Art Appreciation

CHAPTER 4
FILIPINO ARTS AND CRAFTS

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will tell us why is it indigenous arts in the Philippines are considered to be labors of
love and patience. The intricate carvings on wood, metal, stone or glass are products of skillful hands
and imaginative minds of the different tribes of the archipelago. Indigenous musical instruments like the
flute, drums, rainsticks, native guitars, and bells made of bamboo, animal skin, seeds, and seashells.
The careful manipulation of these materials produces sounds and unique instruments used mostly in
tribaL, dances and rituals. Those are some of our local arts and crafts we should be proud of.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to:
• identify and understand the Pre-Colonial Art forms in the Archipelago;
• determine the common handicraft materials and the traditional handiwork in the Philippines; and
• discuss the role of the Philippine GAMABA Awards and the notable contributions of the awardees
in the society.

CONTENT

Like in any other country, art influenced the life of the Filipinos and the things that surround them.
The Philippine arts reflect a Filipino society with diverse cultural influences and traditions of the Malayan
peoples such as the Chinese and Indians. Islamic traditions were introduced to the Philippine Islands in
the 14th century.

Likewise, Europe and the United States intensely influenced Filipino artists. However, while
drawing on Western forms, the works of Filipino musicians, painters, and writers are imbued with distinctly
Philippine themes. By expressing the richness of the culture of the archipelago in all its diversity, Filipino
artists have helped in shaping a sense of national identity. Many Malay cultural traditions have continued
until this time despite foreign rule. Muslims and tribal groups maintained distinct traditions in dance,
music, and sculpture.

Indigenous arts in the Philippines are labors of love and patience. The intricate carvings on wood,
metal, stone or glass are products of skillful hands and imaginative minds of the different tribes of the
archipelago. Indigenous musical instruments like the flute, drums, rainsticks, native guitars, and bells
made of bamboo, animal skin, seeds, and seashells. The careful manipulation of these materials
produces sounds and unique instruments used mostly in tribal dances and rituals (Ramirez, 1999).

Pre-Colonial Art forms in the Archipelago

The arts in the Philippine archipelago had its past and continued to develop by numerous modern
artists. With their different context regarding history, style, cultural symbols, and meanings, these
artworks are portrayed (Estrella, 2017). The following are some known artforms in the Philippines:

Famous Indigenous Dances

1. Banog-banog. It is a dance that portrays hunters shielding in their chickens from the famishing
hawk.
2. BlitB’laan. It is a courtship dance of the Bilaan of Davao del Sur mimicking birds during mating
season. The females scurry to safety, burying their heads under their wings (using the malong), but
the aggressive males follow them wherever they go.

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3. Cañao. It is a ritual-dance performed during native feasts or celebrations in the highlands of the
Cordilleras in the Luzon area of the Philippines. It is a symbol of triumph or expectation for abundant
crops.
4. Inamong. It is an ethnic dance among Tigwahanon Manobos in the Province of Bukidnon and
performed during their harvest time. This type of dance shows a couple, with their bodies and arms
slightly bent forward, mimicking the movement of a pair of flirting among monkeys.
5. Kadal Iwas. It is a dance performed by the T-boli and Tausug tribes respectively which mimic a
mealtime of monkeys in removing nits and lice from each other. A variation of this dance is to
mimics a monkey who sits on an anthill by mistake and is attacked by angry ants all over his body.
6. Kinabua. It is ritual dance among the Mandaya tribes in Northern Mindanao. This type of dance
portrays the Hawks’ use of sweet songs to lure out the hen and the chicks that are made into a
meal.
7. Mamakar. It is a Bontoc War Dance performed during the planting season and a bountiful harvest.
8. Man-manok. It is a dance performed in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. This type of dance mimics fowls wherein
a tribal blankets that represent the colorful plumage of wild cocks are shown off by the warriors who
intend on winning the attention of the maiden hen.
9. Mayvanuvanua. It refers to a sacrificial rite performed at the beginning of the summer fishing
season among mataw fishers in Batanes Island. This type of dance is an act of invitation to capture
the fish dorado successfully.
10. Ngilin. It is a cultural dance performed among the Kalinga tribe during Marriage rituals and other
celebrations like the budong (peace pact). This type of dance is played to simulate the romantic or
peaceful interactions of a rooster and a hen.
11. Pangalay (also known as Sea Gypsies).It is a native dance of the Badjao performed during
weddings and other social gatherings. This type of dance emphasizes the agility of the upper body
wherein the rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with the simultaneous alternating waving of arms is
the essential movement.
12. Sampak. It is a war dance performed by the Mandaya tribe. This type of dance requires excellent
skill in the handling of a shield, spear, and a sword.
13. Saut. It is a ritual dance performed by a male Talaanding tribe presenting their expertise in style
and arts in fighting their opponent. This ritual dance is also an offering to their magbabaya (god).
14. Talip. It is a courtship dance among the Ifugao. This is performed during the celebration of the
intaneg (wedding). In this dance, the man traps a woman with an attractive blanket to place on her
shapely shoulders.

