CHAPTER 4

FILIPINO ARTS AND CRAFTS

INTRODUCTION
Like in any other country, art influenced the life of the Filipinos and the things
that surround them. This chapter will tell us why is it indigenous arts in the
Philippines are considered to be labors of love and patience. The intricate carvings
on wood, metal, stone or glass are products of skillful hands and imaginative minds
of the different tribes of the archipelago. Indigenous musical instruments like the
flute, drums, rainsticks, native guitars, and bells made of bamboo, animal skin,
seeds, and seashells. The careful manipulation of these materials produces sounds
and unique instruments used mostly in tribaL, dances and rituals. Those are some
of our local arts and crafts we should be proud of.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to:
• identify and understand the Pre-Colonial Art forms in the Archipelago;
• determine the common handicraft materials and the traditional handiwork in
the Philippines; and
• discuss the role of the Philippine GAMABA Awards and the notable
contributions of the awardees in the society.

CONTENT

Like in any other country, art influenced the life of the Filipinos and the things
that surround them. The Philippine arts reflect a Filipino society with diverse cultural
influences and traditions of the Malayan peoples such as the Chinese and Indians.
Islamic traditions were introduced to the Philippine Islands in the 14th century.

Likewise, Europe and the United States intensely influenced Filipino artists.
However, while drawing on Western forms, the works of Filipino musicians, painters,
and writers are imbued with distinctly Philippine themes. By expressing the richness
of the culture of the archipelago in all its diversity, Filipino artists have helped in
shaping a sense of national identity. Many Malay cultural traditions have continued
until this time despite foreign rule. Muslims and tribal groups maintained distinct
traditions in dance, music, and sculpture.

Indigenous arts in the Philippines are labors of love and patience. The
intricate carvings on wood, metal, stone or glass are products of skillful hands and
imaginative minds of the different tribes of the archipelago. Indigenous musical
instruments like the flute, drums, rainsticks, native guitars, and bells made of
bamboo, animal skin, seeds, and seashells. The careful manipulation of these
materials produces sounds and unique instruments used mostly in tribal dances and
rituals (Ramirez, 1999).

Pre-Colonial Art forms in the Archipelago

The arts in the Philippine archipelago had its past and continued to develop
by numerous modern artists. With their different context regarding history, style,
cultural symbols, and meanings, these artworks are portrayed (Estrella, 2017).The
following are some known artforms in the Philippines:

Famous Indigenous Dances

1. Banog-banog. It is a dance that portrays hunters shielding in their chickens

from the famishing hawk.
 2. BlitB’laan. It is a courtship dance of the Bilaan of Davao del Sur mimicking
birds during mating season. The females scurry to safety, burying their
heads under their wings (using the malong), but the aggressive males follow
them wherever they go.
3. Cañao. It is a ritual-dance performed during native feasts or celebrations in
the highlands of the Cordilleras in the Luzon area of the Philippines. It is a
symbol of triumph or expectation for abundant crops.
4. Inamong. It is an ethnic dance among Tigwahanon Manobos in the Province
of Bukidnon and performed during their harvest time. This type of dance
shows a couple, with their bodies and arms slightly bent forward, mimicking
the movement of a pair of flirting among monkeys.
5. Kadal Iwas. It is a dance performed by the T-boli and Tausug tribes
respectively which mimic a mealtime of monkeys in removing nits and lice
from each other. A variation of this dance is to mimics a monkey who sits on
an anthill by mistake and is attacked by angry ants all over his body.
6. Kinabua. It is ritual dance among the Mandaya tribes in Northern Mindanao.
This type of dance portrays the Hawks’ use of sweet songs to lure out the
hen and the chicks that are made into a meal.
7. Mamakar. It is a Bontoc War Dance performed during the planting season
and a bountiful harvest.
8. Man-manok. It is a dance performed in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. This type of dance
mimics fowls wherein a tribal blankets that represent the colorful plumage of
wild cocks are shown off by the warriors who intend on winning the attention
of the maiden hen.
9. Mayvanuvanua. It refers to a sacrificial rite performed at the beginning of
the summer fishing season among mataw fishers in Batanes Island. This
type of dance is an act of invitation to capture the fish dorado successfully.
10. Ngilin. It is a cultural dance performed among the Kalinga tribe during
Marriage rituals and other celebrations like the budong (peace pact). This
type of dance is played to simulate the romantic or peaceful interactions of a
rooster and a hen.
11. Pangalay (also known as Sea Gypsies).It is a native dance of the Badjao
performed during weddings and other social gatherings. This type of dance
emphasizes the agility of the upper body wherein the rhythmic bounce of the
shoulder with the simultaneous alternating waving of arms is the essential
movement.
12. Sampak. It is a war dance performed by the Mandaya tribe. This type of
dance requires excellent skill in the handling of a shield, spear, and a sword.
13. Saut. It is a ritual dance performed by a male Talaanding tribe presenting
their expertise in style and arts in fighting their opponent. This ritual dance is
also an offering to their magbabaya (god).
14. Talip. It is a courtship dance among the Ifugao. This is performed during the
celebration of the intaneg (wedding). In this dance, the man traps a woman
with an attractive blanket to place on her shapely shoulders.

