Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Arts
The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in visual forms such as painting or
sculpture, produces works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
ART AS A FORM OF;
• Self-expression (paintings, music, poetry, fashion, etc)
• Therapy
• Aesthetic
• Inspiration
• Motivation
• Awareness
What is Contemporary Art?
Contemporary is a fluid term and its use can change depending on context. This means belonging to the same age,
things that are contemporary are either happening at the same time or happening now. Modern art is referred to as
“traditional”, compared to Contemporary Art. Contemporary Art is the art of the present, which is continuously in the
process and in flux.
Characteristics of Contemporary Art;
Site-specific - they cannot be experienced in the same way if removed from their original places of exhibit whether in
the gallery, out on the streets, in the forest, on the internet, etc.
Process-based - integrate various mediums and art forms
Process-based - integrate various medium and art forms
Collaborative and Interactive - the art is never complete without the audience’s active input. Contemporary Art is
distinguishable from Modern Art in historical, stylistic and cultural terms. Contemporary Art is never fixed, but open
to many possibilities. - To study and appreciate the contemporary is to experience and understand art as a window to
the Philippine contemporary life.

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It is situated in
the western Pacific Ocean and consists of around 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main
geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The country has three major island groups
known as Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Luzon has 8 regions under its belt, while the Visayas has 3 and the
Mindanao has 6. Presently, two types of regions exist in the Philippines, including the administrative region
(geographically adjacent regions) and the autonomous region (sub-national administrative division).
Contemporary art form and their Practices from the Various Regions Arts in the Philippines refer to the various
forms of the arts that have developed and accumulated in the Philippines from the beginning of civilization in the
country up to the present era. They reflect the range of artistic influences on the country's culture, including
indigenous forms of the arts, and how these influences have honed the country's arts.
Traditional Art is different from contemporary art, for the latter revolves around the artist and his/her feelings,
thoughts, and messages to his/her audience. It uses a diverse array of materials, media, techniques, and styles.
Animism is the usual theme of traditional arts. To depict something of the people’s gods and goddesses is the main
intention, thus, resulting in the creation of abstract symbols of animistic figures like the sun, the moon, and the other
human images.
Contemporary Art revolves around the feelings and thoughts of the artist, and messages to his/her audience. It is
characterized by being conceptual, innovative, expressive, and experimental compared to traditional art. Traditional
art is culture-bound, while contemporary art is not bounded by any rule or standard. The arts refer to the theory,
human application and physical expression of creativity found in human cultures and societies through skills and
imagination in order to produce objects, environments and experiences.
Arts in its Different Forms
Visual art- appeals to the visual sense and may be constructed using varied mediums. It takes a permanent form and
allows appreciation by viewing the physical form of the artist’s imagination and expression.
Drawing- creation of an image, diagram or a form, using drawing tools. Can be of great use in creating
comics strips, animations and visual illustrations. The art or technique of producing images on a surface, usually
paper, by means of marks, usually of ink, graphite, chalk, charcoal, or crayon.
Painting- creative expression using pigment or color on a surface for aesthetic value. The pigment may be wet form,
such as paint, or a dry form, such as pastels.
Photography- is an image created by the exposure of light on a light-sensitive material at some stage during the
making. Art through photos taken by a photographer. Application and practice of creating durable images by
recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material
such as photographic film.
Sculpture- uses carving, modelling from metals, ceramics, wood or stone. Durable sculptural processes originally
used carving (the removal of material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay), in stone, metal, ceramics,
wood and other materials but, since Modernism, there has been an almost complete freedom of materials and
process.
Ceramic- may take the form of pottery, sculpture and figurines. Some may be created for decorative
functions industrial or for art.
Weaving- is a method of fabric or textile production where two distinct sets of yarn, fibrous materials or
threads are interlaced to from fabrics or cloth.
Architecture- a creation of science with art purposive of designing structures. In architecture function and aesthetic
design matters especially for the benefit of user.
Literary Arts- community-based non-profit with a mission to engage readers, support writers, and inspire
the next generation with great literature. Literature is imaginative writing with recognized artistic value.
Performing Arts- involve creative activity that is performed and delivered in front of spectators.
This form of art may be purposive of entertaining on the audience which may include dance, theatre, music, mime
and opera.

✓ Music- an art form that involves the creative use of sound to express insights and emotions. Its sound has been
organized by using rhythm, melody or harmony. Tunes are made of notes that go up or down or stay on the same
pitch. Music often has rhythm. Rhythm is the way the musical sounds and silences are put together in a sequence.

✓ Dance- is an expression represented by sequenced by body movement. It involves motion and the
accompaniment of certain musical genres.