Famous Prayers and Rituals

1. Mumbaki. It is a local term which refers to the “sayer of prayers” among the Ifugaos in Northern
Luzon. These prayers are performed during funerals, wedding, Thanksgiving, and other
celebrations. This is offered to the supreme deity, Maknongan.
2. Kashawing. It is a ritual among the Maranaos and is performed to ensure a good harvest.
3. Pagtatawas. It is a divination ritual. It attempts to diagnose an affliction or psychological disorder
by interpreting shapes produced in water by heated molten wax droppings from a burning candle.
4. Palina. It is a cleansing ritual, locally known tu-ob in the islands of Negros and Panay. It is
performed in order to purify a person of disease or illness, to cleanse oneself after visiting a
cemetery, and to promote short and smooth childbirth
5. Pangalap. It is a remarkable ritual in which believers crawl through Catilaran Cave as they chant
various prayers. This ritual is believed to give devotees supernatural powers that help protect them
against bad spirits.
6. Pagdiwata. It refers to a ritual performed among the ethnic group in the north and central Palawan.
The ceremony is held on various occasions including bountiful harvests and weddings.

Famous Indigenous Musical Instruments in the Philippines

Aerophones. It refers to any musical instrument which produces sound without the use of strings or
membranes.

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Examples of these are as follows:
1. Baliing- Nose flutes of the Apayao
2. Bansik - Bamboo flute of the Negrito
3. Kaleleng- a Long bamboo tube of the Bontoc
4. Bulungudyong -Vertical & long flute of the B'laan
5. Kalaleng - Bamboo flute of the Tinggian
6. Lantoy– Nose flute of the Mangyan
7. Palandag (Palendag) – Lip-valley flute of the Bagobo
8. Paldong and Tongali – Lip valley flutes of the Kalinga
9. Pulalo – Lip valley flute of the Mansaka
10. Sahunay - Pipe with reed (clarinet) of the Tausog

Chordophones. It refers to any musical instrument which

makes sound by way of trembling strings stretched between two
points.
Examples of these are as follows:
1. Faglong – Two-stringed, lute-like instrument of the
B'laan
2. Kolitong – Bamboo guitar of the Kalingga
3. Kudlong - Two stringed boat lute of the Bagobo
4. Kudyapi -Two stringed boat lute of the Maranao
5. Kulit-en – Guitar of the Tinggian
6. Pas-ing – Guitar of the Apayao
7. Serongagandi – a Decorated bamboo tube of the Maranao
8. Saludoy –Bamboo guitar of the T’boli

Idiophone. It refers to any musical instrument which produced sound primarily by way of the instrument's
vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes.

1. Afiw –Jaw Harp of the Bontoc

2. Agung - Bossed gong of the Maranao
3. Balingbing – Bamboo buzzer of the Kalingga
4. Bangibang – Percussion bar of the Ifugao
5. Gabbang – Bamboo xylophone of the Tausog
6. Kinaban – Jaw Harp of the Hanunoo
7. Kubing –Jaw Harp of the Ata and Maranao
8. Kulintang - Metal xylophone of the Maranao
9. Kumbing – Jaw Harp of the Manobo
10. Palipal – Bamboo clapper of the Ifugao
11. Tagutok – Decorated bamboo scraper of the Maranao
12. Tanggunggu – Gong chime of the Kalagan, B'laan, Manuvu, Bagobo
13. Tongkaling - Pellet bells or crotal bells of the B’laan

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Membranophone. It refers to any musical instrument which produces sound by way of a vibrating
stretched membrane.
Most membranophones are drums, such as:
1. Dabakan - Glass shaped drum of the Maranao
2. Gandang – Double headed cylindrical drum of the Maranao
3. Libbit – Conical drum of the Ifugao
4. Sulibao – Conical drum of the Ibaloy

Importance of Philippine Artistic Handicrafts

The Philippines is abundant in natural resources that scattered

throughout its islands. Filipino artist used the parts of trees, plants, and other natural resources as the
raw materials and turned them into simple, yet useful tools or instruments. This type of work is called
Artistic Handicrafts (sometimes called artisanry). Although this type of art changes from time to time it is
still imperative to continue and is preserve due to the following reasons:
1. It represents and promotes our cultural legacy and traditions through the use of indigenous
materials.
2. It shows and preserves an individual's traditional knowledge, creativity and superior ingenuity.
3. It is the expression of our history as a Filipino people.
4. It encourages producers to produce more raw materials.
5. It generates employment.
6. It develops values of perseverance and resiliency.

