PERSPECIVE IN PHILIPPINE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found
in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities,
and habits of the individuals in these groups.
-Way of living of certain people

Contributory Factors to Filipino Culture -The Filipino culture is a summation of

indigenous forces and foreign influences that had come to bear upon the people in
varying degrees during the last centuries These foreign influences that contributed in
the shaping of a Filipino culture are as follows

The Malays - The basic component of Filipino culture is the Malay temperament which
could best be described by “niceness and pleasantness” to others rather than by virtue of
law abiding features. In its fluidness of culture , the Malay family clan or unit is the
world’s best security system.

Chinese – filial piety between parents and children , the flexibility to go along with other
people and the “ sageliness within and the kingliness without “ of the Filipino is believed
to be due to Chinese influence.

The Indian influence - Indian influence is found in the languages , mode of dressing ,
architectural art , folk , beliefs , brass , and copperware. The Hindu influence – is the
most pervasive in the Filipino belief system . For instance is the prediction of Filipino
newspaper readers for horoscope and fortune- telling sections
.
Spanish -it is reflective of more developed societies at their point of contact , broadened
the outlook of the Filipino . Spain introduced a community oriented rather than a family-
oriented religion in the form of Christianity . It contributed to an elite class . A social and
political organization, according to western institutions, was brought into the Philippines.

The Americans – the united states further broadened this heritage by introducing a
democracy that called for individual liberty and equality as well as a national political
community to which everybody was supposed to participate through national suffrage.

The Filipino cultural perspectives- The Filipino culture’s existence and development is
viewed and interpreted in many ways. Some of them are:

The Traditional Concept- the traditionalist holds that Filipino culture was developed
due to the conglomeration of the physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual aspects. It
assumes that underneath the independent and widely divergent culture as shown in their
way of life, there is an underlying basic root of unity that holds the cultural tree together
and infuses one clear, distinct substance through its veins. This includes their art of
living, philosophy in life, attitudes toward God, nature and fellowmen.

The Nationalistic View- this concept regards culture as the summation of the needs of
the people, the description of their past and present condition, an expression of their
values, thoughts and emotions, and the depiction of their historic struggles to liberate
themselves. True national culture is inextricably linked to the people’s needs, ideas,
emotions, and practices.

Cultural Dualism- this theory maintains that the Philippines is a transitional society
dominated on one side by the traditional culture and on the other side by the modern
culture. The norms and values of these two forces inevitably oppose each other leading
to conflicts in the life of individual. Because of the conflict brought by the various
foreign influences into the Philippines, the Filipinos have to engage into a selective
integration and modification of foreign influences into a distinct Filipino culture
What Is Heritage?
According to UNESCO: Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with
today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are
both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.

Tangible Cultural Heritage- refers to physical artefacts produced, maintained and

transmitted intergenerationally in a society. It includes artistic creations, built heritage
such as buildings and monuments, and other physical or tangible products of human
creativity that are invested with cultural significance in a society.

These are tangible man-made- built heritage- Cultural Landscape, Archaeological

Sites, Historic Urban Sites/Heritage Groups, and Monuments, Buildings or Structures c.
Flora and Fauna, Terrestrial, Marine

Intangible Cultural Heritage- indicates ‘the practices, representations, expressions,

knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces
associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals
recognize as part of their Cultural Heritage’ (UNESCO, 2003). Examples of intangible
heritage are oral traditions, performing arts, local knowledge, and traditional skills.

Safeguarding- means measures aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural
heritage, including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection,
promotion, enhancement, transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal
education, as well as the revitalization of the various aspects of such heritage

Some of UNESCO Heritage Sites in the Philippines:

UNESCO- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization

1.Puerto Princesa Underground River or Subterranean River National

Park. (Palawan) -UNESCO designated the Puerto Princesa Underground River a
World Heritage Site in 1999

2.The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras were named a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1995 in honor of the natives' beautiful work and their efforts to
maintain and cultivate sacred traditions to this day.

3.Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park- designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in

1999, the reef and was also nominated as part of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in
2008.

