Contemporary Philippine Arts

from the Regions

Lesson 1
6 ART FORMS
Visual Arts Literature Music

Dance Architecture Film

The Visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture,
ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture.

THE HIGANTES OF ANGONO

The “Higantes” is a sculpture made of paper-mache. This paper-mache, in our native

town in Paete, Laguna calls it “taka.”

The “Higantes” represents “mag-anak” (family) in the Filipino culture; a father, a

mother, and the children.

The “Higantes” is one of the main attraction in the annual festival in Angono, Rizal in
honor of St. Clement, patron saint of the fisher folks held every 23rd of November.

Sculpture as defined and as practiced in the Philippine Contemporary arts made use
of different materials like the variety of woods, metals, and stones

THE MANUNGGUL Jar

The Manunggul Jar is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest Philippine pre-
colonial artworks ever produced and is considered a masterpiece of Philippine
ceramics.

The two prominent figures at the top handle of its cover represent the journey of the
soul to the afterlife.
THE BOHOL BLOOD COMPACT

THE BOHOL BLOOD COMPACT SCULPTURE was made by the National Artist,
Napoleon Abueva, a Boholano himself.

It was a treaty of friendship based on respect and equality.

This event is commonly known as “Sandugo”.

This particular site was made in honor of a very important event in the Philippine
history done between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi of Spain and Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol.

Painting is the practice of applying pigment suspended in a carrier (or medium) and a
binding agent (a glue) to a surface (support) such as paper, canvass, or wall.

In the history of painting in the Philippines, Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto was one of
the most important artists.

Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes.

He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light, source

“Bayanihan” is a masterpiece of Carlos “Botong” Francisco. It depicted the

resilience of the Filipino people in times of need, adversity, and disaster. It showed the
true character of the Philippine folks as a distinct human race.

A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other
permanent surfaces.

Decorative arts are arts or crafts whose object is the design and manufacture of
objects that are both beautiful and functional.

Cloth weaving is the one of the most valuable living traditions that are still preserved
until this day

T'nalak, a deep brown abaca-based cloth tie-dyed with intricate designs. T'nalak, is a
weaving tradition of the T'boli people of South Cotabato, Philippines.

The “tsalet” is a type of house developed in the early 2oth century designed with a
front porch made of wood and concrete

Literature is any body or collection of written work.

Spoken word is a poetic performance art that is word-based. It is an oral art that
focuses on the aesthetics of word play such as intonation and voice inflection.
Alternative music is type of music sprouted out of protest that later on included
themes like Filipino values, political and environmental concerns, and other societal
themes.

Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers,
typically actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event
before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage.

Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated during the Spanish
colonial era

Cariñosa is a Philippine dance of colonial era origin from the Maria Clara suite of
Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it
places the couple in romance scenario.

Lesson 2
The Development of Philippine Art comes in three major traditions. These are the
Ethnic Tradition, Spanish Colonial Tradition, and the American Colonial
Tradition

Belenismo sa Tarlac: The Art of Making Belen

The Tarlaqueños are encouraged to make Belens from indigenous and recyclable
materials that are native only to Tarlac

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

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.

The first Giant Lantern Festival was to honor the current Philippine President, Manuel
L. Quezon.

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.

Catholic Church of Baler is remembered as the last pocket of resistance of the

Spanish Armed forces to surrender to the American Troops.
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
Wave). The place became the temporary resettlement which was called
“Kinagunasan” meaning “devastated”.

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.

Other term for Mango Festival is Dinamulag Festival

The Dinamulag Festival lasts for at least 4-5 days

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.

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)

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

Mt. Samat of Bataan

Mount Samat National Shrine or Shrine of Valor was built to honor and remember
the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought during World War II.

The Memorial Cross stands as remembrance to the soldiers who fought and lost their
lives in the Battle of Bataan.
Lesson 3

Contemporary Philippine arts from the regions refer to arts made and produced by
Filipino artists coming from the different regios in the Philippines during the late 20th
and early 21st centuries.

