CPAR (GAMABA)
The Gawad ng Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National
Living Treasure Award was established through
Republic Act No. 7355 signed by President Corazon C.
Aquino on April 3, 1992. The implementation of the
law was tasked to National Commission for Culture and
the Arts – it serves as the presidential inter-agency
commission to preserve, develop, and promote
Philippine culture and arts. This award is conferred
upon a Filipino or group of Filipino citizens engaged in
any indigenous/traditional art uniquely Filipino, whose
distinctive skills have reached such as a high level of
technical and artistic excellence and have been passed
on to and widely practiced by the present generations
in his/her community with the same degree of
technical and artistic competence.
Literature
• Ginaw Bilog (January 3, 1953 – June 3, 2003)
1993 Awardee, Region 4B (MIMAROPA)
Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro
Ginaw Bilog is a Hanunuo Mangyan poet who is considered
as a master of the ambahan poetry. This poetry is a
traditional poem consisting of seven- syllables which
contains messages of friendship (giving advice to the young,
saying goodbye to a friend, asking for a place to stay and so
on) and love (courtship and wedding). This kind of poem is
passed on from generation to generation using chanting the
verses or etching them on bamboo tubes (used during
ancient Southeast Asian, pre-colonial script called surat
Mangyan). As Ginaw grew up in a cultural environment, he
and other Mangyans believed that the ambahan is very
essential in their lives to understand the Mangyan soul. He
continually kept the ambahan poetry recorded both in old
bamboo tubes and old notebooks. He kept even the oldest
ambahan passed on to him by his ancestors and used it to
promote to the other Mangyans to preserve the oral
tradition.
Weaving
Salinta Monon (December 12, 1920 – June 4, 2009)
1998 Awardee, Region XI
Bansalan, Davao del Sur
Salinta Monon is a Bogobo traditional weaver of distinct
abaca fabrics called inabal. At 12, she started weaving
through the guidance of her mother. Accordingto Salinta, it
takes three to four months to finish an inabal fabric or one
abaca tube skirt per month. She also experienced being
underpaid despite of her efforts, but when inabal became
popular she is able to set her own price. Her favorite design
of inabal is the binuwaya (crocodile), one of the hardest
fabrics to create. textile, she garnered the reputation of
being the best weaver in her community. She spent all her
life making an inabal and preserved the Bagobo art.
Magdalena Gamayo (August 13, 1924)
2012 Awardee, Region I
Pinili, Ilocos Norte
Magdalena Gamayo is an Ilokano master weaver
who makes a high-quality textile called abel, a hand-
woven cloth. It is a kind of blanket made up of cotton
weaved in different patterns. At 16, she started weaving an
abel. Her years of practice, eye for details, creativity, and
innate skills caused her to weave excellent quality abels. Her
favorite patterns or binakol she used for her abels are sinan-
sabong (flower), kusiko (spiral forms similar to oranges), and
inuritan (geometric designs), which are the most difficult
patterns. Her handiworks were distinguishable to other
abels since they are finer, with more thread counts, and
more intricate designs with up to 5 colors of thread. Even
today at her old age Magdalena consistently produce well-
crafted abels. To preserve the art of abel weaving in Ilocos,
she mentored her community people including her sister-in-
law and her cousin’s daughter- in-law. movements has the
connection in creating a mat. She used thin strips of the
Pandanus romblon (Pandan).
(CONTEMPORARY ARTS TECHNIQUES AND
PERFORMANCES PRACTICES)
TWO-DIMENSIONAL has length and width, it is usually
in flat support or surface.
Although some 2D artworks give 3D effect, this effect is
only an illusion of depth created
by the artist. The media of 2D are drawing, painting,
collage, printmaking, and
photography.
DRAWING
It is usually the first step in producing 2D artworks. It is
the process of moving an instrument (graphite pencil,
charcoal, and ink) over a smooth surface or paper to leave a
mark called a line. Some drawing produced by the artist is
already considered finished artwork.
KINDS OF DRAWING
Life Drawing – It is also known as “figure drawing,” a
drawing that used a living person to be the subject of the
artist. Good examples of this drawing are nude drawings
and portrait drawings.
Emotive Drawing – It emphasizes the expression
of a person with different emotions, moods, and
feelings.
SHADING TECHNIQUES IN DRAWING
Hatching – This is accomplished by drawing
thin that runs in the same direction.
Scumbling – This is accomplished by
creating layers of simple circular scribble to
build up the texture and value.