Common Handicraft Materials

Every Filipino family owns handicraft products like baskets, brooms, feather dusters, and other furniture.
Likewise, accessories like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other clothing apparel made from native
products such as beads, shells, and seeds. These are clear indications that our handicraft industry is
enjoying the patronage of Filipinos.

Filipino handicraft makers fashion them into accessories, bags, bamboo sofa sets, baskets, cabinets,
clothes, lamp shades, wall décor, and others. The following are the typical materials needed in the making
of Filipino handicrafts:

a. Abaca (Musa Textilis) - It is a tree-like herb resembling the banana plant. It is durable and
dyed in different colors.
b. Bamboo (Bambusa Spinosa) - It is for the furniture industry because of its strength and
durability. It is also valuable material for basket and hat making.
c. Buri (Corypha Elata)- It is a palm from which three kinds of fibers, namely buri, raffia, and
until, are taken. It can be dyed merely and woven into many shapes. The buri leaf is the most
flexible material used for making hats, boxes and other novelty items.
d. Caragumoy (Pandanus Simplex) - It is greenish grey as it dries and is used traditionally in
making bags, baskets, hats, and mats.
e. Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) - It is the most utilized palm in the Philippines. Its cocomidrib is
used primarily as handicraft material for the production of baskets, and brooms (tingting). The
coco shells are used for manufacturing articles such as buttons, coin banks, lamp shades, pins,
and others.
f. Kalas- It is a by-product of the buri palm. Locally, the term "kalas" (which means “to loosen")
refers to the loosened strands of a buri rope. It creates an unusual, rustic pattern with distinct
characteristics from its original material when artistically woven.
g. Leather- It is a material created through the tanning of skins of animals like carabaos, horses,
snakes, alligators, goats, lizards, and others.
h. Pandan-Dagat (Pandanus Tectorius) - It is a variety of screw pine abundantly distributed
along sandy beaches and coastal brushes in the Philippines.
i. Seagrass (Rhynchospora Corymbosa) – It is a type of grass in shallow salty and brackish
waters. The stems are distinctly triangular, and the leaves are broad and long.
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j. Rattan (Calamus Maximus)– it is the most flexible used in the manufacturing industry and
been known to extend up to hundreds of meters long.

Traditional Handiwork in the Philippines

The following are some handicrafts in the different regions of the Philippines:

1. Jewelry (Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Mindanao Regions). This handicraft is mostly
in Central Luzon region, mainly from the province of Bulacan. You can also find related of this
from Mindanao regions, but down south, you can even get powerful brass amulets and other
accessories.
2. Metal Craft (Southern Luzon and Mindanao Regions). This type of handicraft is in Southern
Luzon region, particularly in the province of Batangas. A very popular metal craft which is locally
and internationally as an excellent source for a portable knife is called Balisong. Traditional
weapons made from brass, bronze, and gold, are also abundant in the island of Mindanao.
3. Pots and Jars (Ilocos Region). The best potteries (known as burnay) are made in San Nicolas,
Ilocos Norte. These creations are made from Grade A clay through a method that has been
practiced by locals since the pre-colonial times.
4. Woven fabrics (Mindanao and Cordilleras of northern Luzon Regions). These fabrics are
woven traditionally, by interlacing threads using a manual machine called a loom. One of the
common materials in this region is called malong which is historically used as a skirt and
sometimes as a blanket.
5. Wood Carvings (Cordillera and Southern Luzon Regions). Fantastic wood carvings produced
by the Ifugao in the northern region of the Cordilleras. Often, these wood carvings are depicting
their indigenous gods. Excellent kitchenware like wooden bowls and utensils are in this region.

