Various Art Forms

found in the
Philippines
LOVELY JOYCE E. RUBIAS
Subject Teacher
 1. Discuss various art forms found in the
Philippines;
(CAR11/121AC-0b-2)

O
a. appreciate the history of
arts in the Philippines
b. distinguish the
contemporary period from
the other art period
bjectives c. define contemporary arts
d. familiarize with the
significant development in
the Philippine art.
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 GUESS WHAT…?

What is this famous landmark in the Philippines?

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 GUESS WHAT…?

What is this famous landmark in the Philippines?

4
 GUESS WHAT…?

What is this famous landmark in the Philippines?

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Various Art Forms found in the
Philippines
LESSON 1
 Art plays a significant part in the rich cultural identity of
the Philippines. It mirrors the Filipino people, its history, its
tradition, and the country as a whole. Diverse art forms in
the different parts of the archipelago, when integrated, will
give a clear picture of what kind of country the Philippines
is and what kind of people the Filipinos are. These art
forms developed from the early times continue to evolve up
to the present. From the ethnic tradition, it continues to
progress to contemporary art tradition.
 As a Filipino, one should have the knowledge of the different
forms of art in the Philippines to fully grasp its identity as a
nation and to completely embrace oneself as a citizen of the
country. The lessons and activities incorporated in this section
will help the students to have an understanding and appreciation
of the Philippine Arts specifically of the Contemporary Philippine
Arts. This will provide students an overview of the history of
Philippine Arts from the Ethnic up to the Contemporary Period.
Also, the succeeding discussions will focus on the contemporary
art forms and practices in the country.
 There are three traditions in the development of Philippines art:
ethnic Tradition, Spanish Colonial Tradition, and American Colonial
and Contemporary Traditions. In the Ethnic Tradition, the location
and the experiences of the Filipinos were the major factors in art
production. In the Spanish period, religion and secularization were
the dominant themes of the arts forms. In the American period,
modernism entered the field of art wherein Filipinos started to
explore different materials, methodologies, and techniques in
expressing themselves through non-Conventional art. The continuous
progress of modernism led to the development of Contemporary arts.
The Development of Philippine Art comes in three major traditions.
These are the Ethnic Tradition, Spanish Colonial Tradition, and the
American Colonial and Contemporary Traditions. Before
colonization, the Philippines already has its indigenous art. The
ethnic art forms are primarily influenced by the geographical
location and the experiences of the Filipinos. For instance, the
dances in the country during the pre-colonial times vary depending
on the area where our ancestors thrive. In the highlands, dance steps
were imitations of the movements of certain animals like birds while
the choreography of the Filipinos near the sea were mimics of the
movement of the fishes.
 In terms of visual arts, pottery, weaving, wood carving, and metal
crafting were dominant during the pre-colonial period making use of
the available materials surrounding them. About architecture, the
early Filipinos used local materials such as anahaw, bamboo, cogon,
cane, rattan, and other light materials in constructing structures since
these were the materials accessible in their area. Also, our ancestors
already have their folk literature verbalized their experiences.
Regarding theater arts, tribal presentations and rituals were the early
theatrical performances depicting their beliefs. In music, our
ancestors also have their indigenous musical instruments like the
bamboo flutes and brass gongs.
 Then came the Spaniards who tend to replace the Philippine
indigenous arts with Western art forms, Religion and secularization
greatly influenced the art in the Philippines under the Spanish
regime. 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. In the field of literature, the
literary works could be classified into religious and secular prose
and poetry. In the area of theater arts, secular and religious plays like
the “komedya” became popular. In choreography, religious dances
commonly performed to venerate patrons and saints proliferated.
 There were also secular dances performed and social
functions like the valse, fandango, polka, and minute,
among others. In music, the Spaniards introduced the
piano and other Western instruments. Bands and
Orchestra multiplied as the zarzuelas and operas became
prevalent. In visual arts, Spaniards introduced painting
and sculpture which mostly depicted religious subject
matters. In architecture, stones and bricks were
predominantly used in constructing buildings
 like churches, houses, and government offices. Western Spanish
influence was evident in architecture, the exterior, and interior of the
buildings were embellished with wood carvings or metal works with
intricate decorative designs. However, despite the strong influence of
the Spaniards, the arts in the country did not result in a pure Western
art but a mix of Western and indigenous art. Filipino artists still put
Filipino touches on their art pieces. After more than 300 years of
Spanish colonization, the Americans took over the country which led
to the declaration of the independence on June 12, 1898. The
American brought many changes in the politics, economy, education
and culture of the Philippines.
 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. 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 1860s-1960s. It was during these years that
the western world was significantly developing.
 The urbanization, consumerism, rise of the middle class,
change in the political system, secularization, and the
emergence of new technology affected the way of art
making in that period. Due to the technological innovations,
the experimental approaches in developing art rose above
traditional art practices and methodologies. New forms of
expression came which were avant-garde in nature. Modern
art continuously develops even after World War II, which
led to the contemporary way of art making today.
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 Various Art forms found in the Philippines