Stippling or Pointillism– This is
accomplished by using dot patterns to create
dark values.
Cross-Hatching – This is accomplished by
crisscrossing line.
Blending – This is accomplished by
changing the value little by little. For
example, from dark to medium to light and
vice versa.
PAINTING
Painting is the application of color to a surface (wall, canvas,
and wood) through the use of tools such as brushes, a roller,
a painting knife or even the fingers (this is not
recommended because some paints contains toxic).
2. Watercolor Painting – Watercolor is the most popular
of all water-based paint media. The watercolor’s name is
based on its solvent which is water. The binder for
watercolor is “Gum Arabic.”
Two (2) Techniques to Watercolor Painting
(1) WET-ON-DRY – This technique involves the
limited use of water. The support is dry and
the watercolor applied usually through the use
of brush. When the painting process has
begun, enough time is given for the fresh layer
of paint to dry.
(2) WET-ON-WET – This technique involves
keeping the support and the pigment mixture
in wet conditions. The work produced is soft
and diffused. The plasticity of water color is
seen in these wet conditions.
Basic Techniques in Acrylic Painting
(1) Dry Brush – It is a great painting technique to
add texture and dimension. It is useful especially
in landscape painting to create fluffy clouds and
blades of grass. Just hold your brush (make sure it
is dry) with paints and test it on another support
to make sure the right color for your artwork.
(4) Dabbing – In this technique, use the corner of a
sponge or a piece of paper towel and dab it with a
good amount of paint on a surface to create a
texture.
(5) Pouring – This technique is used to produce
abstract painting. Just mixed different colors of
acrylic paint, then poured onto a surface to create
an artwork.
4. Pastel Painting – Pastel is derived from the word
“pastelo” which is the Italian word for gum. Pastel can be
used on any surface that has sufficient tooth or texture to
hold the pigment dust. Color of the support is very
important as it affects the quality of colors that are applied.
White paper is not recommended, because it will not give
pastel enough power to show its color brightness. Pastel
can be manipulated using fingers or a paper stump (torchon)
which is rolled paper with a point.
Three Kinds of Pastel
(1) Soft Pastels – It is a traditional kind of pastel
and the most used with a wide range of colors. It
has a very high concentration of pigment with
least amount of gum binder. It also has powdery
texture makes them easy to blend and produce
wonderful result of colors.
(2) Hard Pastels – It contains more binder and less
pigment to make the stick stronger. These are
more of a drawing tool and are useful for adding
detail images because it does not produce an
intense colors.
(3) Oil Pastels – The pigment is bound in oil and has
a waxy texture. This medium produces
composition that are bold and colorful. The range
of hues are limited but colors can be overlaid on
the support. This kind of pastel is recommended
for a beginner.
PRINTMAKING
It is the process that involves the repeated transferring of an
original image from a matrix (printing plate) onto another
usually paper. The process of printmaking involves three
stages: (1) creating the matrix or the printing plate; (2)
applying ink to the matrix; and (3) transferring the image
onto the surface.
Printing Techniques
(3) Lithography – This is also known as “planographic”
printing. It involves drawing the image on flat stone
(limestone) or metal plate with a using a greasy substance
so that the ink will stick to the support. This is based on the
principle that “oil and water do not mix.”
(4) Serigraphy – This is also known as “silkscreen”
printing. Stencils are used to create the design or the
image. The screen is a piece of silk, nylon or fine
metal mesh that is stretched on a frame. The images
are produced using paints or inks and squeegee
(rubber-bladed tool).
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography is “writing with lights,” an art of creating with
images by the process of capturing light. This is very popular
in this generation because of the advancement of mobile
technology. No special training nowadays is necessary to
take a good picture, just aim at the image and press the
capture button and done.
Digital Photography Tips
(1) Used the Rule of Thirds – To take an eye-catching
