PHILIPPINE ARTS:

(POST-WAR/POST-COLONIAL PERIOD)
1950-1960
By: Lois B. Berardino and Mae Ann Balgoa
2
MANILA, Philippines – “The city was in
shambles after the Battle of Manila in
1945, but from the rubble rose the Neo-
realists of Philippine art history.”

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 1.
VISUAL ARTS: ARTISTS &
THEIR WORKS
THE ARTISTS AND THEIR WORKS
PHILIPPINE ART DURING THE 1950’S-1960’S
1950S
⬩ Lydia “Lyd” Arguilla put together The Philippine Art Gallery (PAG)
Founded with young modernists as the leading figures.
⬩ Emergence of different schools of thought (e.g. school of Botong
Francisco,).
⬩ Hernando R. Ocampo, Cesar F. Legaspi, Victor Oteyza, Vicente S.
Manansala, Romeo V. Tabuena, and Ramon A. Estella began the
modern art movement in the Philippines,
 MANUEL RODRIGUEZ SR.
⬩ Recognized in cultural community as a pioneer
of Philippine graphic art.
⬩ Serigraph or printing through silk-screen was
the method used by the artist in creating this
series.
⬩ Known for. Painting, Printmaking. He was
one of the pioneers of printmaking in the
Philippines and was dubbed as the "Father of
Philippine Printmaking".
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Christmas Card series
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 ARTURO LUZ
⬩ Arturo Luz is a Filipino modern artist
best known for his minimalist,
geometric, and abstract styles of art
and his animated paintings of circus
performers and musicians as well as
his revered cityscape series.

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 ARTURO LUZ
⬩ apioneer of the Philippine Neo-realist
movement (1950s-1960s) for adoption of a
modernist approach to interpreting daily life in
their native land. Luz won the distinction of
being designated National Artist of the
Philippines, the highest artistic honor in the
country, for Visual Arts in 1997.

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Night Glows, 1960 “Bagong Taon”, 1952 “Candle Vendors”
1960s
⬩ Modern art reached its peak.
⬩ "Mid-Century Moderns: Important Modernist
Painting from the Philippine Art Gallery" is a
snapshot of Philippine life after the last war – a
look at the realities that pervaded the era:
poverty, alienation, and suffering.
 ANG KIUKOK

⬩ Awarded as a National Artist for Visual Arts.

One of the most vital and dynamic figures
who emerged during the 60s. As one of those
who came at the heels of the pioneering
modernists during that decade,
 ANG KIUKOK

⬩ Ang Kiukok blazed a formal and

iconographic path of his own through
expressionistic works of high visual impact
and compelling meaning.
⬩ The style of Ang Kiukok represents his
negative view of reality full of suffering
poverty cruelty and violence
 'SUNDAY MORNING.' This painting by Ang
Pieta, which won for him the bronze Kiukok is among the 24 pieces featured in León
medal in the 1st International Art Gallery's 'Mid-Century Modern' exhibit. All
Exhibition held in Saigon (1962) photos provided by León Gallery
Fernando Zobel de Ayala y
Montojo Torrontegui
1966, was a Spanish Filipino painter,
businessman, art collector and museum
founder. Zóbel is best known for his first
artwork series called the Saetas. Named after
the liturgical song sung in Holy Week in
Spain, they were developed for the most part
in the Philippines years

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'SAETA 44.' By Fernando Zobel
 JOSE T. JOYA
was a Filipino abstract artist and a National Artist of the Philippines
awardee. Joya was a printmaker, painter, mixed media artist, and a
former dean of the University of the Philippines' College of Fine Arts.
He pioneered abstract expressionism in the Philippines.

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Joya’s abstract
painting Space
Transfiguration
(1959) just fetched
P112 million
(hammer price was
at P96 million) from
a starting bid of P22
million at the Leon
Gallery Auction in
Makati
VICENTE MANANSALA
⬩ National Artist of the Philippines, Vicente
Silva Manansala was a Filipino artist
known for his Cubist paintings and
prints. Through his depictions of
contemporary Filipino life, Manansala
addressed issues of intimacy, poverty,
and culture.

1965, mother and child

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 ⬩ popularly known as Botong, was a
CARLOS “BOTONG”
FRANCISCO muralist from Angono, Rizal.
Francisco was a most
distinguished practitioner of mural
painting for many decades and
best known for his historical
pieces. Philippine National Artist
for Visual Arts in 1973

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Cry of Balintawak. The Bonifacio Mural, done in
1964
 2.
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
During Post war, Philippine Architecture
was dominated by the American style. In
this period the plan for the modern city of
Manila was designed with a large number
of art deco buildings, by famous American
and Filipino architects.
ARCHITECTURE
During the liberation of Manila by the
Americans in 1945 large portions of
Intramuros and Manila were destroyed. In
the period after the Second World War
many of the destroyed buildings were
rebuilt.
ARCHITECTURE
In the 50’s, buildings in Manila are just permitted
to get as high as 30 meters or 10 storeys, owing
to the fact that Manila is very prone to
liquefaction during earthquakes and the water
pressure of the water pipes back then can’t reach
higher than that. Pumps are not yet that available
commercially.
 MANILA CITY
“The Most Beautiful City in Asia”
During the 1950’s
 MANILA, Philippines – “The city was in
shambles after the Battle of Manila in
1945, but from the rubble rose the Neo-
realists of Philippine art history.”

Manila City hall

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Pasig River
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Quiapo
29
Avenida
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 MANILA, Philippines – “The city was in
shambles after the Battle of Manila in
1945, but from the rubble rose the Neo-
realists of Philippine art history.”

