HISTORY OF

PHILIPPINE ARTS
Adapted from the Contemporary
Philippine Arts from of the Regions
of Sandagan and Sayseng (2016)
3 Major Traditions
in Philippine Arts
Ethnic Tradition

Spanish Colonial Tradition

American Colonial and

Contemporary Traditions
 Ethnic
Tradition
 Ethnic
Tradition
 Ethnic Tradition

 Before colonization, Philippines already has its

indigenous arts.

 Ethnic art form are primarily influenced by the

geographical location and the experiences of
Filipinos.
 Ethnic Tradition
Dance
 Dances vary depending on the area where our
ancestors thrive.

 In the highlands, dance steps were the imitations

of the movements of certain animals like birds
while the choreography of the Filipinos near the
sea were mimics of the movements of fishes.
 Ethnic Tradition

Visual Arts

 Pottery, weaving, wood carving and metal

crafting were dominant during the pre-colonial
period making use of the available materials in
the environment.
 Ethnic Tradition

Architecture

 Early Filipinos use local materials such as

anahaw, bamboo, cogon, cane, rattan and other
light materials.
 Ethnic Tradition

Literature

 Our ancestors already have their folk literature in

the forms of folk speeches, songs and narratives.

 These folk literatures verbalize their daily

experiences.
 Ethnic Tradition
Theater Arts
 Tribal presentations and rituals were the early
theatrical performances depicting their beliefs.

Music
 Our ancestors already have their indigenous
musical instruments like the bamboo flutes and
brass gongs.
 Spanish
Colonial
Tradition
 Spanish
Colonial
Tradition
 Spanish Colonial Tradition

 Religion and secularization greatly influenced

the art in the Philippines.

 The friars were the ones supervising the

practice of arts in the country with their agenda
of propagating Christianity and maintaining the
power of the colonizers.
 Spanish Colonial Tradition

Literature
 Literary works could be classified into religious
and secular prose and poetry.

Theater Arts
 Secular and religious plays like komedya
became popular.
 Spanish Colonial Tradition
Dance
 Religious dances are commonly performed to
venerate patrons and saints proliferated.

 There were also secular dances performed in

social functions like the valse, fandango, polka
and minuet.
 Spanish Colonial Tradition

Music
 Spaniards introduced the piano and other
western instruments.

 Bands and orchestras multiplied as the zarzuelas

and operas became prevalent.
 Spanish Colonial Tradition

Architecture
 Stones and bricks were predominantly used in
constructing buildings like churches, houses and
government offices.

 Exterior and interior of the buildings were

embellished with wood carvings and metal works
with intricate decorative designs.
 Spanish Colonial Tradition

Visual Arts
 Spaniards introduced painting and sculpture
which mostly depicted religious subject matters.
 American
Colonial
and
Contemporary
Traditions
 American
Colonial
and
Contemporary
Traditions
 American Colonial Period and
Contemporary Traditions

 In the area of education, there are Filipinos who

went abroad to study, some studied under the
tutelage of the American educators, and some
learned through observation and personal
experiences.

 Avant-garde artworks entered the scene.

 American Colonial Period and
Contemporary Traditions

 Those who went abroad to study came back to

the country carrying the concept of modern art.

 Modern Art refers to the practice of art in the

1860-1960. It was during these years that the
western world was significantly developing.
 American Colonial Period and
Contemporary Traditions

 The urbanization, consumerism, rise of the middle

class, change in political system, secularization
and emergence of new technology affected the
way of art making.

 Technological innovations affected art making

resulting to non-conventional artworks, themes,
practices and methodologies.
 American Colonial Period and
Contemporary Traditions

 Modern art continuously develops even after

World War II, which led to contemporary way of
art making today.

 Contemporary Arts refers to the recent and

current practice of art ranging from the 1970s up
to the present.