photo, use this effective rule of composition. The rule
of thirds is gridlines on the screen of your mobile
camera or digital camera to balance your shot.
(2) Avoid Camera Shake – To capture an image without blur
using DSLR camera, a photographer must hold the camera
correctly; use both hands, the right hand around the body
and the left hand around the lens, and hold the camera
close to your body as a support.
(3) Learn to Use the Exposure Triangle – Before you master
the art of photography, you must know first how to use the
three basics: Aperture, it is the opening in a lens and can be
adjusted manually or automatically to control the amount of
light; Shutter Speed, how long is the exposure of an image
to
light, it can be either milliseconds or minutes; and ISO or the
image sensor’s sensitivity to light, the lower the number of
ISO, the less sensitive of the image to light and vice versa.
Most of the photographers will have to lower their aperture
and shutter speed, and higher their ISO.
(4) Focus on One Subject – If you want a best photo, you
must choose only one subject, an interesting one. The
subject should not fill the whole frame of your camera, but
also include the background of the subject. Just tap the
screen of your camera to focus on your subject.
(5) Use a Filter or Other Editing Apps – To make your photo
more vividly, use a filters or picture editors like Adobe
Lightroom, PicsArt, VSCO and others. You can also adjust the
brightness, saturation, and contrast using your camera.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL has length, width, and depth, it is
usually in solid forms. The manipulation of three-
dimensional media demands in the artist a level of expertise
in the use of special tools and equipment. This proves to be
a necessity in order to “free” the image hidden with the
solid and plain medium.
SCULPTURE
It is a process of creating an image through the use of
carving, modeling or assembling parts together. The
materials used in making sculpture are wood, metal,
stone, clay, cement, plaster of paris, plastic, and glass .
Techniques use in Sculpture
(1) Subtraction – This is the method in which the sculptors
cut away or remove pieces or parts of the materials such as
stone or wood. It is like “freeing” the image trapped in the
material by reducing the material. The tools used by the
artist are chisels, hammers, torches, saws, grinders, and
polishers.
(2) Manipulation – This is also known as modeling. It usually
involves the use of soft medium such as wax, plaster or clay.
It is classified as a direct method of creating the form of the
image. Some materials are not durable, to make them
durable they undergo other processes like clay, it must be
baked to make it hard for it to retain its final form.
(3) Addition or Assembling – This technique involves putting
together materials through the use of welding torches,
soldering guns, staplers, bolts. Screws, nails, rivets, glue, and
rope or string. A good example for this technique is the
“welding,” the process of joining together pieces of metal by
heating the surfaces to the point of melting using a
blowtorch and uniting them by pressing and/or hammering.
(4) Substitution – This is known as casting. It is the process
of producing an original 3D image in a new material by using
a mold. The goal of the substitution is to duplicate the form
of image in a more permanent material. This can be done
through the processes like sand casting, plastic casting, and
lost-wax casting.
a. SAND CASTING – This is the sand molded castings which
is a metal casting process characterized by using sand as a
mold material.
b. PLASTIC CASTING – This is similar to sand casting except
that the materials used is plaster.
c. LOST-WAX CASTING – This process involves pouring
molten metal into the mold that made of wax. Once the
mold is made, the wax model is melted and drained away.
(PHILIPPINE CRAFTS)
Crafts are objects that are created first to be functional and
second to be aesthetic. It is also an art that involves creating
an object by hand. The making of crafts (locally called
handicrafts) is a growing local industry. In the Philippines,
the export of handicrafts has proven that there is demand
for local products because of their quality, artistic
craftsmanship, and functionality.
TEXTILE ART
-It is a kind of craft that use plant and synthetic fibers to
produce functional and/or decorative works of art.
-Weaving is the technique of making beautiful fabrics
which is accomplished by intertwining vertical and
