CONTEMPORARY ARTS
REVIEWER
LESSON 1: INTEGRATIVE ART AS APPLIED TO
CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE PHILIPPINES
INTEGRATIVE ART AS APPLIED
TO CONTEMPORARY ART
Art plays a significant part in the rich cultural identity of the Philippines. It mirrors
the Filipino people, its history, its tradition, and the country as a whole. Diverse
art forms in the different parts of the archipelago, when integrated, will give a clear
picture of what kind of country the Philippines is and what kind of people the Filipinos
are. These art forms developed from the early times and continue to evolve up to the
present. From the ethnic tradition, it continues to progress to contemporary art
tradition.
ETYMOLOGY
The term “art” is related to the Latin word “ars” meaning skill or craft. The first
known use of the word comes from 13th century manuscripts. However, the word
art and its many variants (Artem, Eart, etc...) have probably existed since the
founding of Rome. There are a lot of ways to define art as there are different people
in the universe. Therefore, its meaning varies from one person to another depending
on the unique perspective and character of an individual.
ART AS DEFINED BY FOREIGN PERSONS:
1. Pablo Picasso - “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off one's soul”.
2. Leo Tolstoy - “Art is human activity, a means of communication between people
which allows the expression of emotions of the artists who expressed them”.
3. Jean Sibelius - “Art is the signature of civilization”.
ART AS DEFINED BY LOCAL OR FILIPINO ICONS:
4. Sen. Loren Legarda - “Art should be an enabler for development”.
5. Mayor Lino Cayetano - “Taguig believes that in supporting culture, arts and
Philippine cinema, we will have a wider and more comprehensive understanding of
the issues and many other things. These will help in our goal of unity”.
6. Chairman Felipe De Leon of National Commission for Culture and the Arts -
“The development of the arts, the development of everything else will follow just like
during the Renaissance period, when the flourishing of the arts paved the way for
social and governmental advances”.
7. Dingdong Dantes, Actor - “Contrary to the notion that we only exist to entertain,
artists are actually storytellers of our nation’s past, present and future. We help bring
people together, we help Filipino stand as one nation as we have always done in the
past and are continuing to do during the current pandemic”.
8. Louie Gordon Yu Lee, Chinese–Filipino Artist - “Art is a way to create national
identity. It transforms our nation and brings peace and progress between the Chinese
and the Filipinos”.
ENGAGING WITH ARTS
The development of Philippine Art comes in three major traditions. These are the
Ethnic or Indigenous Tradition, Spanish Colonial tradition, and the American
Colonial or the Contemporary Art Traditions. The period between 1860’s to 1960’s
is referred to as the practice of Modern Art. Modern Art continuously develops even
after World War II, which led to the contemporary way of art making today.
Contemporary Art refers to the recent and current practice of art ranging from the
1970’s up to the present. It uses a combination of different methods, materials, and
ideas that transcend the traditional way of art making today.
ART IN THE PHILIPPINES
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
ETHNIC / INDIGENOUS TRADITION
 Primarily influenced by the geographical location and the
experiences of the Filipinos.
 In terms of visual arts pottery, weaving, wood carving, and metal
crafting is predominant.
 The use of available materials in the surroundings like bamboo, cogon,
cane, and rattan and other light materials was used in architecture.
 Folk literature are composed of songs and narratives that verbalized
their daily life experiences.
 Tribal presentations and rituals depicting their beliefs serves as the
ethnic theater arts.
 Music uses indigenous instruments like bamboo flutes and brass
gongs.
SPANISH COLONIAL TRADITION
 Western art forms replace indigenous art.
FIRST SEMESTER
 Religion was a great influence in the art, friars supervised the practice
of arts with the aim of spreading Christianity.
 Religious plays like Komedya were very popular.
 Religious dances were choreographed to honor patron saints, while
secular dance steps like valse, fandango, polka, and minuet were
performed in social functions.
 Piano was introduced alongside other western musical instruments.
 Bands and Orchestra multiplied as the Zarzuela and Operas became
prevalent.
 In architecture, bricks and stones were used in constructing churches,
houses, and government offices.
Spanish art in the Philippines was a mixture of Western and Indigenous Art.
Filipino Artists still put Filipino touch on their art pieces.
AMERICAN COLONIAL
AND CONTEMPORARY TRADITION
 The Americans brought many changes in politics, economy,
education, and culture of the Philippines.
 The emergence of technology affected the way of art in the country.
 Innovations and experimental approaches rose above traditional art
practices and methodologies.
 New form of expression came, called Avant Garde in nature.
 Modern Art ( 1860 to 1960 ) continuously developed even after the
World War II.
Art form was broadened and non-conventional artwork with a wide range of themes
was prevalent making the way for the Contemporary Art Field.