Famous Prayers and Rituals

1. Mumbaki. It is a local term which refers to the “sayer of prayers” among

the Ifugaos in Northern Luzon. These prayers are performed during
funerals, wedding, Thanksgiving, and other celebrations. This is offered
to the supreme deity, Maknongan.
2. Kashawing. It is a ritual among the Maranaos and is performed to
ensure a good harvest.
3. Pagtatawas. It is a divination ritual. It attempts to diagnose an affliction
or psychological disorder by interpreting shapes produced in water by
heated molten wax droppings from a burning candle.
4. Palina. It is a cleansing ritual, locally known tu-ob in the islands of
Negros and Panay. It is performed in order to purify a person of disease
 or illness, to cleanse oneself after visiting a cemetery, and to promote
short and smooth childbirth
5. Pangalap. It is a remarkable ritual in which believers crawl through
Catilaran Cave as they chant various prayers. This ritual is believed to
give devotees supernatural powers that help protect them against bad
spirits.
6. Pagdiwata. It refers to a ritual performed among the ethnic group in the
north and central Palawan. The ceremony is held on various occasions
including bountiful harvests and weddings.

Famous Indigenous Musical Instruments in the Philippines

Aerophones. It refers to any musical instrument which produces sound without the
use of strings or membranes.

Examples of these are as follows:

1. Baliing- Nose flutes of the Apayao
2. Bansik - Bamboo flute of the Negrito
3. Kaleleng- a Long bamboo tube of the Bontoc
4. Bulungudyong -Vertical & long flute of the B'laan
5. Kalaleng - Bamboo flute of the Tinggian
6. Lantoy– Nose flute of the Mangyan
7. Palandag (Palendag) – Lip-valley flute of the Bagobo
8. Paldong and Tongali – Lip valley flutes of the Kalinga
9. Pulalo – Lip valley flute of the Mansaka
10. Sahunay - Pipe with reed (clarinet) of the Tausog

Chordophones. It refers to any musical instrument

which makes sound by way of trembling strings
stretched between two points.
Examples of these are as follows:
1. Faglong – Two-stringed, lute-like instrument of
the B'laan
2. Kolitong – Bamboo guitar of the Kalingga
3. Kudlong - Two stringed boat lute of the Bagobo
4. Kudyapi -Two stringed boat lute of the Maranao
5. Kulit-en – Guitar of the Tinggian
6. Pas-ing – Guitar of the Apayao
7. Serongagandi – a Decorated bamboo tube of the Maranao
8. Saludoy –Bamboo guitar of the T’boli

Idiophone. It refers to any musical instrument which produced sound primarily by

way of the instrument's vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes.
 1. Afiw –Jaw Harp of the Bontoc
2. Agung - Bossed gong of the Maranao
3. Balingbing – Bamboo buzzer of the Kalingga
4. Bangibang – Percussion bar of the Ifugao
5. Gabbang – Bamboo xylophone of the Tausog
6. Kinaban – Jaw Harp of the Hanunoo
7. Kubing –Jaw Harp of the Ata and Maranao
8. Kulintang - Metal xylophone of the Maranao
9. Kumbing – Jaw Harp of the Manobo
10. Palipal – Bamboo clapper of the Ifugao
11. Tagutok – Decorated bamboo scraper of the Maranao
12. Tanggunggu – Gong chime of the Kalagan, B'laan, Manuvu, Bagobo
13. Tongkaling - Pellet bells or crotal bells of the B’laan

Membranophone. It refers to any musical instrument

which produces sound by way of a vibrating stretched
membrane.
Most membranophones are drums, such as:
1. Dabakan - Glass shaped drum of the Maranao
2. Gandang – Double headed cylindrical drum of the
Maranao
3. Libbit – Conical drum of the Ifugao
4. Sulibao – Conical drum of the Ibaloy