horizontal threads.
The horizontal threads are called “woof” or “weft” and the
vertical threads are called “warp.”
Different Patterns of Weaves
(1) Plain Weave – It is the simplest and strongest pattern.
The woof threads alternately pass above and below the
warp fiber.
(2) Satin Weave – It is a delicate pattern. The woof threads
pass above and below several warp threads.
(3) Twill Weave – It is characterized by the woof and warp
forming broken diagonal patterns.
(4) Pile Weave – It is used as a pattern in making carpets.
Knots are tied and the fabric is trimmed to achieve uniform
length of the threads.
(5) Ikat - It is a local style of weaving that uses a resist
dyeing process on either the warp or the woof before the
threads are woven to create a pattern or design.
Different types of Philippine fibers
(3) Piña Jusi – It is a combination of the fineness of piña
fibers and the strength of jusi fiber made from abaca.
The resulting fabric is cooler and makes more
comfortable to wear.
(4) Cotton – It is the most common used fiber in the
world. It is from the cotton plant and can be knitted or
woven into cloth. The quality of cotton is determined
based on its grade (appearance), color (whiteness),
length of the fibers, and its character (strength of the
fibers).
BASKET WEAVING
This process is also known as basketry. It is the craft
of making three-dimensional objects by weaving using
the materials like animal and plant fibers. Grasses,
twigs, straw, and animal hair are woven into baskets
and other containers. Pangasinan in Central Luzon is
known as “Province of Basket Weavers,” these
handicrafts are the secondary economic activity
especially in San Carlos City.
In Southern Palawan, there is also a famous
traditional covered basket called “tingkep” crafted by
Palaw’an Tribe.
The provinces of Laoag, Zambales, Romblon,
Ilocos Norte, and Samar are also known for their
aesthetically crafted baskets.
Aside from abaca, there are other materials used in
making baskets.
(1) Pandan – This plant is a type of screwpine or
pandanus genus. The most important part of this
plant is the leaves. The leaves are fibrous, resistant
to decay, and grows very long. Leaves are boiled
and each leaf is cleaned by removing the sharp
spines on the margins and midribs. The strips are
dried, sorted, and individually smoothed and
straightened before the weaving process begins.
(2) Nito – It is a trimming fern found in moist and
shady places on the hillsides and open woodlands
in the Philippines.
(3) Rattan – It is one of the close relatives of palm
tree. It is the commonly used materials for making
baskets and other furniture. Rattan is a great
material for basketry because it is durable, flexible
and lightweight.
MAT WEAVING
It is the process to create a mat – it is called “banig”
in the Philippines. The banig is usually used for
sleeping. The most durable mats are locally made from
Leyte and Romblon. Tikog (a kind of grass that grows
abundantly in the fields), pandan, and abaca are the
common materials used in making mats. Pandan mats
are more expensive because it is more durable and
more comfortable. The patterns of mat weaving are
the same with textile weaving patterns. Mats are made
aesthetic by decorations of dyed reeds and straw of
various designs.
A. Paete Wood Carving
Paete, Laguna (Region IV-A CALABARZON)
 This small town is declared as “Carving Capital of the
Philippines” on March 15, 2005 under Presidential
Proclamation no. 809.
 Paete is considered as the pioneer of wood carving
industry in the country. This town has good
reputation in terms of making wood crafted
products because of its highly skilled craftsmen who
still practice the traditional techniques in wood
carving.
 The primary products of Paete are religious wood
carvings, wood furniture and bakya (wooden shoes)
which are skillfully chiseled to produce various
designs. They also produced taka (paper mache) and
the modern yo-yo, which originated in Paete,
Laguna.
Process and Techniques
1. The Padron/Plantilya – This involves planning and
sketching the whole form of sculpture. This is the
important process of wood carving where the wood
carvers visualize the details such as the whole
structure, shape, composition, and design elements.
2. Pagbabantso – This term is derived from a
woodworking machine called a “band saw” (used for
rough shaping and sizing). In this process, the carver
will use the band saw to shape the block of wood
based on the form and size. Wood carvers usually