4.Historic City of Vigan (Ilocos Sur)- UNESCO later recognized Vigan as the
best-preserved example of Spanish colonial towns in Asia and named it a World
Heritage Site in 1999. In 2015, Vigan City was also recognized as one of the
New7Wonders Cities.

5. San Agustin Church (Intramuros, Manila)- After the death of Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General that ruled the Philippines, he was buried
close to the church's high altar. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1993.
6. Paoay Church (Ilocos Norte)- Locals began building the Paoay Church in 1694
and finally completed construction in 1710. Its exterior walls were made from bricks
and large coral stones. Throughout Philippine history, it had also served as a watch
post from where local forces could keep an eye on invading forces such as the
Spaniards in the 1800s and the Japanese armies during World War II. Due to its
cultural significance, it was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1993.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Philippines
is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the
preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an
executing agency for the policies it formulates; and task to administering the National
Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) — fund exclusively for the
implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) formulates and
implements policies and plans that will conserve and promote the nation's historical
and cultural heritage.

As governed by RA 7356, The National Commission for Culture and the Arts is
governed by a Board of Commissioners composed of 15 members, namely:

 Arsenio J. Lizaso, NCCA Chairman (President, Cultural Center of the

Philippines)
 Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Commissioner (Chairman, Committee on Education,
Arts, and Culture, Senate of the Philippines)
 Roman T. Romulo, Commissioner (Chairperson, Committee on Basic Education
and Culture, House of Representatives)
 Annalyn M. Sevilla, Commissioner (Undersecretary for Finance-Budget and
Performance Monitoring, Department of Education)
 Edwin R. Enrile, Commissioner (Undersecretary for Legal and Special
Concerns, Department of Tourism)

 Dr. Arthur P. Casanova, Commissioner (Chairman, Komisyon sa Wikang

Filipino)
 Rene R. Escalante, Commissioner (Chairman, National Historical Commission
of the Philippines)
 Jeremy R. Barns, Commissioner (Director General, National Museum of the
Philippines)
 Cesar Gilbert Q. Adriano, Commissioner (Director IV, National Library of the
Philippines)
 Victorino Mapa Manalo, Commissioner (Executive Director, National Archives
of the Philippines)
 Al Ryan S. Alejandre, (Executive Director, National Commission for Culture
and the Arts)
 GAMABA
The Gawad ng Manlilikha ng Bayan or GAMABA award was institutionalized through
Republic Act No. 7355 in April 1992. "

Candidates for the GAMABA award must be inhabitants of an indigenous cultural

community in the Philippines that has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs, rituals and
traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that have influenced it.

The Following are GAMABA AWARDEES

GINAW BILOG- Poet, Hanunuo Mangyan Panaytayan,Oriental Mindoro (1993)

•Ambahan – is a kind of poem consisting of seven syllable lines which most of the time
contains messages of love and friendship.

MASINO INTARAY • Musician and Storyteller, Pala’wan Brookes Point, Palawan

(1993) • A musician and a poet whose Expertise were the Basal, Kulilal, and Bagit.
Basal – is kind of musical ensemble Played during the “tambilaw”, a ritual Of rice
sharing among the Palawan People as an offering to the Lord of rice and during the
“tinapay”, a rice wine drinking.

SAMAON SULAIMAN • Musician, Mamasa Pano, Magundanao (1993) • Master in

playing the kutyapi, a 2-stringed plucked lute. The Kutyapi Is one of the most difficult to
master indigenous Filipino instrument

LANG DULAY • Textile weaver, T’boli, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato T’nalak – a kind
of fabric made up of fine abaca fibers weaved with different designs which reflect the
traditions of the T’boli.

SALINTA MONON • Textile Weaver, Tagabawa Bagobo, Bansalan, Davao del Sur •
Start weaving at the of 12 through the Guidance of her mother. • She used to wear the
traditional hand Woven tube skirt of the Bagobo. (sinukla and bandura)

ALONZO SACLAG • Musician and Dancer, Lubugan, Kalinga A master of dance and
performing arts. he has also mastered the dance patterns and movements associated with
his people’s ritual. He is the founder of the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe to ensure that
the music and dance of his ancestor are passed to the younger generations.

