Contemporary Arts

Report
Contemporary Artists in the Philippines
By Angelito S. Dichosa Jr.
Introduction to Contemporary Arts
in the Philippines
Art has been a staple thing in our world since the dawn of time. Art truly
flourished during the Renaissance period, artists such as Michelangelo,
Da Vinci, Donatello, etc. embossed art into the world. Art has evolved
since then from the Renaissance to Neoclassicism period, to the
Romanticism period, to Modern art, to Contemporary art; Contemporary
art being the art era we live in today.

In the world, art is considered a metaphorical language, a free form of

expression. The Philippines has a long history when it comes to art.
Artistic paintings were introduced to the Filipinos in the 16th century
when the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines. During this time, the
Spaniards used paintings as religious propaganda to spread Catholicism
throughout the Philippines. These paintings, appearing mostly on church
walls, featured religious figures appearing in Catholic teachings.

Due to the Church's supervision of Filipino art and Spanish occupation of

the Philippines, the purpose of most paintings from the 16th-19th
century were to aid the Catholic Church. Since then, the art in Philippines
has evolved and has taken on Contemporary art.

Contemporary Artists
Arts in the Philippines refer to the various forms of the arts that have
developed and accumulated in the Philippines from the beginning of
civilization in the country up to the present era. They reflect the range of
artistic influences on the country's culture, including indigenous forms of
the arts, and how these influences have honed the country's arts. These
arts are divided into two distinct branches, namely, traditional arts and
non-traditional arts. Each branch is further divided into various
categories with subcategories.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the official cultural
agency of the government of the Philippines, has categorized Filipino arts
into traditional and non-traditional. Each category are split into various
arts, which in turn have sub-categories of their own.

“ Art enables us to find

ourselves and lose ourselves
at the same time.
”
Boy De Leon (Florante)
Florante's true name, Boy De Leon, became famous in the
1970s, parallel to the Beatles fever. Florante is a singer, guitarist,
songwriter. He is famous for the undying hit "Handog" (Offer).
Many musicians and performers look up to his compositions
because the substance emanates an, obviously, "sentimentally-
cute" genuine message. When OPM rose to fame, Freddie
Aguilar also became another folk icon but Florante's Handog,
remains an undying and unbeatable classic.

Many of today's "YouTube" enthusiasts still attempt to imitate

Florante's way of singing and playing guitar. It reflects that all his
songs are, naturally, a guitarist's sub-conscious choice as a
musicians "mood piece". As a guitarist, when you start getting
ready to play guitar, your imaginative spirit searches for a
melody that will set your mood for that moment. Florante's song
Daliri, is another favorite. Florante's composition "Sa Aking
Mahal" is available to listen to and can be played, for free, in
YouTube

Florante's captivating smile, unending brilliant and new funny

jokes still showed trace of that weathered multi-talented
performer, rendering a “one-man-show”, plucking his guitar.
Even more improved accuracy and a well pronounced maturity,
was earned through the years.

Florante's upcoming dedicated internet domain now exists,

propagated around the world as, Www.FloranteOnline.com in
collaboration with Www.SegoviaMusic.com, a large venue
concert sound system and live recording provider.
Freddie Aguilar

Born on February 5, 1953 in Sto. Tomas, Isabela, Philippines,

Freddie Aguilar moved to the old capital city, Manila as a child…
started writing songs at 14… first guitar at 17… first time on stage at
20.
It began in earnest in 1978 when the young man from Isabela
entered his composition entitled "ANAK" (child) in the First Metro
Manila Popular Song Festival. The song, with its haunting melody
and poignant story about a parent's love for a wayward child,
captured the imagination of the judges and became FINALIST from
thousands on entries in spite of an essentially folk style, and thus,
out of step with the strictly pop orientation of the competition.
Close on the heels of the composition came a recording contract
with VICOR Music Corporation, then the leading record label in the
Philippines

The "ANAK" single was an immediate smash success, gaining double

platinum certification in a matter of weeks. This was followed by an
album that contained both the Tagalog and the English versions of
"ANAK", but ironically, it was the Tagalog version that carried the
album and brought international success. "ANAK" climbed fast to
the top ten charts in Japan and Europe; over six million copies were
sold and the song went on to generate 55 conversions in 26
languages. International opportunities followed and Freddie
recorded an album in Los Angeles in English.

In spite of its commercial success and the fact that the English
version of another track off his second album entitled "BUHAY NGA
NAMAN NG TAO" entitled in English as 'THINK ABOUT THE GOOD
TIMES," was eventually recorded by Americas top country singer
LEE GREENWOOD, Freddie was not happy with the international
projects. He felt that his own songs had been abandoned with some
of Los Angeles top songwriters bringing entirely different lyrics to
Freddie's songs. Freddie felt that the resulting album, while
technically superior, was not really him..