assign this task and just give the exact measurements
of width, height and depth of the final woodblock.
3. Pagbabagbag – After the process of wood blocking
(pagbabantso), the carver will now start carving the
final figure of the sculpture using his carving tools. The
sculpture or any masterpiece in this process looks
bumpy because of its rough edges still need in
detailing.
4. Pagdedetalye – It is the detailing process. This is the
most important process to wood carver because his
skill will be tested on how he uses his tools in carving
the detailed elements of the sculpture.
5. Linis or Pagkikinis – This is the process where the
carver will get rid the sharp and bumpy edges to
achieve the smooth form of the sculpture. After this is
done, the next stage is pagliliha which is mostly done
by the female apprentice of the carver. They used sand
paper (liha) to smoothen the texture of the carved
figure.
6. Pagbabarnis or Pagpipinta – The final process of the
wood carving. Some carvers would paint the sculpture
with appropriate colors. Some works make use the
varnish to show the natural color of the grain. This
process is used to protect the wood and to preserve
the sculpture.
B. “BULUL” Rice God Figure
Cordillera Administrative Region
Bulul or Ifugao Rice God is a wooden sacred statue for the
Ifugao people of Northern Cordillera. This sculpture is
carved from narra wood or kamagong (ironwood), which
represent the happiness, wealth, and well-being. When used
in rituals, the bulul is properly positioned in front of the rice
produce. It is commonly represented as seated on the
ground, with arms crossed over his upraised knees. Bululs
are kept in the third level of Ifugao house or the granary.
• Bulul Wood Carving Process
(1) Preliminary baki – Only the wealthiest families can
afford the cost of making a bulul sculpture. To make sure
the bulul sculpture is effective or powerful, the kadangyan
(wealthy owner of the rice field) who is going to use the
bulul, would ask the mumbaki (native priest) to perform
preliminary baki (ceremony or ritual). The size and the
number of bulul sculpture is depending upon the decision of
the kadangyan.
(2) Choosing the right wood – Choosing the right wood is
very important in the process of bulul making. The carvers
usually use the narra wood or kamagong (ironwood), which
signifies wealth, happiness, and well-being.
(3) Types of bululs carved – There are several types of
bululs. The most common type is the one in a seated
position with arms folded in front. There are also some
types that are standing figure with hands outstretched
loosely hanging or at the sides slightly resting on with the
palms of the knees.
(4) Finishing – The finished figure of bulul is bathed with
pig’s blood in order to gain power. After this ritual, it is
followed by an oral incantation of myths and offerings of
rice cakes, wine, and ritual boxes. The bulul sculpture and
the offerings are placed near the mumbaki and it will be
bathed again with the sacrificial pig’s blood.
➢ POTTERY MAKING
Pottery is the ceramic material which makes-up pottery
ware, of which major types include stoneware,
earthenware, and porcelain. Pottery is made by forming a
clay body into objects of a required shape and heating them
to high temperatures, which removes all the water from the
clay.
A. Kalinga Pottery
Cordillera Administrative Region
The Kalinga Pottery are divided into three (3) types: immoso
(water storage pots), ittoyom (rice cooking pots), and
uppaya (vegetable/meat cooking pots). The water storage
pots have an average and uniform sized and smaller neck
size. The rice cooking pots are usually larger, thinner and
have a smaller opening that vegetable/meat cooking pots.
B. Manugdihon Pottery Making
Antique, Region VI (Western Visayas)
Barangay Bari in Simbalon, Antique is very famous village
when it comes to quality of their pots. Manugdihon is a
locally term for potter, a person who makes pottery. Antique
still uses the traditional process of pottery making. The
famous products of Antique are kalan (clay-made stove),
dabahan (cooking pots), banga (water jars), paso (plant
pots), and daba (native cooking pots).
• ON SKILLS ENHANCEMENT
When you choose to become a good artist, you must
dedicate your time and effort to learn more about your
chosen field. Set in your mind that learning is a continuous
process. Furthermore, every artist should concentrate to
develop the following characteristics to become a good one