Traditional art in the Philippines is an art that is part of the culture of a group of
people, skills and knowledge of which are passed down through generations from
master craftsmen to apprentices.

NCCA - National Commission for Culture

and the Arts

CCP - Cultural Center of the Philippines

Notable Filipino Artists in the Field of Music

Antonino R. Buenaventura
National Artist for Music (1988)

He wrote songs and musical arrangement based on the folk songs

of different
ethnic groups in the country.

Some of the outstanding work that he wrote are the popular

Pandanggo sa Ilaw (1936), “Echoes from the Philippines,”
Varations and Fugere, Greetings, and many others.

José Montserrat Maceda

National Artist for Music (1997)

He conducted researches and fieldworks on traditional music which

resulted in his wide array of recorded music from different parts of
the country.

Maceda‟s compositions, usually performed as a communal ritual, like

Ugma-ugma
(1963), and Udlot-udlot (1975) are monuments to his unflagging
commitment to Philippine music. Other major works include Agungan, Kubling,
Pagsamba, Ading, Siasid, Suling-suling.

Lucrecia R. Kasilag
National Artist for Music (1989)

Lucrecia R. Kasilag reinforces the Filipino‟s appreciation to music by

fusing Western influences to Philippine ethnic music.

She integrated ethnic instruments in her orchestral productions like

“Toccata for Percussions and Winds, Divertisements and
Concertante,” Filiasiana, De Profundis, and Misang Pilipino.

Ernani J. Cuenco
National Artist for Music (1999)

He wrote an outstanding and memorable body works that

resonate with the
Filipino sense of musicality and which embody an ingenious voice
that raises the
aesthetic dimensions of contemporary Filipino music.

Many of his songs etched a mark in the hearts of the Filipinos

due to his style of incorporating Kundiman elements in his
ballad love songs.

His songwriting credits include “Nahan, Kahit na Magtiis”, and “Diligin Mo ng

Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa”, “Pilipinas”, “Inang Bayan”, “Isang Dalangin”,
“Kalesa”, “Bato sa Buhangin”, and “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal”.

Lucio San Pedro

National Artist for Music (1991)

Lucio San Pedro is a master composer known for creatively using

folk idioms in his musical compositions

Some of his famous songs include Lulay; choral compositions

include Eastern Cantata, Sa Mahal Kong Bayan; orchestral
works include The Devils Bridge, Malakas at Maganda Overture,
Hope and Ambition; and band musical compositions include
Dance of Fairies, and Lahing Kaumanggi.
 Antonio J. Molina
National Artist for Music (1973)

He innovated the Philippine music in his time by using folk

instruments like the kulintangan and gabbang.

He composed more than 300 works and two-thirds of which used

traditional music.

His works involve orchestral music like Ang Batingaw Choral

Symphony, Kundiman-Kundangan, The Living World etc.

Francisco Feliciano
National Artist for Music (2014)

His lifetime conscientiousness in bringing out the “Asianness” in

his music, whether as a composer, conductor, or educator,
contributed to bringing the awareness of people all over the world to
view the Asian culture as a rich source of inspiration and a
celebration of our ethnicity, particularly the Philippines.

He brought out the unique sounds of our indigenous music in compositions that have
high technical demands equal to the compositions of masters in the western world

Levi Celerio
National Artist for Music and Literature (1997)

Levi Celerio started playing the violin when he was 11 years old.

He composed an estimate of 4,000 musical works.

Among Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs he composed are

"Ikaw", "Kahit
Konting Pagtingin", "Saan Ka Man Naroroon?". He wrote the
lyrics of the famous
Filipino lullabye Sa Ugoy ng Duyan . He also composed folk songs including "Ako
ay May Singsing", "Ang Pipit", "Dungawin Mo Hirang", "Itik-Itik", "Pitong
Gatang", and "Waray-Waray". "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan".