FEDERICO CABALLERO • Epic Chanter, Sulod-Bukidnon, Calinog, Iloilo Work for

the documentation of the oral literature, Particularly the epics of his People. Labaw
Dunggon and Humadapnon. One epic could take as much as 162 hours to recite and
Humadapnon is the longest epic to recite. 2 months of daily performances are required
for it to be completely chanted.

UWANG AHADAS • Musician, Yakan Lamitan, Basailan • Is a Yakan, a people to

whom instrumental music Is closely connected to the spiritual realm. Kwintangan kayu –
consisting of five wooden logs Hung horizontally, from the shortest to the longest.
Played to serenade the palay , as lover woos his beloved.

DARHATA SAWABI • Textile Weaver, Tausug, Parang, Sulu • Weaving the Pis Syabit,
the traditional cloth tapestry worn as a head covering by the Tausug of Jolo.

EDUARDO MUTUC • Metal smith, Kapampangan, Apalit, Pampanga • Creating

religious and secular art in silver, bronze and wood.

HAJA AMINAAPPI • Mat Weaver, Sama Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi • The mat weaving is
one of the treasured traditions of the Sama People. Their mat is made up of Pandan
Leaves w/c undergo tedious processes from Stripping, to sun dying, to dyeing up to
weaving.
TEOFILO GARCIA • Casque maker, Ilokano, San Quintin, Abra • He make to wear
Tabungaw, the gourd hat he makes and wears, is uniquely distinct in craftsmanship.

MAGDALENA GAMAYO • Textile weaver, Ilokano, Pinili, Ilocos Norte • Abel – the
textile weaving of Ilokano from local Cotton and other fibers. Traditional Patterns:
Binakol and Inuritan (geometric design) Kusikos (spiral forms similar to orange)
Sinan-sabong (Flowers)

FU YABING MASALON DULO, commonly referred to as Fu Yabing, was a Filipino

textile master weaver and dyer, credited with preserving the Blaan traditional mabal
tabih art of ikat weaving and dyeing. National Living Treasure Award; 2016
APUH AMBALANG AUSALIN is a Filipino master weaver from the city of Lamitan,
Basilan. Apuh Ambalang is renowned for her mastery of the crafts of sinaluan and
sputangan, two of the most intricately designed textiles of the indigenous Yakan
community. National Living Treasure Award; 2016

BAI ESTELITA TUMANDAN BANTILAN (born Labnai Tumndan on October 17,

1940) is a Filipino textile weaver from the municipality of Malapatan, Sarangani. She is
credited with creating "some of the biggest, most subtly beautiful mats to be seen
anywhere in Southeast Asia. She was given the National Living Treasure Award by the
Philippines through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2016. Bantilan
opened a mat weaving center in Malapatan to preserve and promote the tradition
of Blaan weaving.

NATIONAL ARTIST

What is a National Artist?

A National Artist is a Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title of
National Artist in recognition of his or her significant contributions to the development
of Philippine arts and letters. The rank and title of National Artist is conferred by means
of a Presidential Proclamation. It recognizes excellence in the fields of Music, Dance,
Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture or
Allied Arts.

The Order of National Artists (Orden ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng

Sining) is thus a rank, a title, and a wearable award that represents the highest national
recognition given to Filipinos who have made distinct contributions in the field of arts
and letters. It is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and is conferred by the
President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.

Fernando Amorsolo was the national painter of the Philippines in 1972. He became the
first Filipino to be distinguished as the Philippine's National Artist in Painting.