( Panisan, 2016)
1. Artistic Ability – A good artist continuously develops this
ability by adapting the new trends and techniques. He/she is
never satisfied with what he/she had already learned but
continuously learn to enhance his/her artistic skills.
2. Creativity – A good artist knows how to create something
out of his/her imagination. He/she should come up with
unique ideas and have the courage to become different
based on his/her artistic expressions.
3. Manual Skills – A good artist always gives time to practice
his/her skills. He/she knows how to handle his finger
movements like in how he/she uses the tools in creating an
artwork or craft.
4. Computer Editing Skills – A good artist needs to keep up
with technology and exerts effort to become computer
literate. He/she should equip himself with the ability to
handle computer graphics and other multimedia files.
5. Communication Skills – A good artist should be able to
deliver information clearly and simply to other people. The
ability to transmit and receive messages clearly helps
him/her in being able to read and understand his/her
audience.
6. Self-promotion/ Marketing Skills – A good artist should
learn how to publicly relate oneself to people for the
purpose of promoting and selling his/her products and
services.
A good artist must compile his/her artworks in a portfolio as
a proof of his/her capabilities and progress. This portfolio
should be carefully developed to contain a demonstration of
accomplished works which would highlight the artist at
his/her best. The portfolio should display his/her unique
style. The artist should have both soft and hard copies of
his/her portfolio.
• PRODUCTION PLANNING
1. The main goal of doing an art activity is to help an
individual to experience the joy of creativity. The process
and the product of art should be enjoyed by the people. But
some mature artists usually focus on the process, while
young artists often concerned with the appearance of the
product. They want their creation to be worthy of
admiration. Always remember that the process and the
product should always be considered when one performs an
art activity.
4. Form a concept of the work before starting the project
– All expressions of art begin with an idea, a concept. This
will guide the artist in expressing how something will be
accomplished. An artist without a concept is like a traveler
without a roadmap.
5. Composition – In art, the aesthetic arrangement and
placement of objects on the support is important. Many
artists used “Rule of Thirds” for pleasing composition of the
subjects or objects. Create a gridline (2 horizontal and 2
vertical lines) onto the support by dividing it into nine equal
parts.
6. Be aware of other artists’ works – Artists are usually
known by their own unique styles. Looking at the works of
other artists expands and enriches one’s artistic point of
view.
7. Never stop learning – Look for video art tutorials and try
different art media. Show versatility in your creation and
express mastery in a chosen medium. Be open to new
trends of contemporary techniques and technology.

2. When preparing for an art activity, focus your mind on the

goals. Remind yourself that this art activity can contribute to
the development of your artistic and creative skills.

3. Some researchers tell that a person can retain more

information when he/she does hands-on activities. Which is
true when it comes to arts students should experience the
process of creating something in order to learn. This is also
based on the theory of learning by doing.

4. Know your creative potentials. The potential for

creativity is the act of making something aesthetically new
and original.

When the students are prepared to come up with their own

production, the following reminders will help them in their
artistic journey:
1. Create a nice work environment – Find a clean and
organized place in the part of your house. The space should
have good ventilation and lighting because it can affect the
visual perception of an artist.

2. Spare a few moments each day to look closely at the

surroundings – Take notice of how light affects where the
shadow falls. Observe the true colors and tones. These will
help to gain a better understanding of how real objects look
and will serve as good information when it comes to doing
the art project.

3. Practice makes perfect – Although perfection is

impossible to reach in art, practicing everyday will help to
improve artistic abilities.