"Ang Pasko ay Sumapit", officially title "Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong

Taon" is an example of a well-known Christmas song by Celerio.
 Ramon Pagayon Santos
National Artist for Music (2014)

He combined Philippine indigenous instruments and vocals to

orchestral instruments
and other instruments from foreign nations like Javanese
gamelan.

He also composed works that interweaved Asian culture, drama,

poetry, and dance like his Sandiwaan, Daragang Magayon, Ta-O,
Awit ni Pulau, etc. Moreover, included
in his popular unique compositions is the Kulintang.

Jovita Fuentes
National Artist for Music (1976)

Jovita Fuentes„ portrayal of Cio-cio san in Giacomo Puccini‟s

Madame
Butterfly at Italy‟s Teatro Municipale di Piacenza.

Her performance was hailed as the “most sublime

interpretation of the part”.

Felipe Padilla de Leon

National Artist for Music (1997)

He Filipinized western music forms, a feat aspired by Filipino composers

who
preceded him.

Andrea Veneracion
National Artist for Music (1999)

Andrea Veneracion, is highly esteemed for her achievements as

choirmaster and
choral arranger.

Two of her indispensable contributions in culture and the arts include the founding of
the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the spearheading of
the development of Philippine choral music.
 Notable Filipino Artists in the Field of Dance

Francisca Reyes-Aquino
National Artist for Dance (1973)

Francisca Reyes Aquino is acknowledged as the Folk Dance

Pioneer.

Her research on the unrecorded forms of local celebration, ritual and

sport resulted into a 1926 thesis titled “Philippine Folk Dances
and Games,” and arranged specifically for use by teachers and
playground instructors in public and private schools.

She served as supervisor of physical education at the Bureau of

Education that distributed her work and adapted the teaching of folk dancing as
a medium of making young Filipinos aware of their cultural heritage.

Ramon Arevalo Obusan

National Artist for Dance (2006)

Ramon Obusan was a dancer, choreographer, stage designer and

artistic director.

He achieved phenomenal success in Philippine dance and cultural

work.

He was also acknowledged as a researcher, archivist and documentary filmmaker who

broadened and deepened the Filipino understanding of his own
cultural life and expressions.

Alice Garcia Reyes

National Artist for Dance (2014)

Alice Reyes major and most significant contribution in the

Philippine dance is the
development of unique Filipino modern dance idiom.

She creatively interweaved Philippine ethnic dance, modern dance,

and ballet producing a one of a kind contemporary dance routine.

She popularized contemporary dance in the Philippines through her concerts, tours,
outreach works, and lecturedemonstrations in schools.
 Leonor Orosa Goquingco
National Artist for Dance

Dubbed as the “Trailblazer”, “Mother of Philippine Theater

Dance”
and “Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics”, Leonor Orosa
Goquingco, pioneer Filipino choreographer in balletic folkloric and
Asian styles, produced for over 50 years highly original, first-of-a-
kind choreographies, mostly
to her own storylines.

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula
National Artist for Dance (1988)

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula studied the country‟s folk and ethnic dances for four decades
and developed ethnic choreographies applying her findings.

She was the dance director of Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company for three decades
who choreographed various dances for the group.

Notable Filipino Artists in the Field of Theater

Daisy H. Avellana
National Artist for Theater (1999)

Daisy Avellana was the so-called First Lady of the Philippine

Theater because of her magnificent performances in classic
Filipino and international theater productions and plays.

She also popularized the Philippine theater and dramatic arts by

founding the Barangay Theater Guild with her husband, National Artist Lamberto
Avellana.

Rolando S. Tinio
National Artist for Theater and Literature (1997)

Rolando S. Tinio, a playwright, thespian, poet, teacher, critic, and

translator
marked his career with prolific artistic productions.
 Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
National Artist for Theater (1997)

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero is a teacher and theater artist whose 35 years

of devoted
professorship has produced the most sterling luminaries in Philippine
performing
arts today: Behn Cervantes, Celia Diaz-Laurel, Joy Virata, Joonee
Gamboa, etc.

