CONTEMPORARY

PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE

REGION
Learning Competency

Discusses various art forms found in the Philippines.

CARD11/12IAC-0b-2
Seven Major Contemporary Art Forms in the
Philippines and Practices from Various Regions

1. Visual Arts.

 The Philippines is home to a long and rich history of

excellence in visual arts.

 This tradition started as early as the 19th century.

 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

A. Bamboo Art
 is an art work that is made of bamboo that may be used for
everyday purposes or for decorations or ornaments.

 Thick bamboo is typically used for building sturdy

structures, decorations, and furniture while thin bamboo is
used in creating musical instruments and personal
accessories.
 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

B. Basketry
 is an ethnic tradition of weaving and
one of the functional art of many
nations.
 The intricate patterns on the weaves
are repeatedly done creating harmony
and rhythm.
 Grasses and twigs are woven to make
baskets.
 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

C. Embroidery
 is the art of stitching ornaments on
cloth by hand.
 In the town of Lumban in Laguna,
embroidery has flourished as a major
industry
 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

D. Food Art
 involves packaging/ or presentation
of food in artistic way.
 Sapin-sapin is a good example of
this.
 It is a Filipino steamed dessert that
is made of glutinous rice flour,
coconut milk, sugar, and flavoring
 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

E. Leaf Art
 is used in religious rituals, food
wrapping and even as a form of
modern artistic expression.
 The palaspas that is used every Palm
Sunday is an example of leaf art.
 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

F. Paper Art
 involves the processes of cutting,
pasting, recycling, and/or
constructing of objects from paper.
 Paper art used to be limited with
folks paper art such as taka and
higante from angano, parol,
pastillas wrappings and kites.
 Other Art Forms that can be seen in every Region in the Country:

F. Textile Weaving
 refers to the process of creating cloth
by interweaving a series of parallel
vertical threads at right angles.
 Textile may be plain or decorated by
dyes, embroidery, and applique.
 Some examples are abel iloko from
Ilocos, T’nalak from Cotabato and
Yakan tribe tapestry from Basilan
 2. Architecture
Philippine architectures which express traditions and values of our
country

A.Bahay na Bato
 appeared during the 19th and 20th century
that was considered to be the residence of
the wealthy.
 a typical two-story house that has a ground
floor made of brick or stone and has a
wooden upper level.
 The Rizal Shrine is a reproduction of the
original two-story house, Spanish-Colonial
style house in Calamba, Laguna.
 2. Architecture
Philippine architectures which express traditions and values of our
country

B. Bahay Kubo
 an ethnic house of christian peasant families living
in the lowland areas.
 It has pile construction and a roof sliding in all
sides.
 A typical material in building bahay kubo uses
bamboo and coco lumber for the beams and joist,
nipa shingles for the roof and windows, bamboo
slats for flooring, railings and even for benchesand
stair steps. As for walls, sawali can be used as
framed with bamboo slats.
 2. Architecture
Philippine architectures which express traditions and values of our
country

C. Houseboat
 basically a boat that also serves as a
dwelling.

 The Badjaos and Sama Laut

typically reside in houseboats
 2. Architecture
Philippine architectures which express traditions and values of our
country

D. Churches Structure
 a place of worship for a Christian
congregation.
 Paoay Church, also known as San
Agustin Church, is one of the top
tourist destinations in the province
of Ilocos.
 It was founded by the Augustinian
Missionaries in 1593.
3. Music
 includes rich and unique musical Filipinos
traditions that has existed long before westerners
set foot on our native land.
 present in every stage of our ancestors’ lives.
 It functioned as a form of entertainment during
occasions such as weddings, festivals,
inaugurations, as well as funerals.
Most Common Traditional Musical
Instruments
1. Kudyapi
 a two-stringed lute native to the Lumads in Mindanao.