LESSON 2: CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS AND
PRACTICES FROM THE REGIONS
THE PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ART
is divided into seven major art forms:
1. Visual Arts
2. Literature
3. Music
4. Theater
5. Dance
6. Architecture
7. Film
MAJOR ART FORMS + THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND
INITIATIVES
VISUAL ARTS
 Filipinos studied abroad and introduced modern art in the country,
they were Victorio Edades, Juan Arellano and Diosdado Lorenzo.
 Victorio Edades introduced the use of dull colors and dark hues in
his works which surprised the Filipino audience at that time.
 In the American period, the subjects of artworks shifted from rural to
urban themes.
 After WWII artists started creating proletarian art which depicts the
life after the war.
 Paris Cubism took the scene, it is a kind of cubism showing fragmented
figures in larger planes, color harmonies and texture (e.g., Nipa Hut
of Vicente Manansala).
 H.R. Ocampo is a well-known abstractionist.
 Magic Realism is a style in painting showing minute details of the
subject and highlighting their color and texture.
 The use of indigenous materials became a trend in sculpture to
promote environmental awareness.
 Initiatives were done by the National Commission for Culture and
the Arts to encourage young artists to take part in enriching the
country’s visual art.
LITERATURE
CONTEMPORARY ARTS
 The bond between the Philippines and the Americans continued even
after the Independence in 1946, with the continual flourishment of
modernization in the art.
 The “Bagay” movement takes in a kind of poetry which uses colloquial
language and is built in concrete images which tend to describe
experiences.
 Different themes such as nationalism, oppression and fighting for human
rights, social protest and social realism became evident in the poem,
narratives, prose, and poetry of the artists in Literature.
 Short story writing after WWII focused on self-consciousness and self-
expression of the writer.
 The rise of the nationalistic poetry discussing poverty, inequality,
political turmoil, and other social problems started during the Marcos
Era.
 During the contemporary period, there are also short stories which use
vernacular language.
 The Contemporary Philippine Literature was a mixture of a variety
of subjects. It is also a product of different innovative techniques of
writers.
MUSIC
 In the early American period, the music was mostly classical due to
the influence of the European.
 Avant-garde music emerged in the ‘60s.
 Philippine music continuously evolved and Pinoy pop or Filipino pop
music sets in, that covers different forms like jazz, dance hits, folk
songs, revival, rock and roll, rap and other more.
 Manila sound was born, which is characterized as Western derived with
English lyrics but with pure Filipino spirit.
 Original Pilipino Music( OPM ) became popular and this kind of music
is composed and sung by Filipino composers and singers.
 The OPM was followed by another form of popular music called
“Alternative Music” with themes like Filipino values, political and
environmental concerns, and other societal issues.
 The music of Freddie Aguilar “Anak”, “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” by Heber
Bartolome are examples of alternative music.
 The establishment of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay
City paves the way for the Filipino music to flourish. There were
provincial art councils that were built to preserve the traditional music
and local composers continuously create vernacular songs. Local festivals
like Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Festival, were given importance.
THEATER ARTS
 The American introduced the bodabil or stage show in the country, it
was not a form of stage play since it was composed of songs, dances and
skits.
 Bodabil in the Japanese times included melodrama.
 In the early stage of Philippine theater, Western culture greatly
influenced theater production, thus the theater was called
Americanized.
 Exposure to different theatrical styles and dramatic theories, the
Filipinos in the field of theater started to experiment on traditional
theater forms like the sarswela, komedya, and senakulo.
 National artists Lamberto Avellana, Severino Montano and Wilfrido
Ma. Guerrero made a significant contribution in the progress of
Philippine theater.
 Musicals with contemporary themes, dance dramas employing ethnic
music and choreography are examples of different theater art forms
today.
 The establishments of theater groups from Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao are regional initiatives to develop the theater arts in the
country.
DANCE
FIRST SEMESTER
REVIEWER
 In the American period, vaudeville or bodabil dancing became popular.
 Ballet dance groups went to the Philippines to perform and
influenced Filipinas like Remedios de Oteyza and Leonor Orosa to the
field of ballet.
 Modern dance sets are revolutionary in nature because they do not
conform to the rules of classical ballet.
 Folk and social dances followed the rise of modern dance.
 Dance forms are still alive in contemporary settings, and traditional
folk dances are a special treat to audience during fiestas and festivals.
The Sinulog Festival in Cebu, Ati Atihan in Aklan, Sayaw sa Obando in
Bulacan are few of the tourist attractions that add to the merriment of the
Filipino occasion.