Philippine GAMABA Awards

Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan Awards or GAMABA is an award that recognizes folk and
indigenous artists who remain loyal to their traditions. This award is managed by the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through Gawad ng Bayan Committee. It began as a project of the
Philippine Rotary Club Makati- Ayala but was adopted by the Philippine government in 1992 and become
an institution through a Republic Act 7335.

This award aims to support and motivate these artists to preserve their artistic heritage for the
present and future generations. These artists are recognized as the Country’s Intangible National Living
Treasure.

To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must have the following qualifications:

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1. Must be an occupant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community anywhere in the Philippines
that has preserved native customs, beliefs, rituals, and traditions and has syncretized whatever
external elements that have influenced it.
2. Must have involved in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and documented for at least
50 years.
3. Must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of superior and
distinctive quality.
4. Must acquire a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must have an established
reputation in the art as master and maker of works of extraordinary technical quality.
5. Must pass on and will pass on to other members of the community their talents in the folk art for
which their group is traditionally known.

GAMABA Awardees and Nominees

1. Ginaw Bilog (1993). A native of Oriental Mindoro who faithfully helped preserved the Hanunuo
Mangyan script and their Ambahan poetry.
2. Masino Intaray (1993). A native of Palawan whom exemplary shared his skills in basal or gong
music ensemble. He is a musician and epic chanter (Kulilal and Bagit).
3. Samaon Sulaiman (1993). A Maguindanao of Mama SaPano who showed outstanding artistry
and dedication to his chosen instrument, the Maguindanao kutyapi.
4. Lang Dulay (1998). A T'boli of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, for her skills in weaving the abaca
ikat cloth known as t'nalak.
5. Salinta Monon (1998). A Tagabawa-Bagobo of Bansalan, Davao del Sur for fully demonstrating
her creative and expressive aspects of the Bagobo abaca ikat weaving called inabal.
6. Alonzo Saclag (2000). A Kalinga of Lubuagan for his mastery of the Kalinga dance and the
performing arts.
7. Frederico Caballero (2000). A Panay-Bukidnon of Calinog, lloilo for his mastery of chanting the
epic tradition of Central Panay, the Sugidanon.
8. Uwang Ahadas (2000). A Yakan of Lamitan, Basilan for his dexterity in playing Yakan musical
instruments such as the agung, gabbang, tuntungan, and kwintangan.
9. Darhata Sawabi, (2004). A weaver of Parang, Sulu province for helping preserve the art of “Pis
syabit weaving.”
10. Eduardo Mutuc (2004). A Kapampangan from Central Luzon for reviving the metal or smithcraft
of plateria.
11. Haja Amina Appi (2004). A Sama of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, for sharing her skills in mat weaving
among the Sama indigenous community.
12. Teofilo Garcia (2012). A local of San Quintin, Abra, he makes the traditional hat called tabungaw,
the same name of the main material used, the bottle gourd (upo in Tagalog).
13. Magdalena Gamayo (2012). A master weaver of Pinili, Ilocos Norte for her skill in weaving the
Ilocano textile known as Inabel.
14. Yabing Masalon Dulo (2016). A master weaver of Polomolok, South Cotabato for his contribution
Ikat Weaving.
15. Ambalang Ausalin (2016). A Yakan master weaver of Lamitan, Basilan for Tennun Weaving
skills.
16. Estelita Tumandan Bantilan (2016). A B’laan master weaver of Malapatan, Sarangani for
preserving the Igem Weaving skills.
17. Whang-Od (2017). A traditional tattoo artist (mambabatok) of Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga.

Other famous Filipino Artists and their Artwork

1. Ang Kiukok (Painting: The Crucifixion)

2. Diosdado Lorenzo (Painting: Still Life Paintings)
3. Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (Painting: Portrait of Presidents- M.Quezon; M. Roxas; and S.
Ozmeña)
4. Guillermo Tolentino (Sculpture: Oblation and the Bonifacio Monument)
5. Hernando Ocampo (Painting: The Contrast)
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6. Juan Luna (Painting: Spoliarium)
7. Napoleon Abueva (Sculpture: Allegorical Harpoon)
8. Solomon Saprid ( Sculpture: Tikbalang)
9. Victorio Edades (Painting: The Builders)
10. Vicente Rivera (Painting: Supplication)

REFERENCES

Sanchez, C.A. et al (2012), Introduction to the Humanities, Rex Book Store

Ernesto Thaddeus M. Solmerano, Art Appreciation, First Edition, Copyright 2019
SBCTC & Lumen Learning. (n.d.) Art Appreciation. Retrieved Last March 18,2021 from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/masteryart1/

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