 It is made out of a single piece of wood and used by the

Manobo, T’boli, Maguindanao, and Maranao.
Most Common Traditional Musical
Instruments

2. Kulintang
 the gong ensemble is composed of different sets of
knobbed gongs aligned horizontally and arranged
according to pitch.
 It is used by the Tausug, Maranao, and
Maguindanao for entertainment during festivals and
weddings.
Most Common Traditional Musical
Instruments
3. Gimbal
Used for headhunting activities
war drums created from a hollow tree trunk
and covered with animal skin on both ends.
Most Common Traditional Musical
Instruments
4. Kubing
 a type of bamboo jew’s harp.
 It is famous around the Philippines and is used for
courtship or when trying to convey a message to one’s
family and loved ones.
 It is placed between the lips and produces various sounds
when its bamboo tongue is plucked.
European-Influenced Religious and Secular
Music
A.Kundiman
 a signature love song of the Philippines.
 Its usual theme is about “faithful and true, but often
lonely, pleading of a lover who knows nothing but
sacrifice, in behalf of his beloved.”
European-Influenced Religious and Secular
Music
B. Habanera/Danza
 a social dance in duple time.
 Originally from Cuba
 usually performed on a stage or a ballroom.
 Hatinggabi of Antonio Molina and Ikaw Rin of Nicanor
Abelardo, both contemporary compositions, used tempo
of habanera.
European-Influenced Religious and Secular
Music

C. Kumintang
 originally documented as a war song. It is a
dance of love accompanied by guitar and
string bass.
Its elements are utilized in Mutya ng Pasig by
Nicanor Abelardo.
European-Influenced Religious and Secular
Music

D. Liturgical Music
a vocal and instrumental compositions that go
together with the official rites of Christian
churches.
European-Influenced Religious and Secular
Music

E. Pasyon
Chant of various styles was used throughout
the country for the singing of pasyon.
 This is chant reading of the Passion of Christ,
practice is done in communities, churches and
chapels.
European-Influenced Religious and Secular
Music

E. Pasyon
Chant of various styles was used throughout
the country for the singing of pasyon.
 This is chant reading of the Passion of Christ,
practice is done in communities, churches and
chapels.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
A. Noli Me Tángere by Dr. José Rizal.
 It is the most controversial and widely-known – it’s included in
the current education curriculum of Filipino high school students.
 This novel sparked the social awakening of Filipinos during the
Spanish colonial era. As Rizal cannot fathom the unfairness of
the Spanish priests and the ruling government at the time, his
purpose of writing the book was to expose the ills of Philippine
society at the time.
 it depicts how Crisostomo Ibarra dealt with Spanish authorities,
and how he prepared for his revenge, as told in Rizal’s 2nd book,
El Filibusterismo.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
B. Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas.
 it tackles the story between Duke Florante and
Princess Laura, who was also being pursued by
Florante’s enemy Count Adolfo.
 as a literary classic, this book has become a favorite
play not only among Filipino high school students, but
has been showcased in grand theaters such as
Gantimpala Theater and the Cultural Center of the
Philippines.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
C. Mga Ibong Mandaragit by Amado V. Hernandez
 is a novel that tackles social-political issues, particularly Philippine
revolution and neocolonialism
 it has a connection to Rizal’s earlier novels – Noli Me Tángere and
El Filibusterismo.
 There was a passage in the novel where protagonist Mando Plaridel
was tested by Tata Matyas on what he knows about Rizal’s
controversial books.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
D. The Woman Who Had Two Navels by Nick Joaquin
 a historical novel where Joaquin examines the effects and influences
of the past towards the post-war events in the Philippines.

