HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: PHILIPPINE ART

Form Pre-Conquest Spanish Period American Period Japanese Period Postwar Republic 70s Contemporary
1521-1898 1898-1940 1941-1945 1946-1969

Painting • Potter; body • Religious (icon and • Landscape, • Wartime scene • Modern • Figurative,
adornment, ecclesiastical), portraiture, genre, (aggression,
• conservative, • non-figurative
ornament • secular, interior, still life nationalism,
(portraiture). atrocities, symbolic, • abstract, • art for art’s sake
Sculpture • Pottery, carving • Santos is made of • Free standing, relief, protest, aspiration
for peace) • experimental, • multimedia,
and woodwork, ivory or wood; public
metalwork, and relieves are known • public art • mixed media
expression to be the facade of • Propaganda
churches; and the • transmedia
Carroza or the • Indigenizing and
plateria that is a Orientalizing works,
pedestal used in genre, idyllis
religious Catholic Amorsolo, Francisco,
procession where Ocampo)
an image is
loaded.
Architecture • Earliest Filipinos • Plaza Complex • All architectural • Public works • Real estate, safe housing, accessories,
are known to be was introduced; designs are classical tenements, squatters, convention arch,
dwelling in caves. churches were in nature, including art commercial/ business, condos, malls,
built in cruciform deco design on subdivisions, development, low-cost
• Houses, shelters, following the buildings and houses. housing
worship areas, shape of the Latin
official Cross. • Major buildings are
residences, Neo-Classical in
mosque, masjid, • Churches are designs the same
state edifices baroque in design designs used in
but Filipino design Washington DC.
was incorporated;
and houses are • During this time,
Daniel Burnham
 known to be Bahay commissioned to
na Bato. design Manila and
Baguio, while William
Parsons implemented
the Burnham plans.
Theater • During the pre- • When the • Another important • By the 1940s, when • After the Japanese • Theatre had moved
historic times, Spaniards reached form of theater the Japanese took occupation, the out of classrooms
theater in the our shores, they popularized during over the Philippines Philippine theatre and the concept of
Philippines was used dramas such the Spanish from the Americans, has evolved to paying for a ticket to
in the form as zarzuelas as a colonization is movie actors and become an see a theatrical
of indigenous pedagogical tool the comedia, also actresses could no amalgamation of performance
rituals, verbal to influence the known as moro-moro, longer appear in the various emerged. This
jousts or games, pagan tribes and linambay, or arakyo films, as the influences such “legitimate” theatre
or songs and teach them about . Japanese that of was held in closed
dances to praise Christianity and • It plays in verse that confiscated all film the zarzuela, come theaters.
gods. religion. portrays the lives, equipment. dia, bodabil, and
loves, and wars of western classics. • Through the years,
• According to moors and Christians. • However, Philippine theatre
early chronicles, the comedia, zarzuel • Theatre was groups have staged
pre-historic a,and bodabil remain largely performed numerous plays in
dramas ed in the country as in English during both English and
consisted of forms of the time, as it Filipino, be it written
three elements – entertainment and became a large by a Western or
myth, mimesis, expression. part of classroom local playwright.
and spectacle. education.
• Spanish culture and
• Meanwhile, traditions largely
zarzuelas such as influence
“Ang Kiri,” performing arts in
“Dalagang Bukid,” the Philippines, but
and “Paglipis ng the contemporary
Dilim” became style is borrowed
well-known beyond from the
their regions. Americans.
Literature • It can be in • Baybayin from • The Philippines had a • The use of English • During • There are a lot of
written and Mangyans of great leap in language was the Japanese literary innovations
oral form. Mindoro was one Education and forbidden and the occupation, writing that are adapted
• Cave drawings of the only Culture. use of Filipino in English was and created by
and writings are preserved Filipinos.
 the earliest traditional writings • The use of English language was consigned to • Nowadays, even
forms of written of the Filipinos. alongside was mandated. limbo. those who do not
literature, and practiced. have any
rituals, chants, • Doctrina Christiana • For some this was a • Most of the significant literary
and storytelling (the teachings of • The literature during problem, but to English writers background make
are the earliest Christianity) was the American period most writers, it was were forced to their own way
forms of oral introduced by the was considered as a blessing in write in Tagalog or using the freedom
literature. Spaniards imitative of American disguise. joined in the that they have to
Model. Instead of underground and write and to
asking the students • Filipino literature wrote English express.
to write originals, they was given a break stories based on
ended up following during this period. the battles to serve
the form of American Many wrote plays, as propaganda
poets. poems, short pieces in boosting
stories. Topics and the morale of the
themes often about guerrillas.
life in the provinces.
Visual Arts/ • Sculpture, • Most of the • Fernando Amorsolo • The development of • The support of the • It was on the on-set
painting paintings, and artworks express a became famous art was also stopped Philippine of the sudden rise of
pottery were the hidden desire for during the American resulting in being Government for personal computers
widely known rebellion against Period because of his the dark period of the arts via the and new technology
forms of visual Spain, such as the paintings that depict Philippine history. creation of the created a new art
arts in the Pre- Basi Revolt that is Filipino culture. Cultural Center of medium for the arts
Colonial Period. a series of 14 • Guillermo Tolentino • Modern art slowly the Philippines and human
paintings by with his famous penetrating the art during 1969, gave expression. But
• The tattoos Esteban Villanueva sculptures, the UP world. Most of the a venue for all there were also
from the Oblation (1935) and artworks depict the artist to countless revivals of
pintados in • Carta Hydrograpica the Bonifacio sentiments of artists experiment and old styles being