NATIONAL ARTIST AWARDEES

Awardee Date of Award Category

1. Fernando Amorsolo 1972 Painting

2. Francisca R. Aquino 1973 Dance
3. Carlos V. Francisco 1973 Painting
4. Amado V. Hernandez 1973 Literature
5. Antonio J. Molina 1973 Music
6. Juan F. Nakpil 1973 Architecture
7. Guillermo E. Tolentino 1973 Sculpture
8. Jose Garcia Villa 1973 Literature
9. Napoleon V. Abueva 1976 Sculpture
10. Lamberto V. Avellana 1976 Theater and Film
11. Leonor O. Goquingco 1976 Dance
12. Nick Joaquin 1976 Literature
13. Jovita Fuentes 1976 Music
14. Victorio C. Edades 1976 Painting
15. Pablo S. Antonio 1976 Architecture
16. Vicente S. Manansala 1981 Painting
17. Carlos P. Romulo 1982 Literature
18. Gerardo de Leon 1982 Film
19. Honorata “Atang” dela Rama 1987 Theater and Music
20. Antonio R. Buenaventura 1988 Music
21. Lucrecia R. Urtula 1988 Dance
22. Lucrecia R. Kasilag 1989 Music
23. Francisco Arcellana 1990 Literature
24. Cesar Legaspi 1990 Visual Arts
25. Leandro V. Locsin 1990 Architecture
26. Hernando R. Ocampo 1991 Visual Arts
27. Lucio D. San Pedro 1991 Music
28. Lino Brocka 1997 Cinema
29. Felipe D. De Leon 1997 Music
30. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero 1997 Theater
31. Rolando S. Tinio 1997 Theater & Literature
32. Levi Celerio 1997 Music & Literature
33. N.V.M. Gonzales 1997 Literature
34. Arturo Luz 1997 Visual Arts
35. Jose Maceda 1997 Music
36. Carlos Quirino 1997 Historical Literature
37. J. Elizalde Navarro 1999 Painting
38. Prof. Andrea Veneracion 1999 Music
39. Edith L. Tiempo 1999 Literature
40. Daisy Avellana 1999 Theater
41. Ernani Cuenco 1999 Music
42. F. Sionil Jose 2001 Literature
43. Ang Kiukok 2001 Visual Arts
44. Ishmael Bernal 2001 Film
45. Severino Montano 2001 Theater
46. Jose T. Joya 2003 Visual Arts (Painting)
47. Virgilio S. Almario 2003 Literature
48. Alejandro Roces 2003 Literature
49. Eddie S. Romero 2003 Film & Broadcast Arts
50. Salvador F. Bernal 2003 Theater & Design
51. Ben Cabrera 2006 Visual Arts
52. Abdulmari Asia Imao 2006 Visual Arts
53. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera 2006 Literature
54. Ramon Obusan 2006 Dance
55. Fernando Poe Jr. 2006 Film
56. Archt. Ildefonso Santos, Jr. 2006 Landscape Architecture
57. Ramon Valera 2006 Fashion Design
58. Manuel Conde* 2009 Cinema
59. Lazaro A. Francisco* 2009 Literature
60. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz* 2009 Visual Arts
61. Alice Reyes 2014 Dance
62. Francisco V. Coching 2014 Visual Arts
63. Cirilo F. Bautista 2014 Literature
64. Francisco F. Feliciano 2014 Music
65. Ramon P. Santos 2014 Music
66. Jose Maria V. Zaragoza 2014 Architecture

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10066- an act providing for the protection and conservation of
the national cultural heritage, strengthening the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA) and its affiliated cultural agencies, and for other purposes

-this Act shall be known as the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4846 - an act to repeal act numbered thirty eight hundred
seventy four, and to provide for the protection and preservation of Philippine
Cultural properties

-This Act shall be known as the "Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection
Act.”

Republic Act No. 7355 - This Act shall be known as the Manlilikha ng Bayan Act.

Republic Act No. 7356 - This Act shall be known as the "Law Creating the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts".
To date the UNESCO World Heritage the list includes properties forming part of the
cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having
outstanding universal value.
-These includes 689 cultural, 176 natural, 25 mixed properties, 148 state parties

Lauro "Larry" Zarate Alcala

He was a well-known editorial cartoonist and illustrator in the Philippines who
hails from Daraga, Albay. In 2018, he was posthumously conferred the National Artist
for Visual Arts title and the Grand Collar of the Order of National Artists.

Manuel Condo
He was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen
name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name.

Benedicto Cabrera
Though colourful and meaningful his masterpieces are, this National Artist for Visual
Arts, dreams of leaving a legacy not only of them but of his prized collection of
Philippine contemporary art and ethnography.

Ricky Lee
This writer received a rare achievement after two of his short stories won first prizes at
the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature two years in a row (1970 and
1971). Who had such an achievement?