Arts in the Philippines 

refer to all 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[1] and non-traditional arts.[2] 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.
 (A) Traditional arts[1]
o Folk architecture – including, but not limited to, stilt houses, land houses, and aerial
houses
o Maritime transport – boat houses, boat-making, and maritime traditions
o Weaving – including, but not limited to, basket weaving, back-strap loom weaving,
headgear weaving, fishnet weaving, and other forms of weaving
o Carving – including, but not limited to, woodcarving and folk non-clay sculpture
o Folk performing arts – including, but not limited to, dances, plays, and dramas
o Folk (oral) literature – including, but not limited to, epics, songs, and myths
o Folk graphic and plastic arts – including, but not limited to, calligraphy, tattooing, folk
writing, folk drawing, and folk painting
o Ornament, textile, or fiber art – hat-making, mask-making, accessory-making, ornamental
metal crafts
o Pottery – including, but not limited to, ceramic making, clay pot-making, and folk clay
sculpture
o Other artistic expressions of traditional culture – including, but not limited to, non-
ornamental metal crafts, martial arts, supernatural healing arts, medicinal arts, and constellation
traditions