattoo Art
Performance Art Video Art
Personal Ornaments

Philippine Materials:
Clay: earthware, red clay called terra- cota ,stoneware and porcelain
Wood: wood carving used in bul-uls ,sundul (grave markers) panolong (house beams)
santos (graven images)
Tools: paet (carving tool) hiwas (skew) landay (shallow gauge) lukob (deep gauge )
trespico or tatlong kanto (parting tool) ,encarnation or encarnado santo -rendering of
flesh tones.
Furniture: floral and curving vine designs in Pampanga
Sculpture of toothpick trees, fantasy birds, and fans in Paete Laguna
Taka or papier Mache in Paete and creating higantes in Angono Rizal
Papel de hapon for the pabalat wrapper tradition of paper cutting in Bulacan
Philippine hardwood: warmth of tone and natural coloration that ranges from dark
brown to yellow to reddish hues, as well as fine grain texture
Retablos by Napoleon Abueva for chapels
Weathered wood: artists like Jerusalino Araos and Rey paz Contreras used old
railroad tracks or stairs and beams of demolished houses
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Bamboo and rattan; Kenneth Cobonpue

Mindanao wood: tail ends of houses
Basketry: buri, rattan, pandan,bamboo splits,ibus,nipa palm,saha (banana pulp),hat
making
Food: kiping ( rice water for the pahiyas decoration)dayap food wood carving in
Bulacan
Metal: bronze or brass using ciere perdue or “ lost wax method.” Using wax for mold.
Spaghetti strips of wax is placed on outer layer of brass to create the designs. Pukpuk
method.
Stones and precious stones
Fiber ,dyes and pigments

Lesson 4: How Do I Behave Myself in a Gallery?

Sometimes museums and galleries seem intimidating. Their erudite-looking façade can
be too imposing that entering it seem to demand a lot from us. The culture of gallery
and museum visits are not very common among us. We would rather go to malls where
our hunger for aesthetics could be relieved. However, we miss the opportunity of
having an experience that will feed both our souls and our hunger for our deepest
longings.

Museum and Gallery Etiquettes

1. How you dress- it does not always have to be too flashy or formal. Some special
events in galleries and museums like opening receptions may be more special than
regular, hence people would usually dress in formal attire. However, on a normal day
museum or gallery visitors can just dress . Wear clothes which would show respect to
such settings.

2. Where should you eat- some museums have cafes -the only areas where you are
allowed to eat. In galleries, eating is only appropriate during openings and cocktails are
usually served. However, these are not supposed to be full meals, they are just light
snacks, so eat lightly and in the spaces designated for eating.

3. When taking photos - avoid using flash photography because the light could affect
the vibrancy of a painting‟s color. Some paints are light-sensitive and they also naturally
fade over time. Do not speed up the fading process by using the flash when clicking
your camera.

4. Selfies and funny poses- In museums, a lot of paintings and artifacts are deeply
venerated for their depictions of some of the most important pains and victories of a
country or region. Hence, our behavior should also be properly coordinated.

5. Talking and jesting - it is definitely okay to talk and discuss some artworks,but if your
voice is louder than normal ,then it could distract and disturb other gallery visitors.

6. Touching - some contemporary art these days are meant to be touched ,but most
works are NOT. Our fingers have sweat glands which can affect the chemical properties
of painting or sculpture‟s surface. Human sweat cab be acidic and this can have
deteriorating effects on a work of art.

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Knowing the National Museum of the Philippines

We are blessed to have an established institution that houses some of the most
important national and even world-reknowned cultural heritage. These treasures are
more than what money can buy because they are records of both history and human
excellence. We will not always have a Luna living in our days, but his art is very much
alive on the walls of our National Museum along with those of other Filipino artists.

The National Museum is a public space and is meant to be visited by us, the Filipino
people. It was mandated in the year 1998 to acquire, document, preserve, exhibit, and
foster scholarly studies and public appreciation of works of art, specimens, and cultural
and historical artifacts representative of our unique cultural heritage and natural history.
Here are some important aspects of the museum that you must know.

> It has nineteen (19) regional branches throughout the archipelago comprising the
national network. Check if your local museum is part of this.

> The museum areas are in a complex . The National Art Gallery was formerly the
Legislative building occupied by the Senate and House of Representative (lower ground
then functioned as National Library): the National Museum of Anthropology) old finance
building) and the newly - renovated National Museum of Natural History (formerly the
department of tourism building).

National Museum of Fine Arts

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National Museum of Anthropology

National Museum of Natural History

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Lesson 5: What NOW? The Contemporary Times

What is the pulse of art today?

The “now” is what critics call contemporary, or postmodern, which is the product
of artistic sensibilities and attitudes following the modernist period. If we look at world
events against its background, we can take into consideration one very important
achievement: technology. Such was the context of the postmodern era. Critics were at
first uncertain of how they should describe the movements following the modern
period, but later on, contemporary art formed its shape and convinced us that it is an
era of its own.

