The Evolution of

Philippine Art
Pre- Colonial Arts
These are reflections by
which the natives of these
islands have expressed their
culture and civilization. These
are proofs that the earliest
inhabitants of these islands
were learned peoples even
before the coming of the
Spaniards.
 01
Literature
Our pre-colonial, ethnic literature
is a rich repository of ideals and
cultural practices evident in folk
speeches, folk songs, folk
narratives and indigenous rituals
as well as dances that show our
ties with our Southeast Asian
neighbors.
 02
Folk Speeches
Our pre-colonial, ethnic literature is
a rich repository of ideals and
cultural practices evident in folk
speeches, folk songs, folk
narratives and indigenous rituals as
well as dances that show our ties
with our Southeast Asian
neighbors.
03
Proverbs or
Aphorisms
These encapsulate the rules of conduct
and community beliefs which instill
values though short verses with rhyme
that is full of wisdom. Such is the
tanaga, which has insights and lessons
on life according to life experiences.
From Panay are the basahanon,
daraida from Bukidnon and daragilon
from Panay.
04
Folk Song
This is a folk lyric expressing the relationships,
lessons about aspirations of people in the community.
Often, they are repetitive, sonorous, didactic as well
as naive. O exemplify are children's songs from
Maguindanao known as the Ida-ida, tulang pambata
from the Tagalog region and cansiones para abbing
from among the Ibanag, the lullabyes or Ili-ili from
Iloilo, harana or serenade from Cebu and the ambahan
among the Mangyans.
05
Folk
Narratives
These are epics and folk tales such as
legends which explains the origin of the
world, places, animals and other
creations. Fables are narratives about the
origin of animals relating lessons or
morals such as the Monkey and the Turtle
which is about the slow-moving but
quick-witted turtle which has outwitted
the quick but dull-witted monkey
Visual
Visual Art Pottery
This is one of the most ancient arts during the
pre-colonial Philippines. The Manunggul Jar
which was excavated in Palawan during the
8th century BC and reflects a high degree of
artistry. This huge burial jar has a cover with
two men rowing a boat revealing belief in the
afterlife. Its design is geometric with nature
motifs
 Weaving
It evolved from the pre-colonial communities
and has been a traditional source of living
Communities from the Cordillera of the north
are well-known for this art. They produce
textiles and blankets with a backstrap loom
for daily needs as well as for use in their rituals
and religious rites.
 Sculpture
Carving in the Cordilleras focus on the Anito
figures called the bulul, which they believe
has their ancestral spirits and gods. In the
south, the Maranao and Tausug have their
okir which are ornate curvilinear designs
carved in woods such as the sarimanok is a
bird painted in multi-color and the pako
rabong which is a fern with a broad base.
Jewerly Making
Pre-colonial dwellers adorn themselves with
highly intricate ornaments made of precious
metals such as gold. Communities from the
Cordillera have the ling-ling-o which signifies
fertility. The Tboli wear the most splendid
ornaments made of brass such as
multicolored beads for neckpieces, earrings,
bracelets and anklets.
 Dances
These are performed during special occasions
such as birth, baptism, circumcision, puberty rites,
courtship, weddings, during illness and death.
Tribal activities also require such art and include
hunting, fishing, rice planting, harvest time and
engagement in tribal wars. During these rituals a
mandadawak, bayok, catalonan or babaylan
enters a trance while the shaman offers sacrifices
Philippine Art:
Hispanic Conquest
Literature Religious poetry during Hispanic rule was either
Lyrics or Narratives. Ladinos or interpreters
translate Spanish verses into Tagalog and were

Poetry
used in Catechisms. An example was the poems
called Dalit which has no fixed rhyme scheme
and they are identifiable only by their solemn
tone and spiritual topic. The Pasyon on the other
hand is primarily a Religious narrative poetry
which recounts the suffering, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 Religious narrative prose consists of those
written to prescribe proper behavior. They
were channels for instruction in the Catholic