He was appointed as UP Dramatic Club director and served for 16 years

Honorata “Atang” Dela Rama

National Artist for Theater and Music (1987)

Honorata “Atang” Dela Rama was formally honored as the Queen

of Kundiman in 1979, then already 74 years old singing the same
song (“Nabasag na Banga”) that she as a 15-year old girl in the
sarswela Dalagang Bukid.

Atang became the very first actress in the very first locally
produced Filipino film when she essayed the same role in the
sarsuela‟s film version.

Salvador Floro Bernal

National Artist for Theater and Design (2003)

Salvador F. Bernal designed more than 300 productions

distinguished for their originality since 1969.

Severino Montano
National Artist for Theater (2001)

Hailed as the “Titan of the Philippine Theater”

Severino Montano took the lead in promoting “legitimate theater” in

the country.
 Notable Filipino Artists in the Field of Visual Arts

Fernando Amorsolo declared as the first National Artist in Painting

in 1972 and the so-called "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art", was
born in Paco, Manila.

Lighting is the most prominent element of Amorsolo’s painting.

His significant works are Planting Rice, Dalagang Bukid, The

Mestiza, and Maiden in a Stream, among others.

Hernando Ruiz Ocampo was a Filipino artist best known for his abstract
paintings.

He is one of the Thirteen Moderns, who paved the way to art modernism
in the Philippines.

His works proved that abstract and non-traditional style of painting can
also result to nationalistic art.

Benedicto Cabrera, popularly known as BenCab, is an awardwinning

painter and printmaker who was tagged as a master of the Philippine
contemporary art.

The most popular subject of his painting was “Sabel”, the woman
scavenger roaming the streets of his hometown when he was young.

Carlos “Botong” Francisco was a muralist from Angono, Rizal.

For nearly three decades, Francisco painted murals showing the
historical past of the Philippines.

Most of his subjects depict the life in his hometown and highlight
the lives of the farmers and the fishermen.
 Cesar Legaspi is one of the Thirteen Moderns, who promoted modern
arts in the country.

He was a neo-realist whose important contribution to modern art was

his refinement of cubism in the Philippine context. He indigenized
cubism and produced artworks showing local temperament.

Abdulmaria Asia Imao is a visual artist from Sulu, who articulated

the Muslim culture and art in the country.

He preserved and promoted the Philippine indigenous art through the

use of ethnic
themes like the ukkil, sarimanok, and naga in his paintings and
sculptures.

Guillermo Tolentino was the master sculptor who introduced

classical sculpture in the country.

He was known for creating monuments and bust figures of

Philippine heroes like Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal and
Philippine presidents like Manuel Quezon and Ramon Magsaysay.

He was the one who created the UP Oblation, which became the
representation of the academic freedom of the university.

Vicente Manansala was a cubist painter who painted with a wide

range of subject matters from the happy and bountiful rural to
poverty-stricken urban set ups. Manansala contributed in the
modernism of Philippine visual arts by his style of transparent
cubism.

Ang Kiukok was known for his highly expressionistic works

containing powerful meaning. Ang‟s, anguish, and anger are the
glaring emotions contained in his cubistic works as these were
created in the time of Martial Law.
 Napoleon Abueva is the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture,
who made use of wide range of materials in his works like different
types of hardwood, stones, and metals.

He was also the sculptor who started the trend in mixing different
materials, like metal and stone, in making sculptures.

Tagged as “Dean of Filipino Illustrators”, Francisco Coching was

popular for his komiks drawings.

The significant features of Coching‟s work were their fluid drawings

and dramatic
storyline. Fantasy, love and adventure were the usual themes of his
works drawing inspiration from awit and korido.

His works illustrated gallant men and beautiful ladies and the victory
of good over evil.