Technology and the rise of the World Wide Web have direct repercussions on the
field of visual arts. New media was explored by artists. Subject matters were more
diverse and also echoed the effects of technology. Approaches to art have become
multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, and multi-modal. Since information and
communication our now at our fingertips, the effects of globalization are also evident in
our jobs, to the things we consume, to the international influences on our culture, and
also to what we create in the art scene. In short, one key word to describe the arts that
is happening in the “now”, is pluralism.

Precursors of postmodern art in the Philippines can be dated back to the EDSA 1
revolution. During the Aquino government ,many reforms in the once Marcos controlled
institutions like the CCP, National Museum ,and Metropolitan Museum of Manila were
implemented. There was a move toward the democratization, decentralization, and
artistic excellence. Because of this, some marginalized artists and art groups during the
Marcos regime were given opportunities to display their works to the public.

Let us now study the implications of contemporary issues for some artists whose works
echo the issues you have discussed and debated previously.

1. Ben Cab- National Artist for Visual Arts - Benedicto Cabrera has works which span a
lot of important periods in our history especially The postwar period. One of his work
series entitled “ Sabel” depicts the disorientation that Filipinos experienced during the
postwar period.

2. David Medalla - The avatar in Europe in performance art as described by art critic
Leo Benesa. Performance art is one of the new artistic expressions of the contemporary
period where the artist himself is the artwork.

3. Pacita Abad - One of the women artists in the country that has produced a strong
voice and identity when it comes to women‟s art. Born in Batanes, her works are
characterized by bold and bright colors. She has traveled to more than 50 countries
with works exhibited to more than 200 galleries.

4. Elmer Borlongan - Painter of Filipino nuances which he depicted with much dignity in
his masterful works. His paintings are mostly figurative with subject matters that tackle
mostly the daily and mundane activities and interactions of Filipinos. He is one of the
most exceptional in the aspect of painting in our country.

5. Mark Salvatus - He has created much discourse and narratives in his works on the
notions of urbanization, internet, and technological age, with political, social and
economical grounding. His works are considered inter media, combining mark - making
sounds, videos ,and found objects in his works.

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6. Leer-oy New- One of the youngest recipients of Thirteen Artists Awards, Leeroy is an
artist of his own, known mostly for his installation art that are often other-worldly with
an alien feel. He pioneered the “ Aliens of Manila” which are curated photographs of
people wearing his creations of bodysuits and headgear.

7. Archie Oclos- He has always been active in the public sphere, painting murals
depicting social realities of both the present and the memories of the past
governments. He was recently awarded one of the Thirteen Artists of CCP.

8. Mars Bugaoan - A young and emerging artist whose works echo the displacement
that we often experience because of the demands of work and globalization. His works
have evolved from printmaking to being sit- responsive, incorporating the landscape of
the site into the installation of the art piece.

CHAPTER 3 PRELUDE: LEARNING TO LISTEN

Introduction

All throughout this chapter, we will be listening to particular samples that will
contribute toward will appreciating, understanding, and ultimately cultivating a love for
music. There will be discussions of musical concepts and ideas, and listening will be the
main reinforcing factor for our comprehension and enjoyment. There is no better
substitute to appreciating music than directly exposing the ears, our faculties for
hearing, to the vast world of sounds and music out there.

LESSON 1: THE AURAL REALM: Sound, Silence, Music, and Noise

The sense of hearing is one of the most precious gifts God has given to man.
However, most of the time we tend to take this gift for granted. With our busy
schedules, we do not have much time to enjoy quiet and solitude or hear and
appreciate distant sounds from faraway places.

CONCEPTS OF THE AURAL REALM

SOUND - is a wave , a mechanical disturbance in matter that originates from a source

and is sent outwards. When two or more objects collide they from vibrations that are
transmitted through the air or other mediums. Hearing is the sense that perceives
sounds .In humans as well as in most animals ,the ear is the sense organ that picks up
sounds. The ears also relay the sounds ,to the brain which in turn processes these as
information. The sounds we hear may be classified as music, language ,noise or a
mixture of all these. The spectrum of sound is wide-the human ear can only hear a
certain range from this spectrum. This called the audible range. This range depends
on two factors; volume and the pitch of the sound. Volume refers to the loudness or
softness of a sound and is measured in decibels (dB). Sounds more than 80-90 decibels
may be dangerous to human ears when exposed for long duration s . Pitch refers to
how high or low a particular sound is and is measured in hertz ( Hz). The average
hearing range for humans begins at 20 Hz and tops out at around 20,000 Hz.

Some examples of sounds that cannot be heard by humans include: ultrasound,

planetary, and other celestial sounds.

SILENCE - is the condition or quality of being quiet, it is basically the absence of audible
sound or noise. In music, silence is also very important parts where there is an absence
of sound are as important and meaningful as the parts where there is sound.

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