 Many dance groups were established like the Integrated Performing
Arts Guild in the Mindanao State University, Teatro Amakan in Iloilo,
and an art school in Laguna, the Philippine High School for the Arts are
few of the performing groups founded to develop, promote and preserve
Philippine dance.
ARCHITECTURE
 In the American colonial and Contemporary Period, the Philippine
architecture adopted the Modern and western architectural design
while taking into considerations the physical and socio-cultural situation
of the country.
 The Philipine architecture was characterized as simple, rational and
functional.
 Young Filipinos studied in American universities and brought
changes in the Philippine architecture.
 Juan Arellano designed the Metropolitan Theater, experimented on
romanticism, incorporating native plants and variety of colors to the
building.
 It was in the early 20th century when the “tsalet” was developed, this is
a type of house on stilts with a front porch made of wood and
concrete.
 Architecture in the country departed from traditional tradition after
WWII, real estate development started to take place, two storey houses
were introduced. Tenement houses, urban housing and government
housing projects emerged due to the increasing population and decreasing
land availability.
 During the Marcos era, there had been construction of expressways,
convention centers, hospitals, hotels, high rise buildings etc.
 In the regional set up, architectural design of buildings was almost similar
to urban architecture.
 Heritage towns like Vigan, Intramuros, Dapitan were given special
attention by the government.
FILM
 The film industry in the Philippines started in 1897.
 The film became popular in 1912 when foreigners Edward Gross and
Harry Brown produced the film about the life of Jose Rizal.
 The first Filipino who produced a film was Jose Nepomuceno and his
work was entitled “Dalagang Bukid”. He was named the “Father of
Philippine Movies”.
 During the Japanese occupation, they brought their kind of films, but
hollywood films were more appealing to the Filipinos.
 Movie production resumed after the war and four film studios
became prominent and considered the Big Four. These are LVN,
Sampaguita, Lebran and Premiere.
 Award giving bodies like Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences
and Maria Clara Awards were instituted to appreciate outstanding
performances.
 Filipino films started to be recognized not just locally but internationally
like “Ifugao” of Gerardo de Leon and “Anak Dalita” of Lamberto
Avellana.
 Regulated film making happened in the Marcos Era and the
establishment of the board of Censorship for Motion Pictures gave birth
to the new cinema.
CONTEMPORARY ARTS
 Directors of the new cinema were Lino Brocka, Celso Ad Castillo and
Ismael Bernal.
 In the contemporary period, Philippine film revolved around a variety
of subjects and themes like martyr wife, superhero, melodramas,
comedies and other more. Among all the art forms, the film has the
largest audience.
LESSON 3: PHILIPPINE ARTISTS AND THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONTEMPORARY ARTS
ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTIST
The Order of National Artists is the highest recognition given to Filipinos who
have contributed significantly to the status of Philippine arts, such as music, visual
arts, literature, film, broadcast arts, theater, dance, architecture, design, and allied arts.
The recognition is sparsely given to artists, with awards sometimes taking place
years apart.
Since its inception in 1972, only 73 individuals have been conferred this highest
honor of becoming a National Artist of the Philippines. Of that number, 26 were
awarded posthumously, including the first National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo.
Originally, the recognition was called the National Artists Award, until it was
elevated in 2003 by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the rank of
Order. The Order is conferred to individuals by the National Commission for the
Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) at
a ceremony in Malacañang Palace. The rank and title of a National Artist, although
conferred by the NCCA and the CCP, bears the power of a presidential proclamation.
To date, the Philippines has conferred the Order of National Artist to 13 individuals
for music, six for dance, eight for theater, seven for architecture, design, and the
allied arts, one for historical literature, seven for film, 14 for literature, and 17 for
visual arts.
Selection and Criteria for the National Artists of the Philippines:
For a person to be considered in the selection of the National Artists Order of the
Philippines, he or she must possess the following qualities, according to the official
gazette. An official gazette is a periodical publication that has been authorised to
publish public or legal notices.
 Must be a Filipino citizen
 Work has contributed to nation-building
 Their distinctive style and pioneering works impacts succeeding
generations of artist
 There is excellence in the practice of their art form
 Their art form enriches artistic expression or style
 Their work is prestigious national and international recognition
The National Artists Order for Music
Antonio R. Buenaventura
In 1935, Antonio Buenaventura together with Francisca Reyes-Aquino, National
Artist for Dance, researched and popularized Philippine folk songs and dances.
He wrote songs and musical arrangements based on the folk songs of different ethnic
groups in the country. He was the conductor of the Philippine Army Band that
brought back the band’s prestige as one of the world’s best military bands that can
sound like a symphony orchestra. Military General.
Antonio J. Molina
The notable contribution of Antonio J. Molina in Philippine music was the use of folk
music in his works. He made innovations by using folk instruments like the
kulintangan and gabbang.