✓ Theatre or theater- is a collaborative art where performers act a real life or imagined story with their
speech, dance, music and movements.
ARTS AND ITS VISUAL ELEMENT
A contemporary art is the art that springs out of the present-day events and passions of the society. It is the newest
form of art, amusing people from the middle late 20th century up to this point. In order to understand how to
describe a painting or a sculpture, it is important to comprehend first the visual elements of art and principles of
design.
ELEMENTS OF ART
✓ Line This refers to a prolongation of a point or a mark on a surface. Solid lines can be used in order to define
form while broken lines are typically used to suggest hidden forms.
✓ Shape and Mass This element refers to an area with boundaries identified or drawing lines. A shape may be
natural or living forms called an organic shape and can be irregular or rounded. It may also be measured
forms called geometric shape. In contrast to shape which is two-dimensional, mass refers to solid portions of
a three-dimensional object.
✓ Color This refers to visual perception that allows a person to differentiate objects due to the way various
wavelengths of light are reflected. Color is a very important element because it can communicate information
and emotion to the
viewer. These are the three properties of color:
• Hue – this refers to the basic or pure color, and is represented in the color wheel.
• Value – this refers to the lightness and darkness of color. A light color or tint is the result of adding white to a hue,
while a dark color or shade results from adding black to a hue.
• Saturation – this refers to brightness and dullness of color. It is also referred to as purity of the color. A
bright color can be produced by adding more pigment to the same hue, while a dull color can be produced by adding
gray or the color’s complement to the pigment.
The color wheel is an arrangement of primary, secondary and tertiary colors. It is important tool to identify which
colors can work well if used in a certain artwork which is the color schemes or color relationships. These are some of
the color schemes.
COLOR SCHEMES
• Monochromatic – involves using the same hue but with different gradients of value.
• Analogous – entails the use of three or four adjacent colors in the color wheel.
• Complementary – involves the use of a color and its complement which means the color is located opposite of the
first color.
• Split Complementary – a close relative to the complementary color scheme. But instead of using the color’s
complement, this scheme uses the two colors adjacent to the complement.
• Triadic – uses three colors that are of equal distance with each other.
• Tetradic – also known as double complementary color scheme, this uses two pairs of complementary
colors.
✓ Texture This element refers to the feel or appearance of a surface. A person may describe as actual or
implied. Actual texture - can be felt tangibly based on the material that is used for the artwork while implied
texture- can be exhibited, for instance, in a painting of fur of an animal.
✓ Value This element refers to lightness or darkness of an area. This is evident in creating shadows for a two-
dimensional object to give an illusion of depth.
✓ Space This element refers to the area that is occupied by an object or a subject, as well as the area
surrounding that object or subject. An illusion of space can still be created in a two- dimensional surface
using perspective. There are two types of perspective: atmospheric perspective, which utilizes the properties
of light and air in depicting the illusion of distance; and linear perspective, which involves the use of vanishing
points and receding hidden lines.
✓ Time and Motion Movement in the visual arts can either be an illusion or an actual motion. An illusion of
movement is more common in two-dimensional artworks. On the other hand, actual motion is easily seen in
kinetic sculpture that moves with the wind or is vibrating with the surrounding air.
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
✓ Harmony This refers to the wholeness of the design, the pleasing arrangement of parts and the agreement
between parts of a composition, resulting in a united whole.
✓ Variety It pertains to the assortment or diversity of a work of art.
✓ Rhythm Slightly contrary to variety is the rhythm or beat. It is regular, repeated pattern in the elements of art.
✓ Proportion Elements in a work of arts should have a relationship with one another. A well- proportioned
shape is pleasing to the eye.
✓ Balance It pertains to the even distribution of weight. It is the principle that deals with equality.
✓ Movement This is the fundamental principle in choreography and the theater arts. Movement is way to
convey feelings and emotions
✓ Emphasis and Subordination Emphasis is the principle that gives importance or dominance to a unit or an
area. This is opposite to subordination, which gives less importance to a unit or area.
THE NATURE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Contemporary art is the term used for art of the present day. Usually, the artists are alive and still making work.
Contemporary art is often about ideas and concerns, rather than solely the aesthetic (the look of the work). Artists
try different ways of experimenting with ideas and materials. Contemporary art exist parallel to the beginnings and
rise of globalization, Hence as most artist in the past focus on national and local concerns, the artist in the
contemporary period is much affected and influenced as well by the globalized world which of course brought forth
the widening of perspective beyond the bounds of one’s own country. Art at this juncture became liberated from
discrimination brought by race, ethnicity and creed. Further development in technology facilitated greater
opportunities to express one’s artistry in a more distinctly unique manner.
The Nature of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art is comprised of expressive art in several forms that are created and produced in the present
specially in the 21st Century or roughly 1960’s to the current period aside from those that we commonly have known
as the visual art such as paintings, sculpture, and the like, Digital art has also become a unique way of expressing
creative emotions using modern tools. Contemporary art is a breakaway from the established mode of expression.
The materials used the subjects in focus as well as the unique ideas challenged the classics as it goes beyond the
usual nature of art and expression. Abstraction and symbolism became the basic feature of the new era in artistry.
Symbolic creative expression became the fundamental nature of contemporary art as it became free-spirited which is
a distinct trait of modern environment.
Contemporary as Postmodernism
The end of modernism is the beginning of contemporary period in the evolution of Philippine art. Contemporary is
the point where artists liberated themselves from the nature of what considered modern after the Second World
War. Postmodernism signifies the Filipino artists’ opportunity to curtail the limits set by modernism. The use of new
media and the hype created by technology gave rise to the Conceptual art, Performance art, Feminist and Installation
art. The continuous development for innovative media and technology allowed Contemporary art surpass the
