Arts in the Philippines is refer to the various forms of the arts that have developed and accumulated

from the beginning of civilization in the country up to the present era.

During the pre-colonial period, the Philippines already had unique and rich forms of art. It was
expressed through drawings on the rocks, making stone weapons and decorative crafts, and they also
make their own shelter. They has an alphabet called Baybayin. They also have tattoos and rite of
passage. In the Islamic Colonial Period, traders and missionaries introduced the religion of Islam in the
Philippines. Islamic art mix with ethnic culture and produced a Filipino Muslim art that reflects the
ethnic background and Islamic identity of the people. Examples are: Okkir or Langkit Malong, Sarimanok,
Sunduk, Torogan, and Mosque. When the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, they used art as a tool to
spread the Catholic faith through beautiful images. They introduced formal paintings, sculpture and
architecture influenced with Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo art style. Most art are religious.
American's brought education to the Philippines. The education is more accessible in this period than
the Spanish Colonial period where the rich people can only study. Filipinos were taught by the
Thomasites. Their influenced can be mostly on architecture and literature because of education. The
paintings theme in this period are landscapes, still life and portraits are reserve for official with high
ranks. Japanese invasion caused fear, suffering and hardships to the Filipinos. The development of art
stopped because of the war. Filipinos were deprived from freedom of expression and speech because
the Japanese stopped the publication. But they influenced us with poem style, Tanaga and Haiku. During
this period, paintings are focused on Wartime scene. Arts in the Modern era are conservative and
experimental public art. This art have the influences of Western styles like pop art, maximalism,
minimalism, abstraction, expressionism, constructivism, magic realism, and environmental art. Lastly,
the Contemporary era. This art is used to protest or express their feelings with a certain situation in the
society or government with the use of editorial illustrations. It is also used not just for aesthetics and
entertainment but also to bring awareness. It reflects the complex issues that shape our diverse, global,
and rapidly changing world.

Art is everywhere, from the simplest designed objects we use, to the spaces and structures we inhabit.
Art is a way of expression, a way of joy, a way of making people understand things which can’t be done
verbally. In fact, we can say that everything that is beautiful is art.