Panay, the Bulul y Chorographica de Monument (1933). during the war. explore different done. This started a
that is a Ias Yslas Filipinas art medium typing new direction for the
wooden that is the first • Modern closely to the Post arts thus, setting the
sculpture of the scientific map of artists emerged, Modern Art Period name, momentarily,
rice God of the Philippines by such as Victorio of the West. the Philippine
Ifugaos, and the Francisco Suarez Edades together • In contrast, social Contemporary
Manunggul and Nicolas deal with Carlos "Botong" realism became a Period.
burial jar that Cruz Bagay. Francisco and Galo heavy theme by
was found in Hernandes who most Filipino artist
Palawan. • The Spolarium of were considered as as a social
Juan Luna that the "'Triumvirates" commentary of the
 won as the Gold that pioneered problem brewing in
Medalist in Spain. modern arts in the the Philippine
country. political and social
landscape.
Film • Long before the • The first film • In 1919, Jose • The drama • Film Industry was • In the early 1970s,
coming of screenings in the Nepomuceno’s experienced a lull regarded as the propaganda films
cinema in the Philippines took Dalagang Bukid during the Japanese first golden age of became rampant as
Philippines, place on January (Country Maiden) was period because Philippine cinema. the Marcos regime
theater originated 1, 1897. The title released. movie houses One the most strove to retain their
in the culture of of the films shown showing American notable of these control and power
the country’s were Un Homme • Dalagang Bukid is the films were closed. was Manuel over the country.
early societies. Au Chapeau ( Man first (silent) film Conde’s Genghis The government
with a Hat), Une produced in the • The big movie Khan (1952), the created a
• Their theatron scene de danse Philippines. houses were just first Asian film to censorship board
was on the Japonaise (Scene made to show stage be screened at the that would regulate
ground within the from a Japanese • Film began to be shows. Venice and Cannes films and ban those
community. Dance), Les Boxers recognized as Film Festivals. that criticize the
(The Boxers) and another medium of • Many of the plays administration.
• Imitative dances La Place de art. were reproductions • At this point, the
were performed L’Opera (The Place of English plays to Philippine film • Despite censorship
in ritual dance L’Opera). The films • Stories from Tagalog. industry averaged mandate, the 80s
plays by ritual were projected at Philippine Literature about 350 films per was the peak of the
practitioners to the Salon de and popular theater year, making the second golden era of
placate entities Pertierra at No. 12 were the main Philippines second Philippine Cinema.
thought to Escolta, Manila. sources of storyline to Japan in terms
control the and characterization. of number of film • In 2000s, the rise of
seasons and • In the same year, productions per the digital age in
elements, ensure the Lumiere • The local audience year in Asia. filmmaking swiftly
the fertility of the Cinematograph embraced Philippine made its way in the
earth, and bring was first cinema’s focus on local industry,
the tribe success introduced in the war and heroism making it easier for
in warfare and Philippines by a during this era. independent
hunting. Spanish soldier filmmakers to
named Antonio produce films.
Ramos.
Music • Ancestors used • Pasyon or Pabasa • American lifestyle • Playing and listening • After • In the 21st century,
instrumental and that narrates about and pop culture gave to music were independence in bands such as
vocal music. the passion of rise to music created among the leisure 1946, Philippine Parokya ni Edgar,
Christ is by Filipinos using activities that music showed a Rivermaya, and
 • Songs to introduced in western pop forms. somehow made life marked growth in Sandwich have all
celebrate festive 1742. Referred to as Pinoy bearable for cultural made their names
occasions, such pop it includes a wide Filipinos. consciousness known in the music
as marriage, • The kundiman range of forms: folk and nationalism. industry with their
birth, victories in Filipino love song songs, dance tunes, • Under their rule, the brand of music and
battle, or the flourish. ballads, Broadway Japanese imposed • Music schools style.
resolution of type songs, rock’ n’ their own music on increased from the
tribal disputes, • The Opening of the roll, disco, jazz, and the country. pre-war 12 to 33, • More new forms of
courting Suez Canal - rap. Japanese music was offering Bachelor Filipino music are
songs are among Galleon Trade was heard daily in radio of Music courses in emerging and
the vocal genres. performed with the • They also made broadcasts. Their piano, voice, hopefully will
dances music a part of the songs were also strings and wind continue to flourish
• Work songs Pandanggo, tango, educational taught in public instruments, music in the future.
related to polka, dansa, curriculum. schools. theory,
planting, rigodon, habanera, composition and
harvesting, and and jota. • This developed the • The performance of music education.
fishing are musical skills of the jazz and Western
another vocal • It also produced Filipinos who used music identified with • Some schools
genre. religious music this skill to imitate the allied nations of offer course for
connected to and Western music and to the war was the Master of
outside the create local versions prohibited. Music degree.
Catholic liturgy. of Western music.
REFERENCES:

PAINTING, SCULPTURE, ARCHITECTURE: https://www.preceden.com/timelines/631577-history-of-philippine-art

https://www.preceden.com/timelines/632415-history-of-philippine-art

THEATER: https://www.solaireresort.com/article/the-evolution-of-philippine-
theatre#:~:text=During%20the%20pre%2Dhistoric%20times,myth%2C%20mimesis%2C%20and%20spectacle.

LITERATURE: https://www.slideshare.net/augustianelijah/the-philippine-literary-history

VISUAL ARTS: https://www.preceden.com/timelines/667670-history-of-philippine-art

FILMS: http://sdfilipinocinema.org/philippine-cinema-history/

MUSIC: https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/music/philippine-music-a-historical-overview/
https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/himig/philippine-music-during-the-japanese-occupation/