characteristic of Modern Art.
THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD IN PHILIPPINE ART FORMS
The Philippines is a gold mine of art. Aside from our own indigenous arts, Philippines have a variety of many other art
forms, because of the four colonial periods in our history -- the Spanish, British, American, and Japanese – the art of
the Philippines had been influenced by almost spheres of the globe.
CONTEMPORARY LITERARY ART
Many Filipino writers continued to create poetry, short stories, poems, novels and essays in different languages and
vernacular especially during the Martial Law years around 1970s. Literature as a form of art became medium by
which Filipino clamor for freedom of expression. These writings were pertinent to the current state of society, gender
equality, and ethnicity whether on the micro or macro level.
1. Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1960) A novel written by Amado V. Hernandez, a social activist who wrote about the
struggle of the Filipino uplift of his life. The settings reflected Hernandez’s life as a guerrilla during the Japanese
occupation.
2. Barter in Panay (1961) Ricardo Demetillo shows the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, stunted the production of
literature with the closing of many publications, like the Philippine Graphic and the Philippines Free Press.
3. Manlilikha: Mga Piling Tula (1961-1967) Rolando S. Tinio, Jose F. Lacaba, Bienvenido Lumbera, Fr. Edmundo
Martinez, and Antonio E. Samson collated their poems against the commercialism of mainstream writing in popular
magazines. They used concrete images and colloquial language to capture experience.
4. Woman Enough and Other Essays (1963) Carmen Guerrero Nakpil wrote her sentiments through her twenty two
informal essays about the Philippine Contemporary Culture, the Filipino Women and their Habits. Her worked was a
product of journalism aster the war primarily focusing on politics and Filipino life.
5. The Volcano (1965) Bienvenido Santos explored in this fiction the relationship between races, and equates the
Filipino with the volcano, dormant but with much potential power. The story of ‘The Volcano’ revolved around an
American family who struggled to survive Japanese occupation of the Philippines and prejudices of the Filipinos
against the Americans after war.
6. The Filipinos in the Philippines (1966) A collection essays by Renato Constantino, a historian and a nationalist
whose most influential essay includes the “The Miseducation of the Filipino.” As a historian and nationalist he saw
‘colonial mentality’ as a result of the Americanized or westernized education of the Filipinos. He criticized the ills of
the society as a result of our orientation with the traditional and old school beliefs and practices which no longer
respond to the society’s needs.
7. Mula sa Parolang Ginto (1969) Authored by the literary critic Clodualdo Del Mundo. The first critical essay written
in Tagalog. The writing in the local language signifies the opportunity for every Filipino from the different regions to
express their sentiment pertaining to the social, economic and political ills affecting the Filipinos at a given time.
8. Sigwa (1972) Ricardo Lee, Fanny Garcia, Norma Miraflor, and Epifanio San Juan Jr. were young writers who were
strongly influenced by Marxist literary theory as such ideology presented the problems of the working class and the
abuses by the Capitalist.
9. Luha ng Buwaya (1972) A novel by Amado V. Hernandez about the barrio peasant who was led by a local school
teacher to fight oppression from the hands of the ‘buwaya’ which connotes the powerful, greedy and corrupt groups
in the society such as the ‘Grande’ family.
10. Ginto ang Kayumanggi Lupa (1975) Dominador Mirasol’s masterpiece about the character of ‘Moises Dipasupil’
who fought the prevailing power in the government and the society that caused much suffering on the people.
Revealed the suffering and the struggles experienced by the common people who fell prey to the abusive oppressors.
11. Mga Kagilas-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Juan Dela Cruz (1979) Jose Lacaba used minimalist and objective
style but in political light. Social realism and social protest were the focal point.
12. Doktrinang Anakpawis (1979) Virgilio S. Almario also known as ‘Rio Alma’ provided a collection of poems focusing
on them journey of an individual from the self to the wider social reality. He acknowledges the value of the common
man in this literary work as they fell victims to the suppression of basic rights and freedom during those years of
struggle in the hands of the Marcos regime.
13. Spy in My Own Country (1981) Sylvia Mayuga narrated her experiences during the Martial Law years in these 11
essays. She wrote about her experiences during the late 1960s that have formed her and many Filipinos who have
struggled to survive the tyrannical government and its corrupt agencies.
14. Utos ng Hari at Iba Pang Kuwento (1981) Written by Jun Cruz Reyes used colloquialisms as a critique of
conformity. It criticized the Martial Law, a writing which depicted social protest during the Marcos rule.
15. Versus (1983-1986) Panitikan ng Protesta is a collection of protest poetries compiled by Alfredo Navarro Salanga.
The production of underground literature largely inspired by the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983 to the
time when his wife, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino became the first woman President of the Republic of the Philippines
16. History of Burgis (1987) Mariel N. Francisco and Fe Maria C. Arriola explored the defects of the prevailing social
class. The lives of the elite were scrutinized as well as how they were able to make it to the top of the society.
17. Rizal with the Overcoat (1990) Essays written by Ambeth Ocampo from the Ateneo de Manila. This was
completion of his analytical essays about Jose Rizal which were published in the Philippine Daily inquirer. It contains
essay about the National hero which are not known to many.
18. The Smile on Smokey Mountain (1991) Emmanuel S. Torres exemplifies the poet that shows much angst and
loneliness. His artistry shows the awakening of an individual to the socio-political realities and the nationalist spirit.
CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS
Visual arts in the 1960s reflected dynamism in style and trends. A bulk of the artistic works reflected a society
confronted with social, economic and political issues that proliferate during the Marcos regime. Political awareness
was evidently strong and reverberating in every corner of the society. Visual arts focused on images that project
power as well as agitation.
Sculpture
1. Jeremias Elizalde Navarro- His point of interests is on masks and tribal forms which capture aboriginal art using
expressionist vein. A proficient painter and sculptor devoting to the visual arts for 40 years through drawing, print
making, painting and sculpting.
2. Virginia Ty-Navarro- Known for her iconic sculpture in Ortigas, Edsa. She was commissioned and was
able to complete the Statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace in sixteen months after the 1986 People Power Revolution.
3. Manuel and Fred Baldemor- The Baldemors from Paete, Laguna is leading for contemporary figures in