Importance of Philippine Artistic Handicrafts

The Philippines is abundant in natural resources that scattered throughout its

islands. Filipino artist used the parts of trees, plants, and other natural resources as
the raw materials and turned them into simple, yet useful tools or instruments. This
type of work is called Artistic Handicrafts (sometimes called artisanry). Although this
type of art changes from time to time it is still imperative to continue and is preserve
due to the following reasons:
1. It represents and promotes our cultural legacy and traditions through the use
of indigenous materials.
2. It shows and preserves an individual's traditional knowledge, creativity and
superior ingenuity.
3. It is the expression of our history as a Filipino people.
4. It encourages producers to produce more raw materials.
5. It generates employment.
6. It develops values of perseverance and resiliency.

Common Handicraft Materials

Every Filipino family owns handicraft products like baskets, brooms, feather
dusters, and other furniture. Likewise, accessories like earrings, bracelets,
necklaces, and other clothing apparel made from native products such as beads,
shells, and seeds. These are clear indications that our handicraft industry is
enjoying the patronage of Filipinos.

Filipino handicraft makers fashion them into accessories, bags, bamboo sofa
sets, baskets, cabinets, clothes, lamp shades, wall décor, and others. The following
are the typical materials needed in the making of Filipino handicrafts:

a. Abaca (Musa Textilis) - It is a tree-like herb resembling the banana

plant. It is durable and dyed in different colors.
b. Bamboo (Bambusa Spinosa) - It is for the furniture industry because
of its strength and durability. It is also valuable material for basket
and hat making.
c. Buri (Corypha Elata)- It is a palm from which three kinds of fibers,
namely buri, raffia, and until, are taken. It can be dyed merely and
woven into many shapes. The buri leaf is the most flexible material
used for making hats, boxes and other novelty items.
d. Caragumoy ( Pandanus Simplex) - It is greenish grey as it dries and
is used traditionally in making bags, baskets, hats, and mats.
e. Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) - It is the most utilized palm in the
Philippines. Its cocomidrib is used primarily as handicraft material for
the production of baskets, and brooms (tingting). The coco shells are
used for manufacturing articles such as buttons, coin banks, lamp
shades, pins, and others.
f. Kalas- It is a by-product of the buri palm. Locally, the term "kalas"
(which means “to loosen") refers to the loosened strands of a buri
rope. It creates an unusual, rustic pattern with distinct characteristics
from its original material when artistically woven.
g. Leather- It is a material created through the tanning of skins of
animals like carabaos, horses, snakes, alligators, goats, lizards, and
others.
h. Pandan-Dagat (Pandanus Tectorius) ) - It is a variety of screw pine
abundantly distributed along sandy beaches and coastal brushes in
the Philippines.
i. Seagrass (Rhynchospora Corymbosa) – It is a type of grass in
shallow salty and brackish waters. The stems are distinctly triangular,
and the leaves are broad and long.
j. Rattan (Calamus Maximus)– it is the most flexible used in the
manufacturing industry and been known to extend up to hundreds of
meters long.

Traditional Handiwork in the Philippines

The following are some handicrafts in the different regions of the Philippines:

1. Jewelry (Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Mindanao Regions). This

handicraft is mostly in Central Luzon region, mainly from the province of
Bulacan. You can also find related of this from Mindanao regions, but down
south, you can even get powerful brass amulets and other accessories.
2. Metal Craft (Southern Luzon and Mindanao Regions). This type of handicraft
is in Southern Luzon region, particularly in the province of Batangas. A very
popular metal craft which is locally and internationally as an excellent source
for a portable knife is called Balisong. Traditional weapons made from brass,
bronze, and gold, are also abundant in the island of Mindanao.
3. Pots and Jars (Ilocos Region).The best potteries (known as burnay) are
made in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. These creations are made from Grade A
clay through a method that has been practiced by locals since the pre-
colonial times.
 4. Woven fabrics (Mindanao and Cordilleras of northern Luzon Regions). These
fabrics are woven traditionally, by interlacing threads using a manual
machine called a loom. One of the common materials in this region is called
malong which is historically used as a skirt and sometimes as a blanket.
5. Wood Carvings (Cordillera and Southern Luzon Regions). Fantastic wood
carvings produced by the Ifugao in the northern region of the Cordilleras.
Often, these wood carvings are depicting their indigenous gods. Excellent
kitchenware like wooden bowls and utensils are in this region.