Roxas Boulevard

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ARCHITECTURE

Angel Nakpil’s 12-storey

Picache Building, considered
as the 1st skyscraper in
thePhils.
ARCHITECTURE

The 1950’s and 60’s

staple architectural
element were the brise-
soleil, glass walls…
ARCHITECTURE

…piercedscreens,
and thin concrete
shells.
Let’s review some concepts
Yellow
Is the color of gold, butter and ripe
lemons. In the spectrum of visible
light, yellow is found between green
and orange.
Yellow
Is the color of gold, butter and ripe
lemons. In the spectrum of visible
light, yellow is found between green
and orange.
Blue
Is the colour of the clear sky and the
deep sea. It is located between violet
and green on the optical spectrum.
Blue
Is the colour of the clear sky and the
deep sea. It is located between violet
and green on the optical spectrum.
Red
Is the color of blood, and because of
this it has historically been associated
with sacrifice, danger and courage.
Red
Is the color of blood, and because of
this it has historically been associated
with sacrifice, danger and courage.
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 3.
MUSIC AND DANCE
 MUSIC
⬩ In the 1950’s to the
1960’s, newer genres as
rock and roll and country
music appealed to a
younger generation of
Filipino popular artists

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MUSIC

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MUSIC

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 MUSIC
⬩ Filipino counterparts of famous Western artists as
Elvis Presley, Jerry Vale, Buddy Holly, Chuck
Berry, and the Beatles were heard over the radio
and seen in movies and on television.

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⬩ Lucio D. San Pedro was a
Filipino composer and teacher
who was proclaimed 
National Artist of the Philippi
nes
 for Music in 1991. Famous works:
⬩ Simbang Gabi”, “Lahing
“

Kayumanggi”, “Sa Ugoy ng

Duyan”, and “Sa Mahal Kong
Bayan”, 
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 DANCE
⬩ Bayanihan
National Folk
Dance Company

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 DANCE
⬩ Known for their performances during the
1950s and 1960s, Bayanihan National
Folk Dance Company became one of the
pioneers in the performing of Filipino
cultural dance.

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 DANCE
⬩ Their performances sought to bring to
light the Philippines and its many
resources, as well as distributing what
they call "cultural visibility" through
dance in order to discover potential trade
partners.
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 DANCE
⬩ Their performances have been well
documented and distributed throughout
the Filipino community, acting as an
important resource for those who wish to
teach and perform traditional Filipino
dances.
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 DANCE
⬩ The company was founded in 1957 by
Helena Z. Benitez Since then they have
made at least 14 major tours to Africa, Asia,
Australia, Europe, US and the Middle East.
It has performed in 6 continents, 66 counties
and 700 cities worldwide.
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 4.
FILM
1950S: The Golden Age
of Philippine Films
The 1950s were
considered a time of
“rebuilding and growth
The decade saw frenetic
activity in the film
industry which yielded
what might be regarded
as the first harvest of
distinguished films by
 1960S: The Decline of
Philippine Film
If the 1950s were an
ubiquitous period for film, the
decade that followed was a
time of decline. There was
“rampant commercialism and
artistic decline”
 The foreign films that
were raking in a lot of
income were action
pictures
sensationalizing
violence and soft core
sex films hitherto
banned from Philippine
theater screens.
The result is a plethora of
films…giving rise to
such curiosities as
Filipino samurai and
kung fu masters, Filipino
James Bonds and…the,
“Bomba Queen.”
 5.
LITERARY WORKS
 Post-War Literature
⬩ In 1950s, the Guerilla Warfare, also known as Hukbalahaps
(Hukbong Bayan laban sa Hapon) is causing problems in the
government. But in the Magsaysay Administration, the
Hukbalahap is vanished, neutralized or gone.
⬩ It is also known as a "Recovering Era"
⬩ It is the period when the Philippines gained independence from
the Japanese and Amercans.
 Post-War Literature
⬩ It is the transitional period in Philippine Literature from the
American Style to the Modern Style
⬩ Filipinos, at this time, learned how to express themselves more
confidently.
⬩ Romanticism, Nationalism, Independence, Nature, Expression
of Feelings
 Amado Hernandez
⬩ The poet Amado Hernandez,
who was also union leader and
social activist, also wrote
novels advocating social
change. 
 Amado Hernandez
⬩ Luha ng Buwaya (1963)
(Lumbera) deals with the
struggle between the oppressed
peasantry and the class of
politically powerful landlords. 
 Amado Hernandez
⬩ Mga Ibong
Mandaragit (1969) deals
with the domination of
Filipinos by American
industry 
 Lazaro Francisco
⬩ Sugat Sa Alaala (1950) reflects
the horrors of the war
experience as well as the
human capacity for nobility,
endurance and love under the
most extreme circumstances.
 Lazaro Francisco
⬩  Maganda Pa Ang Daigdig (1956)
deals with the agrarian issue
⬩ Daluyong (1962) deals with the
corruption bred by the American-
style and American-educated
pseudo-reformers.
Nick Joaquin
Joaquín argued that Philippine
letters during the 1950s and
1960s were polarized into
extremes: literature and
journalism.

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Nick Joaquin
Joaquín, under the name of
Quijano de Manila during that
time, belonged to both worlds
as found in his works.

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Nick Joaquin
poet, short story writer,
novelist, playwright, essayist,
historian, journalist, editor and
biographer.

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Nick Joaquin
Joaquin has been the supreme
exemplar for Filipino writers, as
much as he was a beacon, an
inspiration, and a literary father to
several generations of writers since
he served as literary editor of
the Philippines Free Press magazine
in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Thanks!

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