sculpture. Both manifest Paetes’s local mythologies into artwork especially through sculptural works. At present, Fred
Baldemor is commissioned to work on life size statues of notable people in the society.
Painting
1. Ang Kiukok- in angst-ridden figures focuses on the ’human condition.’ His subjects are largely pertaining
to the poverty that afflicts the Filipinos and his society.
2. Prudencio Lamarrosa- this painter from Tagudri, Ilocos Sur experimented with varied modern styles which
produced mostly figurative artworks by combining surrealism and pop elements. He merges real with the magical and
maintains ecology as a fundamental focus in his landscape paintings.
3. Francisco Viri- he has done highly intellectual surrealist with the principle of continuity. His art shows a
deep poetic reflection of existential solitude with a touch of insightful humor in its composition.
4. Dr. Abdulmari Imao- created variations on the sarimanok specifically in the rendering of painting and
sculpture, ethnic designs and motifs have found its expression in contemporary art.
Photography
It became a contemporary art form of artistic expression. Journalist have utilized the camera as an instrument and a
tool to record major events and even personalities for advertising group to market their products and services.
Largely, photography became a significant and powerful form of artistic expression.
1. Honesto Vitug – covered generally major presidential activities from the administration of Emilio
Aguinaldo to the rise of Corazon C. Aquino. Also known as ‘the man who caught them all film’.
2. Alberto Garcia – Albert Garcia’s award winning photographs of the Pinatubo eruption where a driver of a pick-up
truck tried to overrun a cloud of ash from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. The photo was selected as one of the
38 emotion-packed photos of all time by the Huffington Post in the U.S.
3. Eduardo Masferre’s Cordillera Photographs – Masferre was a self-taught photographer. Upon return to his
hometown, he became preoccupied with taking photos everything significant according to his perception from the
surroundings of Cordillera. Most of these photographs are the native Igorots.
4. Jaime Zobel de Ayala – He is a known businessman and an art photographer for the past 35 years. Zobel is the first
Filipino amateur photographer to be confirmed “Licentiate” by the Royal Photographic Society and has been given
recognitions for his significant contributions to art and culture in both France and Spain.
Drawing
Contemporary art includes in its visual form the creation of comics and cartoons which became very popular. These
cartoons maybe considered a very famous since it contains social and political meaning found in newspaper and
magazines. In 1930s, the proliferation of American comic cartoons inspired Filipino Komiks where characters were
created to entertain by giving laughter and provided political insights. Remarkable Filipino cartoonists of those times
were Jorge Pineda, Danilo Dalenna, Jose V. Pereira, Edgar Soler, Esmeraldo Izon, Liborio Gatbonton, Mauro Malang,
Corky Trinidad and Jose Tence Ruiz.
1. Larry Alcala’s Mang Ambos (1960) records include 500 cartoon characters, 20 comic strips, 6 movies, 2 murals and
15,000 published pages for 56 years being engaged in cartoon creation. He created Mang Ambo from Barrio Bulabog
to represent the Filipino in the midst and weaknesses of urban life.
2. Mars Ravelo is “The King of Komiks”, and produced over a hundred comic works at Ace Publication. His creations
such as “Buhay Filipino” in Liwayway, novel like Darna, Jack and Jill, Captain Barbell, Maruja, Lastikman, Goomboo
Roomboo, Bondying, Roberta were among those so loved by Filipino readers.
3. Elpidio Torres together with Mars Ravelo created “Dyesebel” which was a popular Filipino mermaid story. Torres
began to write his own scripts. He wrote as well the jungle series ‘Robina’ in Redondo Komix ‘Planet Eye’ for Ares
Productions and the science fiction ‘Planex X’ for PSG Publication.
4. Steve Gan’s Ang Panday (1970) A novel by Carlo J. Caparas, Ang Panday was illustrated by Steve Gan. Ang Panday
created the character of Flavio, an adventurous hero who saved the common people from the wickedness Lizardo, his
archenemy.
Performing Arts
An activity that is performed in front of an audience, such as drama, music and dance. Contemporary Theater
Contemporary Filipino theater laid down the foundations of psychological realism in theatre. Traditional forms of
drama brought by contemporary messages in urban playwrights that respond to contemporary issues and concerns.
It involves all types of text, objects, music, costumes, lighting, image, sound, sets, and vocal expression. Some say
contemporary theatre is more natural and addresses issues from modern time and presents more ordinary and
relatable characters to the audience from 1960s to present.
1. Orlando Nadres’ Paraisong Parisukat, 1974 A short about how a young girl decides to choose to sacrifice love as
well as idealism for a stockroom assistant’s life. This is a play in one-act staged by the Philippine Educational Theater
Association (PETA) at the Dulaang Dambana in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. This play in Filipino is a story of
masses which include those with high hopes and those without, the good and the evil, the rich and poor. This is a
story of a human being who is total individuality.
2. Bienvenido Noriega Jr’s Bayan-bayanan, 1975 The story revealed the hopes and frustrations of Filipino expatriates
living in Switzerland, a foreign country. Noriega’s plays are about the conflicts surrounding Filipino identity as a
product of institutions. His plays elaborate on social problems and traditional practices as well as the identity of the
Filipinos as a people.
3. Tony Perez’s Biyaheng Timog,1984 Shows how an autocratic patriarch intervenes in the personal lives of his
children toward his death which became a blessing to his children: Elsa Martinez-Coscoluella’s In My Father’s
House,1987 Is a story about the disintegration of an Ilongo family during the Japanese Occupation of Negros island
and finally, Chris Millado’s Buwan at Baril sa Eb Major 1985 Is a monologue or dialogue that shows the politicization
of two brothers, a socialite, a priest and a tribal wowan, a teacher and a student activist. The theatre of the
oppressed proliferated during the Marcos regime censoring portrayals of poverty and elucidating on social ideas.
The Philippine Contemporary Dance
Philippine dance has played a tremendous role in Filipino culture. From one of the oldest dated dances called the
Tinikling, to other folkloric dances such as the Pandanggo, Cariñosa, and Subli, and even to more modern-day dances
like the ballet, it is no doubt that dance in the Philippine setting has integrated itself in society over the course of
many years and is significantly imbedded in culture.
Contemporary Music
Original Filipino Music (OPM) referred largely to Philippine pop or popular songs specially ballad. Contemporary
music in the Philippines usually refers to compositions that have adopted ideas and elements from twentieth century
art music in the West, as well as the latest trends and musical styles in the entertainment industry. This brief
introduction covers only the works written by the art music composers.
PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ARTIST
Most Filipino artists today especially the younger ones, are a different breed from their predecessors. They no longer
cling to western ideals but develop their own system of beliefs, forms and style adapting the rich heritage of
Philippine folklore, customs, and traditions. They are also conscious of the role they play in the society because they
know that their tools are powerful. They know that through their pen, brush, music, drama or dance, they are able to
generate a critical response, thus, becoming agents of change. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts or
NCCA in the Philippines is the overall policymaking body, coordinating and granting agency for the preservation,
development and promotion of the arts and culture of the Philippines; executing agency for the policies it formulates;
and administering the National Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) — fund exclusively for the implementation of
culture and arts programs and projects.
✓ Under the NCAA are six agencies which are:
✓ Cultural Center of the Philippines;
✓ National Historical Institute (now, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines);
✓ National Museum;
✓ The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines);
✓ The Records, Management, and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines); and
✓ Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino / Commission on the Filipino Language.
Together with the six cultural organizations, the Commission operates on the concept of cooperation, collaboration
and mutual responsibility to ensure successful and productive delivery of cultural initiatives as well as resource
maximization. To be a National Artist is considered to be the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals
who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts which is awarded by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts together with Cultural Center of the Philippines.
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR VISUAL ARTS
• Fernando Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) Amorsolo is the first National Artist in the country and was
known for using backlighting technique in painting, making his creations bright and cheerful.
• Carlos “Botong” Francisco (November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969) Francisco revived the art of mural and was
considered to be the most distinguished mural painter for about three decades and was known for using historical
events as subject matter for his murals.
• Guillermo E. Tolentino (July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976) Honored as National Artist for Sculpture in 1973 and was
known for designing the seal of the Republic of the Philippines, and the gold and bronze medals for the Ramon
Magsaysay Award. Tolentino’s works include the “UP Oblation”.
• Napoleon V. Abueva (January 26, 1930) Abueva was considered to be the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture. He
is skillful in creating both representational and modern abstract sculptures using a wide variety of materials. He was
also known for creating “buoyant sculpture,” a type of sculpture to be viewed from the surface of a pool.
• Victorio C. Edades (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985) Recognized as the Father of Modern Philippine Painting
and was known for using dark somber colors in his paintings. His works focused on factory workers, laborers or other
simple townspeople.
• Vicente Manansala (January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981) He was known for his paintings depicting realistic themes
using an abstract or a cubist style. He believed that “the beauty of art is in the process, in the moment of doing a
particular painting, closely associating it with the act of making love.”
• Hernando R. Ocampo (April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978) Ocampo was largely known for his abstract paintings.
His works featured shapes bounded with curved lines painted in intense colors. His masterpiece “Genesis” was used
as the basis of the design of the curtain of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater.
• Cesar Legaspi (April 2, 1917 – April 7, 1994) Legaspi was known for utilizing and refining cubism, a style involving
breaking parts into geometric shapes, in his paintings.
• Elizalde Navarro (May 22, 1924 – June 10, 1999) He was known for his hardwood masks reflecting the human and
the animal, abstract paintings in oil and watercolor, and assemblages. He was also known for his fiction works for This
Week of the Manila Chronicle, and for his figurative drawings for Lydia Arguilla’s Juan tamad.
• Ang Kiukok (March 1, 1931 – May 9, 2005) He was known for his paintings expressing nationalism and sociological
agenda during the 60’s through vivid cubistic figures. His works include “Geometric landscape,” “Pieta,” and the
“Seated Figure.”
• Benedicto Cabrera (April 10, 1942) Known as “Bencab,” Cabrera was noted as the bestselling painter of his
generation of Filipino artists and also known for his sketches of a scavenger named “Sabel a symbol of dislocation,
despair and isolation-the personification of human dignity threatened by life’s circumstance.”
• Abdulmari Asia Imao (January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014) Imao was instrumental in popularizing the ukil,
sarimanok and naga motifs in the country as original Filipino creations. He helped in developing trust and confidence
among cultural groups, which is needed in building a more humane community and society.
• Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (June 6, 1932 – February 2, 2011) Alcuaz was mainly known for his oil and acrylic paintings,
and sketches in ink, pencil, and watercolor.
• Francisco Coching (January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998) Tagged as the “Dean of Filipino Illustrators,” Coching is
best known for his work on comics and illustrations which lead to its recognition as popular art. He has influenced
cartoonists such as Larry Alcala, Ben Infante and Nestor Redondo.
• Jose T. Joya (June 3, 1931 – 1995) Joya is known for pioneering abstract expressionism in the Philippines. His most
notable work is the Granadean Arabesque (1958). He also represented the Philippines in the 1964 Venice Biennale.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR ARCHITECHTURE
• Pablo S. Antonio (January 25, 1902 – June 14, 1975) He was considered a pioneer in modern Philippine architecture.
A prominent feature of his designs is the use of natural light and cross ventilation. According to Antonio, buildings
should be planned with austerity in mind and its stability forever as the aim of true architecture; that buildings must
be progressive, simple in design but dignified, true to a purpose without resorting to an applied set of aesthetics and
should eternally recreate truth.
• Leandro V. Locsin (August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994) His designs usually features themes of floating volume
and a mix of both eastern and western aesthetics.
• Ildefonso P. Santos (September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014) Santos pioneered landscape architecture in the
Philippines. His work in the Makati Commercial Center incorporated fountains, sculptures and landscapes to a
shopping area.

NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE

Historical Literature
• Carlos Quirino (November 4, 1910 – May 20, 1999) He is the first and so far the only National Artist for Historical
Literature and was also known for writing “The Great Malayan,” which considered to be one of the earliest
biographies of Jose Rizal.
Literature
• Francisco Arcellana (September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002) Arcellana is a writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and
teacher, who is recognized as one of the pioneers in writing modern Filipino short stories in English. He also
originated the lyrical prose-poetic form in writing short stories.
• N.V.M Gonzales (September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999) Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales is a fictionist, essayist,
poet and teacher. He earned numerous recognitions including the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, the
Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1960 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990.
• Nick Joaquin (May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004) He is considered as the most distinguished Filipino writer in English
writing. His body of work extends from short stories to poems to essays which includes journalism and reportage. He
used the name Guerre Quijano de Manila as journalist.
• F. Sionil Jose (December 3, 1924) is one of the most widely read Filipino writers founded the Philippine chapter of
the international organization PEN.
• Alejandro Roces (July 13, 1924 – May 23, 2011) he is known for his comic short stories which includes “My Brother’s
Peculiar Chicken.” He also led the campaign to change the country’s Independence Day from July 4 to June 12.
• Edith L. Tiempo (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011) Tiempo is a poet, fictionist, teacher and literary critic who
founded the Siliman National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City with her late husband Edilberto K. Tiempo.
• Virgilio S. Almario (March 9, 1944) Also known as Rio Alma, who is among the notable modernist poets. He
reinvented the traditional Filipino poetry forms.
• Amado V. Hernandez (September 13, 1903 – May 24, 1970) Hernandez is known for his contribution in the
development of the Tagalog prose through the use of colloquial style.
• Carlos P. Romulo (January 14, 1899 – December 15, 1985) Romulo is noted as a diplomat and an awarded journalist.
He is the first Asian President of the United Nations General Assembly, and the only Asian to win the Pulitzer Prize in
Journalism for his articles on the World War II.
• Bienvenido Lumbera (April 11, 1932) Lumbera is a multi-awarded poet, critic and librettist. His works includes
Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and English), 1993; Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, 2002; Sa
Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May Musila, 2004; Tales of the Manuvu and Rama Hari.
• Cirilo F. Bautista (July 9, 1941) Bautista is a poet, fictionist and essayist. He founded Philippine Literary Arts Council
in 1981, the Iligan National Writers Workshop in 1993, and the Baguio Writers Group.
• Lazaro Francisco (February 22, 1898 – June 17, 1980) Francisco is among the prominent writers in the Tagalog
language. He established the Kapatiran Ng Mga Alagad Ng Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA) in 1958 to support Tagalog as
national language.
• Jose Garcia Villa (August 5, 1908 – July 7, 1997) Villa is recognized as one of the best contemporary poets. He is best
known for introducing the reversed consonance rhyme scheme and his use of punctuation especially commas.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR DANCE, MUSIC, FILM, AND THEATER
Cinema/Film
• Lamberto V. Avellana (February 12, 1915 – April 25, 1991) Avellana was tagged as the “The Boy Wonder
of Philippine Movies” as early as 1939. Kalderong Pilak was the first film by a Filipino filmmaker shown in Cannes
International Film Festival.
• Manuel Conde (October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) Conde is known for producing and directing films
based on old Filipino tales such as Siete Infantes deLara.(1950), Si Juan Tamad (1974), Ang Ibong Adarna (1941).
He also brought to the silver screen stories from the other parts of the worlds like Genghis Khan (1950).
• Eddie S. Romero (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013) He is a screenwriter, film director and producer who is
behind the Filipino classics such as “Ganito Kami Noon...Paano Kayo Ngayon?”, “Banta ng Kahapon” and “Aguila”
as well as the 13-part series “Noli Me Tangere”.
• Lino Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991) Catalino “Lino” Ortiz Brocka is recognized for his films
which explores the lives of people in the marginalized sectors. Brocka also directed for theater organizations such as
the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).
• Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981) De Leon is a prominent film maker in the 50’s and
60’s producing classics such as “Daigdig ng Mga Api,” “Noli Me. Tangere,” “El Filibusterismo,” “dyesebel” and
“Sisa.”
• Ishmael Bernal (September 30, 1938 – June 2, 1996) Bernal, who was hailed by the critics as “The Genius
of the Philippine Cinema,” is known for directing films that projects the realities of the Filipinos. He was hailed as
Director of the Decade of the 1970s by the Catholic Mass Media Awards; four-time Best Director by the Urian
Awards (1989, 1985, 1983 and 1977); and given the ASEAN Cultural Award in Communication Arts in 1993.
• Ronald Alan K. Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004) Known as Fernando Poe, Jr. He is an icon in
film industry as an actor, director, writer and producer. He starred in films like “Mga Alabok sa Lupa” (1967),
“Partida”. (1985), “Ang Probinsyano” (1996), and among others.
Dance
• Francisca Reyes Aquino (March 9, 1899 – November 21, 1983) She was known for her research on
Philippine folk dances, which later resulted to a thesis entitled “Philippine Folk Dances and Games.” It was
distributed to public and private schools.
• Leonor Orosa Goquingco (July 24, 1917 – July 15, 2005) She was known as the “Mother of Philippine
Theater Dance,” Goquingco blended folkloric and Asian styles in ballet choreography. She was a founding member
of the Philippine Ballet Theater and the Honorary Chair of the Association of Ballet Academies of the Philippines.
• Ramon Obusan (June 16, 1938 – December 21, 2006) A dancer, choreographer, artistic director, researcher,
and documentary filmmaker. He was able to promote Filipino culture in other countries using the art of dance
through the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.
• Lucrecia Reyes – Urtula (June 29, 1929 – August 24, 1999) Reyes-Urtula was the dance director of the
Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, for which she choreographed different Philippine folk, ethnic dances,
pageants and festivals.
• Alice Reyes (October 14, 1942) Reyes is known in blending styles and movements from Philippine
indigenous dance, classical ballet, and modern dance in expressing Filipino subject matters. This is said to be the
“contemporary dance language that is uniquely Filipino.”

Music
• Antonino Buenaventura (May 4, 1904 – January 25, 1996) He was known for his marches including the
“Triumphal March,” “History Fantasy,” “Echoes from the Philippines,” and “Ode to Freedom.” He was a conductor
Of the Philippine Army Band. He wrote compositions for solo instruments, symphonic and orchestral works, which
are based on Philippine folksongs.
• Ernani Cuenco (May 10, 1936 – June 11, 1988) He was known for the following songs: “Bato sa Buhangin,” “Gaano
Kita Kamahal,” “Inang Bayan,” “Isang Dalangin,” “Kalesa,” and “Pilipinas.” These works brought contemporary Filipino
music to a higher level. The song, “Gaano Kita Kamahal”, he added elements of Kundiman. He played with the Filipino
Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Manila Symphony Orchestra from 1960 to 1968.
• Francisco Feliciano (February 19, 1941 – September 19, 2014) His major works include “Ashen Wings,”
“Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam,” and “Pamugun.” He was known for the use of modal scales in his operas and orchestral
works. He used indigenous music in his compositions.
• Jovita Fuentes (February 15, 1895 – August 7, 1978) She was best known for her portrayal of Cio-cio San in Giacamo
Puccini’s Madame Butterfly in Italy in April 1925. When she returned to the Philippines, she established the Artists’
Guild of the Philippines in an effort to instill love for opera in her countrymen.
• Jose Maceda (January 31, 1917 – May 5, 2004) He conducted researches and fieldwork to explore. Filipino
traditional music further and to understand the nature of Philippine ethnic and traditional music. His efforts gave
birth to a huge number of recorded Philippine ethnic and traditional music.
• Lucio San Pedro (February 11, 1913 – March 31, 2002) Best known for his compositions “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” “Sa
Mahal Kong Bayan,” “Dance of the Fairies,” “Triumphal March,” and “Lahing Kayumanggi,” Lucio San Pedro was the
conductor of the Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band, the San Pedro Band of Angono, and the Benda Angono
Numero Uno. Working with these bands and other town bands helped in the development of a civic culture among
Filipino communities.
• Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002) Celerio is most known for his recognition as the only man
who could play music with a leaf in the Guinness Book of World Records. He also earned Lifetime Achievement
Award of the Film Academy of the Philippines for writing songs for local movies. He was also known as the dean of
Filipino lyricists.
• Felipe Padilla de Leon (May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992) He was known for Filipinizing western music
forms. His works, which include “Mariang Maikling Overture,” “Maynila Overture,” “Payapang Daigdig,” and
“Ako’y Pilipino,” expressed sentiments and aspirations of the Filipino in times of strife and peace.
• Lucrecia R. Kasilag (August 31, 1918 – August 16, 2008) she was known for fusing Filipino ethnic music with Western
musical influences. She was also known for incorporating Filipino indigenous musical instruments in orchestral works.
• Antonio J. Molina (December 16, 1894 – January 29, 1980) Molina was known for introducing the pentatonic scale,
whole tone scale, linear counterpoints and the use of dominant ninths and eleventh chords in
Philippine music.
• Ramon P. Santos (February 25, 1941) Santos is a Filipino composer, musicologist and ethnomusicologist who was
made a Chevalier de I’Orde des Arts et Lettres in 1987. He helped in advocating modern Philippine music that is still
based on early Asian practices and way of life.
• Andrea Veneracion (July 11, 1928 – July 9, 2013) She was the founder of the world-renowned University
of the Philippines Madrigal Singers, or simply the Philippine Madrigal Singers, which is the first choir in the world
to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice. Veneracion is also recognized as an important authority in
the development of Philippine choral music.
Theater
• Daisy Avellana (January 26, 1917 – May 12, 2013) co-founded the Barangay Theatre Guild, together with
her husband, National Artist Lamberto Avellana, in1939. This move made theatre and dramatic arts popular in the
country. She was known as director of films “Diego Silang” (1968) and “Walang Sugat” (1971).
• Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (January 11, 1902 – July 11, 1991) was named National Artist for Theater
and Music in 1987. She was known as the Queen of Kundiman, and the first actress to portray a 15-year-old in the
very first Tagalog film, which was the film version of the Sarsuela “Dalagang Bukid
• Salvador F. Bernal (January 7, 1945 – October 26, 2011) Honored as National Artist for Theater Design in
2003, Bernal used local materials including bamboo, abaca, hemp twine, and rattan in theater design for local
productions.
• Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (January 22, 1910 – May 1, 1995) He served as the director of UP Dramatic Club
for 16 years since 1947. He founded the UP Mobile Theater, which started the concept of theater campus tour.
• Severino Montano (January 3, 1915 – December 12, 1980) He organized the Arena Theater Playwriting
Contest which became the initial ground for playwrights to showcase their talents in writing while serving as Dean
of Instruction of the Philippine Normal College.

GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN

In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award was
institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355. Tasked with the administration and implementation of the Award
is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the highest policy-making and coordinating body for
culture and the arts of the State. The NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee and an Ad Hoc
Panel of Experts, conducts the search for the finest traditional artists of the land, adopts a program that will ensure
the transfer of their skills to others and undertakes measures to promote a genuine appreciation of and instill pride
among our people about the genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.
First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding artists in music and poetry, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan has its roots in the 1988 National Folk Artists Award organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. As a group,
these folk and traditional artists reflect the diverse heritage and cultural traditions that transcend their beginnings to
become part of our national character. As Filipinos, they bring age-old customs, crafts and ways of living to the
attention and appreciation of Filipino life. They provide us with a vision of ourselves and of our nation, a vision we
might be able to realize someday, once we are given the opportunity to be true to ourselves as these artists have
remained truthful to their art.
As envisioned under R.A. 7355, “Manlilikha ng Bayan” shall mean a citizen engaged in any traditional
art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and
have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generation in his/her community with the same degree
of technical and artistic competence.
How Does One Become a Manlilikha ng Bayan?
To become a “Manlilikha ng Bayan” the candidate must possess the following qualifications:
a. He/she is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community anywhere in the Philippines that has
preserved indigenous customs, beliefs, rituals and traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that
have influenced it
b. He/she must have engaged in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and documented for at least fifty (50)
years.
c. He/she must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of superior and distinctive
quality.
d. He/she must possess a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must have an established reputation
in the art as master and maker of works of extraordinary technical quality.
e. He/she must have passed on and/or will pass on to other members of the community their skills in the folk art for
which the community is traditionally known.
A traditional artist who possesses all the qualities of a Manlilikha ng Bayan candidate, but due to age or
infirmity has left him/her incapable of teaching further his/her craft, may still be recognized if:
a. He/she had created a significant body of works and/or has consistently displayed excellence in the practice of
his/her art, thus achieving important contributions for its development.
b. He/she has been instrumental in the revitalization of his/her community’s artistic tradition.
c. He/she has passed on to the other members of the community skills in the folk art for which the community is
traditionally known.
d. His/her community has recognized him/her as master and teacher of his/her craft.
Categories :The Award shall be given in each, but not limited to the following categories of traditional folk arts,;
folk architecture, maritime transport, weaving, carving, performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic arts,
ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery and other artistic expressions of traditional culture. Consideration shall be
given to geographical distribution and balance of artistic categories.

CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES IN THE PHILIPPINES

According to Perez (2016), contemporary art practices are expressed in different ways: by an individual or by
collaboration of several artists. Perhaps one collaborative art that is very common to every region is the festival.
There are a number of festivals in the Philippines throughout the year. Some of our festivals were influenced by the
Spanish era in the 1500s. They focus on religious traditions, while the other festivals are integrated with the
significant historical events of the country.

Materials Used in Contemporary Arts

Contemporary artists need materials to be able to create their masterpieces. Through the materials they use,
they are able to express their feelings and thoughts, and transform their ideas or experiences into something tangible
so that the audience, viewer, or listener will receive the message of a particular work of art.
In the past, the concept of materials for Filipinos has been very traditional. For the literary artists, they use pen and
paper or a typewriter; instruments and musical sheets for musicians; paint, paper, or canvass for visual artists. Some
artists use recycled materials, and have also rediscovered existing indigenous materials. Some even combine
indigenous materials. It is because Filipino contemporary artists do not conform to any fixed standard. They
combine various found objects in order to create images that portray everyday human life and depict socially
relevant issues such as identity, journey, migration and displacement.
Here are some of the local materials use for contemporary art:
1.Coconut leaves- use for "Banig" 2.Wood- use for carving 3.Mud/Clay- use for pottery
Nowadays, contemporary artists have many choices. They can just look around their surroundings and find
possibilities. For example, the late Levi Celerio, National Artist for Music was known for making music using a leaf
with his lips. Another best example is children singing Christmas carols with the help of tin cans, sticks or stones
during Christmas season.
In Philippine music, various musicians are still fond of playing with unconventional musical instruments
that are made of alternative materials like bamboo, wood, etc. One best example is the rondalla, a musical ensemble
of string instruments played with a pick. Until now, it is very popular in many regions. It was the Spaniards who
brought to us this type of instrumental music culture but because of our ancestors’ pursuit of national identity; it has
evolved with instruments made from indigenous Philippine wood. Another example of traditional musical
instruments that are still being used today in some regions are gangsa, kalaleng or tangali (nose flute) made of
bamboo; the tongatong, a bamboo percussion instrument used by Kalinga people; the solibao, a hollow wooden
Igorot drum topped with pigskin; and the ulibaw or most commonly known as Jew’s harp.
Technology has also redefined art in many ways. Artists have to upgrade their skills and learn the use of
computer programs and its applications to be able to produce new art. The availability and variety of materials and
the possibilities offered by the technology is to expand the choices of the artists. Thus, technology is essential to the
development of contemporary art. (Ramirez, 2016)
Filipinos are indeed ingenious. Experimentation and innovation are parts of their daily life. They are
skillful at holding tools and utilizing available materials in different ways.