 lead female character Connie Escobar thinks she has two navels,
and thus requests her doctor to remove one – which symbolically
means that she wants to shun away from a traumatic past.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
E. Po-on A Novel by F. Sionil Jose
 the first book in the Rosales Saga, which tells stories about Rosales,
Pangasinan in the Philippines.
 the book that sets the five-part story.
 Discover the story of Eustaqio “Istak” Samson who abandoned his
family to join the rebel forces and escape the cruelty of Spanish
authorities.
 The other four books in the saga are: Tree, My Brother, My
Executioner, The Pretenders, and Mass.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
F. Banaag at Sikat by Lope K. Santos
 has been dubbed the “bible of the Filipino working class.”
 it paved the way for the development of a system on how Tagalog
novels were written.
 The novel narrates the story between Delfin and Felipe who have
contrasting views. Delfin is a socialist whereas Felipe, despite being
the son of a rich landowner, leans towards anarchism. Throughout
the narrative, themes of love, livelihood, and societal status are
embedded.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
G. Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista
 captured the true-to-life scenarios in the ’70s.
 mentioned changes that arose after the Plaza Miranda bombing
and the suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the
Philippines.
 The novel tells the story of lead protagonist Amanda Bartolome
and her family, where she had to deal with facing the law and
her responsibilities towards her five sons
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
H. ABNKKBSNPLAko?! by Bob Ong
 is meant in the texting language where the title of this book
phonetically reads “Aba nakakabasa na pala ako?!” which can be
translated as “Wow I can read now?!”
 the book rose to fame for depicting the supposed unforgettable
moments of his life as a student, starting from the first time of
entering school up to his college days.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
I. The Gods and the Creation of the World
 about Philippine myths depicting our ancient peoples
believed in one supreme god and in a number of lesser
gods and goddesses.
 sometimes the name of the god is not given, he is simply
referred to as the Supreme God, great Being, or God the
Highest. In many myths, the supreme god is the creator of
the world.
4. Literature
Literatures which promoted Filipino Cultural Values
J. The Monkey and the Turtle
 a perfect example of folktale short story written by Jose
Rizal.
 the story focuses on the monkey and turtle who started as
friends who once both saw a floating banana plant on the
water. They thought of splitting it so they could plan it.
The monkey chose the upper part of the plant for he
thought it was better.
 5. Theaters
A.Epic Poetry
 is considered the highest point of Filipino folk literature, and dates
back to the pre-colonial period
 usually of romance or adventure, are commonly presented during
festivals and gatherings such as weddings, baptisms, and wakes.
 singers have been known to perform for hours at a time.
 One of the most famous epic poems is Biag ni Lam-ang, the
national epic of the Ilocano people, and notable for being the first
folk epic to be recorded in written form after being passed on from
generation to generation.
 5. Theaters
B. Duplo
 is a poetic debate presented through song and dance,
which originated from indigenous courtship customs.
 Poets used proverbs and riddles to present their suit to the
woman of their choice.
 This ultimately evolved into a more formal debate on
issues and started to be called the balagtasan.
 5. Theaters
C. Moro-moro
 is one of the most popular types of theater in the
Philippines was the Moros y Cristianos.
 it is a street drama that usually lasted for several
days, and presented both secular themes like love
and vengeance, and the Spanish-influenced
religious theme of the conflict between Christians
and Moors.
 5. Theaters
E. Bodabil
 is a form of theater about an American import in the pre-
war era but became uniquely Filipino with the
indigenization of the name.
 featured a variety of musical numbers, comedic and
dramatic skits, and song and dance numbers.
 Popular Filipino performers such as Dolphy, Anita Linda,
and sarswela legend Atang de la Rama got their start in
bodabil. It has since died out with the rise of cinema, but its
influence can still be felt in television variety shows.
 5. Theaters
F. Sarswela
 is a type of melodrama, usually in three acts, that uses
alternately spoken and sung words.
 It was the Spanish influence that started the sarswela, but it
was also this colonization that led Filipinos to incorporate
nationalistic overtones in the art.
 This resulted in the arrest of several prominent writers
such as Aurelio Tolentino and Pascual Poblete, and
eventually, the shutdown of sarswela companies during the
American occupation.
6. Films
A. Oro, Plata, Mata
 is a dramatic war film.
 The film took place in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation
and starred Manny Ojeda, Liza Lorena, and Sandy Andolong.
 The film tells the story of two wealthy families who struggle to
survive during the occupation. The story follows the families’
emotional trauma as the war progresses and they are touched with
violence and loss.
6. Films
B. Himala
 is a drama film. Set in a poor Filipino village, it starred Nora
Aunor, Veronica Palileo, and Spanky Manikan.
 The film tells the story of Elsa, a Filipina villager who
claims she has been visited by the Virgin Mary. The visit
changed her life as she now seems to have special healing
powers. Her newfound talent begins to cause hysteria in her
small village.
 6. Films
C. From What is Before
 is a film set in the Philippines in 1972.
 The drama, From What is Before starred Perry Dizon,
Roeder, and Hazel Orencio.
 The film tells the story of mysterious happenings in a
remote village which result in Ferdinand E. Marcos
implementing Proclamation No. 1081, that placed the
Philippines under Martial Law.
 The movie delved on the difficulties of the village people as
they dealt with the new proclamation.
6. Films
D. Hello, Love, Goodbye
 is a romantic drama movie. Hello, Love, Goodbye starred
Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, and Maymay Entrata
 tells the story of Joy and Ethan, two Filipino workers based
in Hong Kong. Ethan has his heart set on pursuing Joy,
despite her plans to move to Canada to provide for her
family.
 As their budding romance continued to grow, it was clear
that the two will change each other’s lives forever.
6. Films
E. Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?
 is a film that starred Christopher De Leon, Gloria Diaz, and
Eddie Garcia and was set during the Filipino revolution
against the Spaniards and later against the American
colonists.
 The film tells the story of an idealistic peasant and his
journey to discover the Filipino identity and became part of
a community which he imagined to embody it.
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
A. The Itik-Itik.
 Is the best description that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as
well as the way it splashes water on its back to attract a mate.
 According to popular tradition, the dance was created by a lady
named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dancing at a
baptismal party.
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
B. Tinikling
 is considered by many to be the Philippines' national dance.
 The movements imitate the gesture of the tikling bird as it walks
around tall grass and between tree branches. People perform the
dance using bamboo poles.
 The dance is composed of three basic steps which include singles,
doubles and hops.
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
C. The Sayaw sa Bangko
 is performed on top of a narrow bench.
 Dancers need good balance as they go through a series of
movements that include some impressive acrobatics.
 This dance traces its roots back to the areas of Pangapisan,
Lingayen in Pangasinan.
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
D. The Pandanggo sa Ilaw
 is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the Pandanggo is
performed while balancing three oil lamps, one lamp is
placed over the head, and the other two lamps on each
hand.
 It is a lively dance that originated in Lubang Island. The
music is in a 3/4 time beat and is usually accompanied by
castanets.
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
E. Maglalatik
 is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a
highly prized food.
 The dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the battle
and two devoted to reconciling.
 The men of the dance wear coconut shells as part of their
costumes, and they slap them in rhythm with the music.
 The Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession during the
fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the
Patron Saint of farmers
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
F. Cariñosa
 is a dance made for flirting.
 Dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as they
hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and peek out at one
another.
 The essence of the dance is the courtship between two
sweethearts.
7. Dance
Some of the Most Popular Dances from the Region:
G. Pantomina
 is also known as the “Dance of the Doves”.
 This dance mimics the courtship between doves and at the
same time, a courtship between two lovers.
 Activities
Directions: Read the following statements carefully. Identify what is
being referred in each statement.
_________1. This is an art of stitching ornaments on cloth by hand where
Lumban, Laguna is known for.
_________2. It’s where Badjaos and Sama Laut typically reside.
_________3. This refers to the process of creating cloth by interweaving a
series of parallel vertical threads at right angles.
_________4. Higante from Angano, Parol, Pastillas wrappings are examples
of this form of visual art.
_________5. It is a typical two-story house that has a ground floor made of
brick or stone and has a wooden upper level.
Activities
_________6. This music is a signature love song of the Philippines.
_________7. It is a vocal and instrumental compositions that go
together with the official rites of Christian churches.
_________8. This novel sparked the social awakening of Filipinos
during the Spanish colonial era.
_________9. This has been dubbed the ‘bible of the Filipino working
class.”
_________10. This is the dramatization of the life and death of Jesus
Christ and is usually presented as a community activity during the
Lenten season.
Answer the following questions.

