Various Art forms found in

the Philippines
Contemporary Philippine Arts
from the Regions
Q1 – LESSON 2
JOHN PAUL DS. DOMINGO
Teacher
Introduction
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.
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Introduction
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.

3
Introduction
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 nonconventional art. The
continuous progress of modernism led to the
development of contemporary arts.
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Introduction
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.
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Introduction
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.
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Introduction
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.
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Introduction
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 8
Introduction
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. 9
Introduction
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
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.

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Contemporary art
Artists experimented with different materials and
methodologies and produced non-conventional
artworks with a wide-range of themes.

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Contemporary art
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.
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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Contemporary art
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.
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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Contemporary art
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.
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.

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Contemporary art
Belenismo sa Tarlac:
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.
“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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Contemporary art
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.
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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Contemporary art
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 and slippers.

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Contemporary art
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.

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Contemporary art
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.
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.

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Contemporary art
Giant Lantern of Pampanga: 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.
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.

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Contemporary art
Giant Lantern of Pampanga: 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.
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.

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Contemporary art
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.
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.

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Contemporary art
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.
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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Contemporary art
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”.

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Contemporary art
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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Contemporary art
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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Contemporary art
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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Contemporary art
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. 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!

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Contemporary art
Mango Festival of Zambales
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. 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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Contemporary art
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! 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.

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Contemporary art
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. 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.

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Contemporary art
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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Contemporary art
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.

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Contemporary art
The Making of Pastillas de Leche wrapper of Bulacan
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. 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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Contemporary art
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.

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Contemporary art
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.

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Contemporary art
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.

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Contemporary art
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.

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Contemporary art
Mt. Samat of Bataan
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. 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.

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Contemporary art
Mt. Samat of Bataan
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.

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Thank you JOHN PAUL DS. DOMINGO
Teacher II
GVAHS – SHS Department

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