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Leonor Orosa Goquingco
Dubbed 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.
These include “TREND: Return to Native,” “In a
Javanese Garden,” “Sports,” “VINTA!,” “In a
Concentration Camp,” “The Magic Garden,” “The
Clowns,” “Firebird,” “Noli Dance Suite,” “The
Flagellant,” “The Creation…” Seen as her most
ambitious work is the dance epic “Filipinescas:
Philippine Life, Legend and Lore.” With it, Orosa
brought native folk dance, mirroring Philippine culture
from pagan to modern times, to its highest stage of
development.
She was the Honorary Chair of the Association of
Ballet Academies of the Philippines (ABAP), and was a
founding member of the Philippine Ballet Theater.

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Alice Reyes
The name Alice Reyes has become a significant part of
Philippine dance parlance. As a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and
director, she has made a lasting impact on the development and
promotion of contemporary dance in the Philippines. Her dance
legacy is evident in the dance companies, teachers, choreographers,
and the exciting Filipino modern dance repertoire of our country
today.
Perhaps the biggest contribution of Alice Reyes to Philippine dance
is the development of a distinctly Filipino modern dance idiom.
Utilizing inherently Filipino materials and subject matters expressed
through a combination of movements and styles from Philippine
indigenous dance, modern dance, and classical ballet she has
successfully created a contemporary dance language that is
uniquely Filipino. From her early masterpiece Amada to the modern
dance classic Itim-Asu, to her last major work Bayanihan
Remembered which she staged for Ballet Philippines, she utilized
this idiom to promote unique facets of Philippine arts, culture, and
heritage.
By introducing the first modern dance concert at the CCP Main
Theater on February 1970 featuring an all contemporary dance
repertoire and by promoting it successfully to a wide audience, she
initiated the popularization of modern dance in the country. She
followed this up by programs that developed modern dancers,
teachers, choreographers, and audiences. By organizing outreach
tours to many provinces, lecture-demonstrations in schools,
television promotions, a subscription season and children’s matinee
series, she slowly helped build an audience base for Ballet
Philippines and modern dance in the country..
Barbara Luna
Barbara Luna was trained in Broadway, where she,
in fact, grew up. In high school, she was tapped by
Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1949 to play Ngana, the
daughter of Ezio Pinza in the original Broadway
production of South Pacific. Her next role was in The King
and I, followed by a stint in Teahouse of the August
Moon.  Other credits include West Side Story (as Anita)
and A Chorus Line. In 1958, Barbara made her screen
debut in the Korean war drama, Tank Battalion. She also
made a name for herself in TV in the '60s, starring in an
episode of Star Trek

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Patrick Adiarte
Manila-born Patrick Adiarte is best known for
portraying Prince Chulalongkorn in the 1956 movie
version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The
King and I. The 13-year-old held his own against co-actor
Yul Brynner (who would win an Oscar for his role as the
Siamese king) and veteran actress Deborah Kerr. Patrick
was with fellow Filipino Cely Carrillo in the Broadway
musical, Flower Drum Song. He appeared on the hit TV
series M*A*S*H (as Ho-Jon in seven episodes), Bonanza
(1971), Hawaii Five-O (1972), Kojak, The Chinatown
Murders (1974), and The Brady Bunch (1972)..
 Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972)
Labelled the country’s first National Artist in 1972 by
then President Marcos, Fernando Amorsolo is often known
as the ‘Grand Old Man of Philippine Art’. The Spanish-
trained realist developed a backlighting technique, where
his colorful depictions of local people reflect the radiance of
the Philippine sun. The figures and illuminated landscapes
magically glow on the canvas. Despite his deteriorating
health and failing eyesight, he remained prolific until the
end, producing up to 10 paintings a month until his death
at the age of 80. Amorsolo’s creativity defines the nation’s
culture and heritage to this day.

The Vargas Museum – found inside the campus of

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consectetur adipiscing elit. his alma mater, the University of the Philippines, displays a
notable selection of his work.
 Benedicto Cabrera (1942-present)
Fondly known as ‘BenCab’ in the Philippines, Cabrera is the
best-selling commercial painter of his generation and a prominent
head of the local contemporary art scene. He studied under José
Joya at the University of the Philippines and received his degree in
Fine Arts in 1963. His fruitful career has spanned five decades,
where his paintings, etchings, sketches, and prints have been
exhibited across Asia, Europe, and the US. He currently resides in
the chilly northern hill station of Baguio, where he established his
own four-level BenCab Museum on Asin Road that features an
eclectic selection of indigenous artifacts, personal works, and an
overwhelming collection of paintings from contemporary Filipino
artists.
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Barbara Jane Reyes
A poet with a BA from the University of
California at Berkeley and an MFA from San Francisco
State University, Reyes is the author of three poetry
collections: Gravities of Center (2003), Diwata (2010),
and Poeta en San Francisco (2005) which won the
James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American
Poets.

The Poetry Foundation says her work “explores

a variety of cultural, historical, and geographical
perspectives,” and that her winning collection Poeta
“employs English, Spanish, and Tagalog to create a
devastating portrait of her hometown.”
Catherine Ceniza Choy
Born in 1969, Choy is a professor and chair of
the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of
California, Berkeley. She has written two books on
Filipino diasporic history: Empire of Care: Nursing and
Migration in Filipino American History (2003) and
Global Families: A History of Asian International
Adoption in America (2013). The latter looks at the
complex politics and relationships that compel
Americans to adopt Asian children from abroad.