1.What are the seven major Philippines Art

Forms? Give an example of each form.

2. Can you name an example of art for each art

form that has become part of your own culture?
Give at least five examples.
Directions: Read the following statements carefully. Identify what is
being referred in each statement.

_________1. This refers to the process of creating cloth by interweaving a

series of parallel vertical threads at right angles.
_________2. This music is a signature love song of the Philippines.
_________3. It is a vocal and instrumental compositions that go together
with the official rites of Christian churches.
_________4. Higante from Angano, Parol, Pastillas wrappings are
examples of this form of visual art.
_________5. This novel sparked the social awakening of Filipinos during
the Spanish colonial era.
Directions: Read the following statements carefully. Identify what is
being referred in each statement.

_________6. It’s where Badjaos and Sama Laut typically reside.

_________7. This has been dubbed the ‘bible of the Filipino working
class.”
_________8. This is the dramatization of the life and death of Jesus
Christ and is usually presented as a community activity during the Lenten
season.
_________9. This is an art of stitching ornaments on cloth by hand where
Lumban, Laguna is known for.
_________10. It is a typical two-story house that has a ground floor
made of brick or stone and has a wooden upper level.
Answer Key
Activity 1
1. Embroidery
2. Houseboat
3. Textile Weaving
4. Paper Art
5. Bahay na Bato
6. Kundiman
7. Liturgical Music
8. Noli Me Tanger
9. Banaag at Sikat
10.Senakulo
Answer Key
Activity 3
1. Textile Weaving
2. Kundiman
3. Liturgical Music
4. Paper Art
5. Noli Me Tangere
6. Houseboat
7. Banaag at Sikat
8. Senakulo
9. Embroidery
10. Bahay na Bato