Philippine GAMABA Awards

Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan Awards or GAMABA is an award that

recognizes folk and indigenous artists who remain loyal to their traditions. This
award is managed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
through Gawad ng Bayan Committee. It began as a project of the Philippine Rotary
Club Makati- Ayala but was adopted by the Philippine government in 1992 and
become an institution through a Republic Act 7335.

This award aims to support and motivate these artists to preserve their artistic
heritage for the present and future generations. These artists are recognized as the
Country’s Intangible National Living Treasure.

To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must have the

following qualifications:
1. Must be an occupant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community
anywhere in the Philippines that has preserved native customs, beliefs,
rituals, and traditions and has syncretized whatever external elements that
have influenced it.
2. Must have involved in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and
documented for at least 50 years.
3. Must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period,
works of superior and distinctive quality.
4. Must acquire a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must
have an established reputation in the art as master and maker of works of
extraordinary technical quality.
5. Must pass on and will pass on to other members of the community their
talents in the folk art for which their group is traditionally known.

GAMABA Awardees and Nominees

1. Ginaw Bilog (1993).A native of Oriental Mindoro who faithfully helped

preserved the Hanunuo Mangyan script and their Ambahan poetry.
 2. Masino Intaray (1993).A native of Palawan whom exemplary shared his skills
in basal or gong music ensemble. He is a musician and epic chanter (Kulilal
and Bagit).
3. Samaon Sulaiman (1993). A Maguindanao of Mama SaPano who showed
outstanding artistry and dedication to his chosen instrument, the
Maguindanao kutyapi.
4. Lang Dulay (1998). A T'boli of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, for her skills in
weaving the abaca ikat cloth known as t'nalak.
5. Salinta Monon (1998). A Tagabawa-Bagobo of Bansalan, Davao del Sur for
fully demonstrating her creative and expressive aspects of the Bagobo
abaca ikat weaving called inabal.
6. Alonzo Saclag (2000). A Kalinga of Lubuagan for his mastery of the Kalinga
dance and the performing arts.
7. Frederico Caballero (2000). A Panay-Bukidnon of Calinog, lloilo for his
mastery of chanting the epic tradition of Central Panay, the Sugidanon.
8. Uwang Ahadas (2000). A Yakan of Lamitan, Basilan for his dexterity in
playing Yakan musical instruments such as the agung, gabbang, tuntungan,
and kwintangan.
9. Darhata Sawabi, (2004). A weaver of Parang, Sulu province for helping
preserve the art of “Pis syabit weaving.”
10. Eduardo Mutuc (2004). A Kapampangan from Central Luzon for reviving the
metal or smithcraft of plateria.
11. Haja Amina Appi (2004). A Sama of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, for sharing her
skills in mat weaving among the Sama indigenous community.
12. Teofilo Garcia (2012). A local of San Quintin, Abra, he makes the traditional
hat called tabungaw, the same name of the main material used, the bottle
gourd (upo in Tagalog).
13. Magdalena Gamayo (2012). A master weaver of Pinili, Ilocos Norte for her
skill in weaving the Ilocano textile known as Inabel.
14. Yabing Masalon Dulo (2016). A master weaver of Polomolok, South
Cotabato for his contribution Ikat Weaving.
15. Ambalang Ausalin (2016). A Yakan master weaver of Lamitan, Basilan for
Tennun Weaving skills.
16. Estelita Tumandan Bantilan (2016). A B’laan master weaver of Malapatan,
Sarangani for preserving the Igem Weaving skills.
17. Whang-Od (2017). A traditional tattoo artist (mambabatok) of Buscalan,
Tinglayan, Kalinga.

Other famous Filipino Artists and their Artwork

1. Ang Kiukok (Painting: The Crucifixion)

2. Diosdado Lorenzo (Painting: Still Life Paintings)
3. Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (Painting: Portrait of Presidents- M.Quezon; M.
Roxas; and S. Ozmeña)
4. Guillermo Tolentino (Sculpture: Oblation and the Bonifacio Monument)
5. Hernando Ocampo (Painting: The Contrast)
6. Juan Luna (Painting: Spoliarium)
7. Napoleon Abueva (Sculpture: Allegorical Harpoon)
8. Solomon Saprid ( Sculpture: Tikbalang)
9. Victorio Edades (Painting: The Builders)
10. Vicente Rivera (Painting: Supplication)

REFERENCES

Sanchez, C.A. et al (2012), Introduction to the Humanities, Rex Book Store

Ernesto Thaddeus M. Solmerano, Art Appreciation, First Edition, Copyright 2019
SBCTC & Lumen Learning. (n.d.) Art Appreciation. Retrieved Last March 18,2021
from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/masteryart1/