Techniques in the Creation of Arts

Contemporary art has been defined through a series of complex techniques. However, many
contemporary Filipino artists do not have formal studies in the fine arts. In fact, most of them are self-taught. They
study on their own the skills in art-making. Technique in the creation of arts can be defined as the process or method
that makes use of the materials on hand. It can also be defined as the skill of the artists to execute his or her work
and produce the effect he or she wants to achieve.
Here some of the techniques in Visual art: blowing, etching, printing, splattering, coloring, flowing, and cutting. There
are diverse techniques for different art forms. In literature, there is the writing technique wherein a writer arranges
words and thoughts to create moods or atmospheres, and evoke the feeling and the artist wants to express.
In modern Philippine literature, most literary works that are being produced usually mirror Philippine society, and
culture in a constantly changing environment. Contemporary Filipino writers put emphasis on fragmentation and
paradox in the human experience which results to the disorientation or confusion.
There are four different types of writing techniques:
1. Descriptive writing style. Descriptive writing immerses the reader into a story by creating a vivid picture of
characters, settings and events in their mind.
2. Narrative writing style. Narrative writing expands upon the descriptive writing style and tells an entire story with
a beginning, middle and end.
3. Persuasive writing style. Persuasive writing is used to convince or influence the reader to believe or do what the
writer wants them to do.
4. Expository writing style. Expository writing is used to inform, explain or describe something to the reader. The
expository writing style is one of the most common types of writing and answers questions the reader has, such as
what, why and how.
In theater, the manner of using facial expressions, gestures, and body movements to portray a character is called
acting techniques. Also, we have the dance technique or the way of moving one’s body to express an emotion or a
desired state or condition. There is also what we call cinematic techniques that vary from its screenplay, physical
contact, contrast, positioning or blockings, and timing. Technique is the method of putting together the materials in
an organized manner.

PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ARTS: EXPERIMENTATIONS

Today’s artists are becoming conscious of the richness of our natural resources. They now make used of local and
indigenous materials for their artworks. There is also a consciousness to develop techniques and performance
practices that come from the customs and traditions of the regions and to apply them to the present scenario.
Theater and dance improvise techniques based on traditional movements. One way of preserving and promoting the
arts in the various regions of the Philippines is by practicing it as often.
Experimentations
To keep the arts fresh and exciting, artists perform experimentations in creating works of art.
Experimentation is a feature that is not as evident because it is a part of the creative process. It consists of
several trial-and-error attempts until the desired result is achieved. The outcomes are usually original, unique, and
innovative productions.
Take, for example, the recent performance of El Gamma Penumbra, a Philippine shadow play group, in AXN Asia’s
reality talent show, Asia ’3 Got Talent. El Gamma Penumbra has won the hearts of the masses because of their
unique presentation, experimental visuals and movements, and powerful themes and messages. Thus, every time El
Gamma Penumbra performs on stage, the audience gets carried away.
In experimental cinema, there are the independent films, better known as indie films. An indie film is a
movie usually produced with (sometimes without) a relatively small production outfit, thus, requiring the minimal
production budget. It is oftentimes called an art film for it bears the filmmaker’s personal artistic vision.
To promote and develop the indie film, the CCP has created the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film
Festival. This festival showcases various indie films during the months of July and August. In this festival, ten
filmmakers compete for the prestigious Balanghai Award.
In visual design, performance art (also called art in action or “happenings”) is usually done in public, where an
artist or several members perform the artwork on the-spot. There is usually some element of discovery or even
surprise. If the project is done on a sidewalk or part of a street, it is temporary. Sometimes artists are allowed to
paint along cemented fences or walls of institutions where their murals can remain permanent. This type of art is
especially rampant in Metro Manila. If you reside in or have gone to Metro Manila, you may have noticed the
paintings and murals around. Some government agencies, like the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Ninoy
Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, have commissioned artists to paint murals on their fences. A paint company,
together with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), even contracted Finnish filmmaker Tapio
Snellman to paint a vast mural on the walls of the Cubao-Aurora underpass.
Digitalization
The emergence of digital technology has given rise to new directions in the arts. Right now, we do not even
have to get out of our seat to enjoy the arts. We can instantly download them through several apps and sites. Social
media has helped in many ways to propagate the arts. Because of technology, arts are now being redirected to new
avenues. Digital technology is the new medium. It has solved many challenges to the artists from the previous
decades. All the art forms to enhance, supplement, or sometimes replace the content, form, and style of their works.
In visual design, several types of digital media art have appeared, such as virtual reality, net an, virtual installation,
digital imaging, and animation. However, these are techniques that require digital know-how, technical, and creative
skills.
In literature, there are e-books, animated poetry, interactive fiction, and hypertext fiction and poetry. Frank
G. Rivera, a theater director and playwright, popularized a poetry series that is written and read on mobile phones.
Called “textula,” his textula series has gained attention in social media, print media, and even in political rallies.
Choreography uses technology for dance notations and interactive techniques, breeding a new form of
choreographic practice. Through social media, different kinds of choreography are now being viewed by spectators---
dancers and nondancers alike worldwide.

It is the same with musicians. Nowadays, most musicians use digital music to devise new forms of
expression. They use technology for recording, mixing, storing, editing, and performing music. Broadcasting has
become easier since sites dedicated for music broadcast, like Soundcloud and Spotify, have already emerged. With
these sites, local musicians are now able to reach a larger number of audiences here and abroad. Theater and
cinema use the same digital processes as music, but added to these, theater and cinema use this technology to
enhance and innovate visual, lighting and sound effects together with the performers onstage or on the screen.
Digital technology has changed the art scenery, creating multimedia forms. It is the new medium of the arts.