Prose
faith and for colonialization of the students in
all Catholic schools. An example of this is the
Manual de Urbanidad or conduct book
which contains prescriptions on social
propriety in the form of proverbs, maxims,
dialogues, and short illustrative tales of devout
behavior.
Visual Art
Sculpture and Architecture
These art forms were manifested through the building of churches in every town and plaza all
over the archipelago. It exhibited the combination of indigenous design and European classical
or baroque. This was evident in the stone carvings on the facade of the Miag-ao Church in
Iloilo. Silver ornaments found in the altars as well as for the Carrozas or floats which carried the
images of Santos in procession. Santos or holy statues are carved and crafted following
European aesthetic canons and church supervision. Santos are carved from wood by the
natives to embellish the interiors and exteriors of churches, houses, and other structures.
 Painting
The focus of painting during Spanish
rule were the religious icons, saints
and religious scenes were evident in
the stone walls and ceilings of the
churches, monasteries, schools,
chapels, 'conventos' or Friar
residences. Spolarium by Juan Luna
 Printing
This was done through the xylographic method using woodblocks and the
Spaniards have published the first book, the Doctrina Christiana en lengua
española y tagala (Christian Doctrine in the Spanish and Tagalog Languages), the
Doctrina christiana en letra y lengua China (The Christian Doctrine in the Chinese
Script and Language), and the Apologia por la Verdadera Religion (In Defense of
the True Religion) published by the Dominican order in 1593.
 American
Colonizatio
Literary Arts
The development of the free verse, modern short
story and the critical essay which were written in
English. As English became the medium in the
American run schools writer's consciousness were
highly cultivated. The arrival of the Americans
altered the course of Philippine literature. It's
influence was greatly carried out through the
educational system which imposed English as the
medium of instruction.
Filipino Novels
These were written in English and have
proliferated as literature was infused with
American pop culture. Realist tradition
was promoted by Lope K. Santos
through the 'Banaag at Sikat in 1906,
Francisco Laksamana's Anino ng
Kahapon, 1906 and Ilaw sa Hilaga in
1946.
 Essays
The entry of modernism provided an
alternative to the conventions. Essays as an
offshoot flourished which were formal,
informal and even humorous as promoted
by the likes of Carlos P. Romulo, Jorge
Bocobo etc. These essays embarked on the
social, political and economic realities of
those times.
Performing
Arts
 Theat
The American Colonial traditions highly influenced Philippine theater as seen in the 'Bodabil' which

er
was introduced in the 1920s from the U.S. Vaudeville is a comedy skit with songs and dances
showcasing anything that is pospular in America. Because of this Filipino performers as they imitate
the original become natural 'Americans. We were also exposed to the "legitimate" theater in the
schools for the upper classes. Such Western plays were the Shakespearean tragedies and comedies.
Later were the Broadway plays such as 'Annie' and "Evita.' Indeed the Bodabil and the Western plays
became very effective in Americanizing' the Filipinos. However, still there were Filipinos who used
these realities to create on playwrights hat focuses on the problems of the individual and the society.
 Visual Arts
The American colonial strategy was
implemented through the public school
system. In the visual arts illustrations
and cartoons for the American-
controlled textbooks and publications
became a necessity for distribution in
the public schools. Advertising and
commercial designs, landscapes
became in demand.
 Sculpture
In this art form Guillermo Tolentino who
earned his education from Rome and his
student Napoleon Abueva became
significantly prominent. They have
worked with a wide variety of materials
and techniques. His personal preference
is wood, mainly narra and molave. They
also worked with various types of metal-
brass, bronze, and aluminum.
 Painting
Modernism was introduced by Amorsolo
and Edades in this form of art, the first
Filipino painters who have captured
bright sparkling colors and the bursting
sunlight in their artworks. Most
paintings depict rural life of working
men and women, either farming or
fishing. Paintings were also utilized for
commercial purposes such as in
advertising and commercial products.
Japanese
Period
 Poetry
In poetry, the usual theme was
about love of country, rural life, HAIK
religion and arts. The most U
common were the Haiku which a
poem of free-verse. It is short but
covers a very meaning. Similar to
this is the Tanaga that is short but
with rhyme and measure. TANAG
A
 Short Story
This literary form became progressive
during the Japanese Occupation. Brigido
Batungbakal, Macario Pineda, Liwayway
Arceo, NVM Gonzales and Gloria Guzman
wrote the best short stories which gave rise
to Narciso Reyes' Lupang Tinubuan;
Liwayway Arceo's Uhaw and Tigang na
Lupa and NVM Gonzales' Lunsod, Nayon
at Dagat-Dagatan.
Performing
Arts
 The Drama
This experienced setbacks as most movie
houses showing American films became
venues for stage shows. Many of the plays
shown were reproductions of English plays
translated into Tagalog. It was during this
time that the 'Dramatic Philippines was
established by Francisco Soc Rodrigo,
Alberto Concio, and Narciso Pimentel.
 Music
Japanese music was imposed and
heard in radio broadcasts. These were
also taught in public schools despite
inattention of the Filipino students.
The Japanese government held
lectures on Oriental Music to allow
appreciation of Asian and not Western
Music
Visual
Arts
 Paintings
These art forms were used to produce materials for propaganda. Leaflets, flyers and
posters which were graphically designed to carrying propaganda slogans sending
messages pushing for cooperation between Japanese and Japan; the imposition of
Nihonggo and warding off American influences. These art works were dropped from
Japanese planes over Manila and the rest of the country. Meanwhile, several Filipino
artists clamored for independence and national identity. They focused on the subject
matter, content and form which gave rise to modern painting, especially with the rise of
Victorio C. Edades, Carlos V. Francisco also known as 'Botong Francisco' and Galo B.
Ocampo. Botong's Art was depicted through fluid lines and brilliant colors such as the
'First Mass at Limasawa' while Ocampo's 'Flagellants' which fused the figures of penitence
and Lent with images of the war.
 Sculpture
Luz and Eduardo Castrillo created large-scale
outdoor sculptures while others produced
abstract, minimalist and geometric sculptures.
Local materials were used such as burlap and
coconut shell. Abstractionists prominent during
the Japanese occupation are Nestor Vinluan and
Phyllis Zaballero, both works on figures which
had elements and colors that are symbolic and
of high emotions.