Contemporary art refers to the recent and current practice

of art ranging from the 1970s up to the present. It mirrors
the society and culture of the present times. It uses a
combination of different methods, materials, and ideas that
transcend the traditional way of art making. All Philippine
art forms had a different twist as the American way of life
became a part of lives of the Filipinos. The art forms and
art practices in the country broadened. Artists experimented
with different materials and methodologies and produced
non-conventional artworks with a wide-range of themes.
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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

The Art of Making Belen, was organized by the Tarlac Heritage

Foundation under the leadership of Dr. Isa Cojuangco Suntay and
her mother, Doña Isabel Cojuangco Suntay, starting 2007 to
motivate Tarlaqueños to build beautiful Belens.

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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

The Tarlaqueños are encouraged to make Belens from indigenous

and recyclable materials that are native only to Tarlac. This
depiction of the Christmas Nativity is best viewed at night when it
is bathed in the full glow of colorful Christmas LED lights. The
Belenismo event has made Tarlac the Belen Capital of the
Philippines.
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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

In the recent Belenismo awarding ceremony held at the College of

the Holy Spirit in Tarlac City, four out of the 21 finalists from the
60 Belen entries won first prize each in four categories: grand,
monumental, church and community. The awarding was graced by
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and the winning Belens each
got a cash prize and a crystal trophy.
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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

For the community category, the Pamilya Lanoria Belen,

handcrafted by a poor farming family, won first prize while the
Belen sa Hardin of Alice de Vera and the Belen sponsored by
former Congressman Jeci Lapus, respectively, garnered second
and third prize.

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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

For the church category, the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Belen in Barangay
San Manuel in Tarlac bagged the first prize while the St. Joseph Parish
Belen in O’Donnell placed second and the St. Rose of Lima Belen in
Paniqui placed third.For the monumental category, Nay’s House Belen in
Tarlac City received the first prize while the VES Food Resort and Villas
came in second and the Villa Perpetua Homeowners Association came in
third.
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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

For the grand category, the AFP Belen bagged the first prize while
the Samahan sa Pura Belen won the second price and the Tarlac
City Tourism Council Belen placed third. Designed by award-
winning designer Ding Mercado and worked on by 266 soldiers
and their officers, the AFP Belen is like a purple gemstone that
glows in the traffic laden McArthur Highway.
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 Belenismo sa Tarlac

“Every Belen is a product of the visions, dreams and hopes of

designers to showcase the best of Tarlaqueño culture and
tradition,” said Dr. Isa Cojuangco Suntay said during the awards
night. “Through the Belenismo sa Tarlac, Tarlaqueños are now
known worldwide in the field of arts, which is also a testimony to
the outstanding craftsmanship and creativity of Filipinos.”

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 Rice Fields of Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines

located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan
City. Nueva Ecija borders, from the south clockwise,
Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, and
Aurora.

Presentation title 32
 Rice Fields of Nueva Ecija

Agriculture is the primary industry in the province, of which it became the

Food Bowl and Rice Granary of Central Luzon. The primary agricultural
products are rice, corn, onion, garlic, melon, and mango. Its agricultural
production covers an area of about 298, 742 hectares of fertile lands that are
nourished by the Great Pampanga Rivers and its many auxiliaries. The
slipper industry is also a growing business in the community level in Gapan
City. The home-based industries of slipper producers turned into a
cooperative venture of the whole community to promote and market Novo
Ecijano made sandals and slippers.
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 Rice Fields of Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija offers boundless opportunities in agro-industry and

agri-based trading activities to local and foreign investors. The
province's vast, arable and irrigated agricultural lands and support
facilities optimize these opportunities. Various agricultural
research and development institutions are collaborating with the
Provincial Government to achieve the agricultural advancement
and secure the food supply not only in the province, but in the
whole country as well.
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 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