She created a stir with her first book, Empire of

Care, which won her the American Journal of Nursing
Book of the Year Award in 2003; an Honorable
Mention from the American Studies Association Lora
Romero First Book Publication Prize in 2004; and the
History Book Award from the Association for Asian
American Studies in 2005.
Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo
A passionate exponent of the national language and an
outspoken stalwart of the Catholic faith, Francisco Rodrigo was
a militant moral crusader, a role he had undividedly pursued
even before he entered the public service.
Senator Rodrigo was born on born on January 29, 1914 in
Bulacan, Bulacan, to Marcela Aldana and Melecio Rodrigo and
a blood kin of two great heroes of his native province, Marcelo
del Pilar and Gregorio del Pilar.
He studied at Bulacan Elementary School and the University of
the Philippines for high school. Rodrigo finished his Bachelor of
Arts and Bachelor of Science in Education degrees from
Ateneo de Manila and University of Santo Tomas, respectively,
after which he completed his degree of Bachelor of Laws at
the University of the Philippines in 1938.
After his studies, Rodrigo became a father in a law firm of
Francisco Delgado and Lorenzo where his pennchant for
oratory was already being noticed. he took his A.B. and B.S.E.
degrees from Ateneo de Manila and University of Santo
Tomas, respectively after which he completed his degree of
Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in 1938.
As an outstanding orator and debater, Soc Rodrigo reached his
forensic heights when he was captain f the College Debating
Team.
After passing the Bar , he joined the law firm of Senators
Francisco Delgado and Lorenzo Tañada. With the latter, he
authored Philippine Modern Legal Forms and Handbook on
the Rules of Court. During the 1953 presedential election, Soc
Rodrigo covered the entire proceedings in an unprecedented
marathon broadcast, a feat which won for him the Legion of
Honor award by President Ramon Magsaysay.
Maryo J. Delos Reyes
He is a film and television director. He began his
career in the 1970s and won the Crystal Bear for “Best
Feature Film” for Magnifico during the Berlin International
Film Festival.
Leandro V. Locsin
Reshaped the urban landscape with a distinctive
architecture reflective of Philippine Art and Culture. He
believes that the true Philippine Architecture is “the
product of two great streams of culture, the oriental and
the occidental… to produce a new object of profound
harmony.” It is this synthesis that underlies all his works,
with his achievements in concrete reflecting his mastery of
space and scale. Every Locsin Building is an original, and
identifiable as a Locsin with themes of floating volume, the
duality of light and heavy, buoyant and massive running in
his major works. From 1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced
75 residences and 88 buildings, including 11 churches and
chapels, 23 public buildings, 48 commercial buildings, six
major hotels, and an airport terminal building.

Locsin’s largest single work is the Istana Nurul

Iman, the palace of the Sultan of Brunei, which has a floor
area of 2.2 million square feet. The CCP Complex itself is a
virtual Locsin Complex with all five buildings designed by
him — the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts
Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Philcite
and The Westin Hotel (now Sofitel Philippine Plaza)
Pablo Sebero Antonio
Born at the turn of the century, National Artist for
Architecture he pioneered modern Philippine architecture. His
basic design is grounded on simplicity, no clutter. The lines are
clean and smooth, and where there are curves, these are
made integral to the structure. Pablo Jr. points out, “For our
father, every line must have a meaning, a purpose. For him,
function comes first before elegance or form” . The other thing
that characterizes an Antonio structure is the maximum use of
natural light and cross ventilation. Antonio believes that
buildings “should be planned with austerity in mind and its
stability forever as the aim of true architecture, that buildings
must be progressive, simple in design but dignified, true to a
purpose without resorting to an applied set of aesthetics and
should eternally recreate truth.”

Antonio’s major works include the following: Far Eastern

University Administration and Science buildings; Manila Polo
Club; Ideal Theater; Lyric Theater; Galaxy Theater; Capitan Luis
Gonzaga Building; Boulevard-Alhambra (now Bel-Air)
apartments; Ramon Roces Publications Building (now Guzman
Institute of Electronics).
Reference
https://www.last.fm/music/Florante/+wiki
http://www.freddieaguilar.com/biography.html
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-
artists-of-the-philippines/leonor-orosa-goquingco/

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oUNUZughkfk/VEXW1pR2PcI/AAAAAAAAC-
s/SkN2L2OauUg/s1600/orosa.jpg

https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-
artists-of-the-philippines/alice-reyes/
https://www.spot.ph/arts-culture/arts-culture-peopleparties/70561/6-
early-filipino-broadway-stars-a1801-20170704-lfrm
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-10-most-famous-
filipino-artists-and-their-masterworks/
https://filipiknow.net/filipino-writers/
https://www.slideshare.net/AndreaAudineJandonga/the-art-of-
philippine-films

https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-
profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/leandro-v-locsin/
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-
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