The Kapampangan locals or natives call this festival as

“Ligligan Parul” which is an annual festival that is being
held during the Saturday before Christmas in December.
This is a century-old festival in the Philippines that started
in the year 1904 but the old locals believed and as far as
they can recall, that the event was inaugurated on 1904 but
it was initialized or instantiated during the later years of
1908. 35
 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

The first Giant Lantern Festival was to honor the current

Philippine President, Manuel L. Quezon. That is because, during
that time, President Quezon converted and opened the famous
Mount Arayat National Park that paved the way to tourism in the
City which helped the locals prosper. The event is held on the City
of San Fernando in Pampanga, Philippines but the root or origin
of the venue was originally in Bacolor which was just later
transferred to San Fernando.
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 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

The festival celebrates the Christmas spirit by making different

large and giant lanterns designed with different color and lights.
During the event period, you’d see the City sparkling with
rainbow colors during the night. It may seem just like any other
festivals in the country that has lanterns and Christmas lights
during the season but before all of that became a Christmas trend,
it was actually a religious activity called the Lubenas or what we
usually know as Novena.
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 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

Back in the days, the lanterns local people used was just about 2
feet in diameter. But as the annual festival takes place every year,
improvements are being made and it gets getting larger and larger
with more lighting. In fact, there are now rotors on these lanterns
to allow lantern movements as well as optimize the lighting
effects. Today, the lanterns being used do not measure below 15
feet in diameter. That’s 5 times larger than the original size and up
to this date, there are people who want to perfect and create a
much larger lantern to continue breaking the record. 38
 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

People during this time or event take every resource they have to
win the lantern competition which is being put to contest during the
main event date of the festival. There are some who uses recyclable
materials from their previous designs and some just want to create a
new and better model from new parts ordered and made. Some
doesn’t even care about expenses were winning cash prizes wouldn’t
even come close to all their expenditures. There are some
participants who just aim for the glory and fame as well as bragging
rights being the winner of the annual lantern festival. 39
 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

However, back in the days, Giant Lantern Festival isn’t that bright
and vibrant at all. There was no electricity during the early years
of the event as electricity was introduced to San Fernando,
Pampanga around the year 1931. Old people said that back then,
the event takes place during the day until the afternoon so that
you’d appreciate the designs of each Giant Lanterns made.

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 Giant Lantern of Pampanga

Fortunately, with the breakthrough of electricity to reach San

Fernando, the introduction of lightings to lanterns was possible
and eventually, the festival was held when the sun starts to set and
the moon rises to appreciate the lanterns more like with its
original purpose, to provide some light during the night. Another
event that you might want to attend in the Province of Pampanga
is the Sinukwan Festival. It is just as fun and exciting as the Giant
Lantern Festival. 41
 Beach of Aurora

Aurora is endowed with natural historical, man-made and cultural

attractions considering the existence of beautiful waterfalls,
pristine white beaches, historical markers and other attractions
which are accessible by land. Among the tourist spots in Aurora,
the historical landmark indicating the birthplace of the late
President Manuel L. Quezon is considered one of the most
prominent.
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 Beach of Aurora

The historic Catholic Church of Baler is remembered as

the last pocket of resistance of the Spanish Armed forces to
surrender to the American Troops. An account of the battle
for the control of the church is marked on the metallic
tablet on the wall of the church.

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 Beach of Aurora

Another potential tourist attraction is Ermita in Sitio Cemento.

According to historical accounts, Ermita was built through the
initiative of Fray Jose de Esperagoza during the height of Muslim
invasion of the place in the 18th century which serves as the
inhabitants’ refuge, both for security and religious activity. Located
at Brgy. Zabali, Baler, Aurora, this place served as a refuge during
the “Tromba Marina” (Tidal Waive) in Sept. 27, 1735. The place
became the temporary resettlement which was called “Kinagunasan”
meaning “devastated”. 44
 Beach of Aurora

During the commonwealth time, the place was developed by

putting up an altar atop the hill and was beautifully landscaped
with gardens of flowers and trees. With the passage of time,
Ermita was abandoned and was destroyed, thus the beautiful and
attractive Ermita was turned to thickets and shrubbery. At present,
Ermita is undergoing rehabilitation. Structures have been
constructed and is now open for the public.
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 Beach of Aurora

Beaches of coastal barangays from Dingalan to Dilasag are

potential for mass tourism activities. Among the shoreline bays
which can be developed into mass tourism areas are the Baler
Bay, Dinadiawan Bay and Casapsapan Bay including the Canawer
Beach in Dilasag. These areas need to have infrastructure
facilities, accommodation, excellent environmental quality, and
other tourism suppliers.
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 Mango Festival of Zambales

Mango Festival is home to some of the sweetest, juiciest most

succulent mangos you will ever see in the Philippines. The festival is
held in Iba, Zambales. Zambales, for the most part, is popular for its
glistening sandy beaches and idyllic islands, but you will be excited
to learn that this is home to some of the best mangoes. So sweet are
these mangoes in fact that in 1995, the Guinness Book of World
Records acknowledged the Zambales mangoes to be the sweetest
globally. This is no mean feat for any tourist destination.
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 Mango Festival of Zambales

In this context, it is easy to understand why the organizers saw the

need to come up with a festival to celebrate all the mango goodness
(and attract tourists while at it). The yearly event is held in April,
and brings together locals and foreigners alike to savor and promote
the island’s best mangoes. Since a large part of the city’s economy
relies on the export of mangoes, it’s no surprise that there’s an entire
festival dedicated to the fruit. The main point of the Mango Festival
is the celebration of the bountiful harvest, similarly to the Tuna
Festival of GenSan. 48
 Mango Festival of Zambales

One of the highlights of the Mango Festival is the mango eating

challenge where participants compete to see who can eat the most
mangos within a predetermined period of time. And of course, it
would not be a proper Filipino festival without a street parade
featuring locals in colorful, mango-inspired costumes! Hundreds
of them flock to the streets, swaying to the sounds of music in all
sorts of regalia, making the joy palpable in the air.
49
 Mango Festival of Zambales

Other popular highlights that you should look forward to include

the Trade Fair, the Variety Show as well as the mango themed
street parades. There’s also a street dancing competition, which is
a staple event in pretty much any festival held in this country.
And, just like with all the other Filipino festivals, there’s an
extravagant float parade featuring floats inspired by the delicious
fruit.
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 Mango Festival of Zambales

The Dinamulag Festival lasts for at least 4-5 days, and there’s a
plethora of different events to enjoy. Sports competitions are
particularly popular in the Philippines, so it’s no surprise that a
Fun Run is part of this festival. You can also play some beach
volleyball, partake in a sand sculpting competition or the cookfest.
And if you’d prefer to stay on the sidelines and observe, definitely
attend the pet show and the car show!
51
 Mango Festival of Zambales

As is the case with plenty of festivals in the Philippines, its

last day is marked by a coronation ceremony, where the
winners of all the previous competitions are announced.
After that, the festival is closed off with a spectacular
fireworks display, which you definitely don’t want to miss
if you’re lucky enough to actually attend this festival.
52
The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan

The art of making the pabalat or pastillas wrappers has

transformed in recent years from being a local, folk
tradition into a popular art. Besides adding flair to the
sweet pastillas de leche made from fresh carabaos milk,
the pabalat has also become a compelling icon/symbol of
the people’s creativity, not only of the town of San Miguel
but the entire province of Bulacan.
53
The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan

Bulacan fiestas are not complete without the elaborate papercut

designs often used as decoration, table centerpiece, and souvenirs.
The pastillas wrapped in pabalat have also become popular gifts
during birthdays, weddings, and other occasions and pasalubong
among local tourists and balikbayans. On May 5-7, 2006, the
town of San Miguel celebrated the first-ever "Pastillas Festival" to
underscore the importance of the pastillas in the lives of its
people.
54
The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan

According to Mayor Edmundo Jose Buencamino, the pastillas

have been a source of pride and a unifying symbol for the people
here. We give pastillas as a gift to our families, loved ones even
during birthdays, weddings and other occasions. This is the secret
of the industry: It has survived time because not only visitors but
even the locals patronize it. The mounting of such a festival was
envisioned to give the sleepy town a much-needed boost in
tourism and investment
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The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan

The industry of pastillas making may have survived time but the pabalat is
a totally different story. Similar to most folk traditions in the Philippines,
the art practice of making these intricate paper cut-outs is on the verge of
extinction. Due to the tediousness of the art, there are few takers who are
willing to follow the footsteps of the pabalat masters like Ka Luz Aling
Nene Ocampo. At present, most of the pabalat makers in San Miguel are
senior citizens in their 70s or 80s, while others have transferred to Malolos,
Bulacan, the province capital, to put up more lucrative pastillas and other
sweets businesses, which now attract a number of clientele ranging from
balikbayans, local and foreign tourists to hotels and catering companies.
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The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan

The word pabalat has two levels of meaning. On a literal note, it

pertains to the pabalat as a product (paper cut-outs). On a
metaphorical level, it connotes the state of the art practice
(meaning: it’s not only a wounded tradition but it’s actually a
dying one). The art is not only a cultural product or an artistic
expression but also cuts through some cultural, social, even
political discourses and issues.

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The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan

Pabalat is also a folk art or in Filipino term, siningbayan. It is a

folk art because it originated among the townsfolk reflecting their
traditional culture. The art practice has also been passed from
generation to generation and its creative elements and aesthetic
values mirror the people’s everyday life. Another important aspect
of this folk tradition is that the makers of these intricate paper
patterns do not see themselves as artists and do not consider their
works as arts. Taking a quote from Dr. Brenda Fajardo in her book
Ang Inukit na Kaalamang Bayan ng Paete: 58
 Mt. Samat of Bataan

The Mount Samat National Shrine or Shrine of Valor is a historical

shrine located near the summit of Mount Samat in the town of Pilar,
Province of Bataan, Philippines. The memorial shrine complex was
built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American
soldiers who fought during World War II. Consisting of a colonnade
and the large Memorial Cross, the park started the construction in
1966, by laying of corner stone by the late president Ferdinand E.
Marcos, as himself a war veteran. The shrine was completed and
inaugurated in 1970 in time for the 25th anniversary of the end of
World War II. 59
 Mt. Samat of Bataan

The Memorial Cross stands as remembrance to the soldiers who fought

and lost their lives in the Battle of Bataan. The shrine complex also
includes a war museum with a wide collections from painting of the
Philippine heroes, to armament used by the Filipino, Americans and
Japanese forces during the war. In the center of the colonnade is the altar
and the 3 religious stained glass murals. Four large bronze chandeliers
hang from the ceiling, while inscribed in marble on the 2 lateral walls is a
narrative of the "Battle of Bataan". From the parking going up to
colonnade there's a wide stairways, that leads to the flagpole that holds a
flag of the Philippines, and the two bronze urns on the both sides that
symbolizing the eternal flame. 60
 Mt. Samat of Bataan

The peripheral is beautifully landscaped with beautiful plants and

decorated with a World War II military equipment's such as machine
guns, canons and others both from American and Japanese troupes.
Behind the colonnade is a 14 flight zigzag footpath that leads up to
the base of Memorial Cross. While climbing up, you will notice the
beauty of the place. The base of the Cross is designed with murals of
the Filipino figures and events in a different colonial eras of the
country. The designed was so significant and historical. To go on
top, there is an elevator at Php. 10.00 per person.
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 Mt. Samat of Bataan

During peak seasons, you must stand in line and wait for your turn.
There are two wings of the cross that serve as viewing gallery. Two
circular portholes at the edge side of the cross that also served for
viewing. At the top the visitors can seat and relax with the cold and
strong breeze hit on your body and face while gazing a magnificent
360 degree view of Bataan Peninsula, Corrigidor and Manila Bay on
a clear and sunny day. He Colonnade as seen from the front side of
the viewing gallery of the Memorial Cross. At the other side of the
viewing deck is the panoramic view of the rolling hills of Bataan
Peninsula. 62
 ACTIVITY
Reflect on the richness of arts and practices you’ve learned.
Do you have the same arts and practices in your place? Create
your own art and discuss the procedure how to do it.

63
 QUIZ

Answer the following questions:

1. How does art affect the culture and tradition of a certain

region?

2. Why contemporary art should be practiced with culture and

tradition sensitivity?

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 Read in advance.

ASSIGNMENT Philippine Artists and their

Contributions to Contemporary
Arts
Thank you