Francisco Feliciano
This world renowned artist created unique musical works by transforming our
indigenous music to a level equal to the music of western countries. Francisco
Feliciano was a musician, composer, teacher and conductor for incorporating
“Asianess” in his music.
Levi Celerio
The National Artist known for making music using a leaf. He was included in the
Guinness Book of World Record for having such talent. He was a great musician
who deserved an honor for enriching the Philippine music. Among his famous pieces
are Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, Ang Pipit, Kalesa, etc. He was
also the lyricist of the famous Christmas song, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.
Ramon P. Santos
An active musicologist, Santos’ interest in traditional music cultures was heretofore
realized in 1976 by embarking on fieldwork to collect and document music from folk
FIRST SEMESTER
REVIEWER
religious groups in Quezon. He has also done research and fieldwork among the Ibaloi
of Northern Luzon. His ethnomusicological orientation has but richly enhanced his
compositional outlook. Embedded in the works of this period are the people-specific
concepts central to the ethnomusicological discipline, the translation of indigenous
musical systems into modern musical discourse, and the marriage of Western and non-
Western sound. He used religious folk songs.
Jovita Fuentes
The first female National Awardee in Music in the Philippines was also the first
Filipina to be acclaimed one of the best opera singers in the world in the early
1900s. She worked with musical clubs and organized concerts and worked for the
establishment of the Music Production Foundation by the Philippine Congress, signed
into law by President Ramon Magsaysay. She worked for the organization of a
Filipino Symphony Orchestra and a Filipino Opera Company. Jovita Fuentes founded
the Artists’ Guild of the Philippines and produced the series “Tour of the
Operaland.” She sang for fund-raising programs for the San Lazaro Hospital, Abiertas
House of Friendship, La Liga de Damas Catolicas, Convento de Monjas Carmelitas,
and Casa de Buen Pastor. She brought honor and glory to her country at a time when
the Philippines was just an insignificant speck in the map for most people in Europe.
Felipe Padilla de Leon
De Leon’s orchestral music include Mariang Makiling Overture (1939), Roca
Encantada, symphonic legend (1950), Maynila Overture (1976), Orchesterstuk (1981);
choral music like Payapang Daigdig, Ako’y Pilipino, Lupang Tinubuan, Ama Namin;
and songs Bulaklak, Alitaptap, and Mutya ng Lahi. He is known as “people’s
musician” for the sentiments and aspirations of his music in times of war and of peace
in our country.
Andrea Veneracion
This National Artist played an important part in the development of the
Philippine choral music. She was the founder of the world renowned choral
group, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, which has won several awards in and
outside the country.
Jose Maceda
Ritual Folk Songs
THE NATIONAL ARTISTS ORDER FOR DANCE
Francisca Reyes-Aquino
This Bulakeña began her research on folk dances in the 1920’s making trips to
remote barrios in Central and Northern Luzon. Her research on the unrecorded forms
of local celebration, ritual and sport resulted into a 1926 thesis titled “Philippine Folk
Dances and Games,” and arranged specifically for use by teachers and playground
instructors in public and private schools. In the 1940’s, she served as supervisor of
physical education at the Bureau of Education that distributed her work and adapted
the teaching of folk dancing as a medium of making young Filipinos aware of their
cultural heritage. In 1954, she received the Republic Award of Merit given by the late
Pres. Ramon Magsaysay for “outstanding contribution toward the advancement of
Filipino culture”, one among the many awards and recognition given to her.
Ramon Obusan
He was a dancer, choreographer, stage designer and artistic director. He achieved
phenomenal success in Philippine dance and cultural work. He was also
acknowledged as a researcher, archivist and documentary filmmaker who
broadened and deepened the Filipino understanding of his own cultural life and
expressions. Through the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG), he had
effected cultural and diplomatic exchanges using the multifarious aspects and
dimensions of the art of dance.
Alice Reyes
The most significant contribution of Alice Reyes in the Philippine dance is the
development of unique Filipino modern dance idiom. She creatively interweaved
Philippine ethnic dance, modern dance and ballet producing a one of a kind
contemporary dance routine. Some of her major works are Amada, Tales of the
Manuyu, Bayanihan, Rama Hari and At a Maranaw Gathering.
Leonor Orosa-Goquinco
She is known as the “Trailblazer”, “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance”, and
“Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics”. Tagged as her most ambitious work is
the Filipinescas: Philippine life, Legend and Lore, a dance epic showing the Filipino
culture from pagan time to the present that elevated the Philippine native folk dance to
its highest level of development.
Lucresia Reyes Urtula
She was the dance director of the Bayanihan Dance Company for three decades. A
multi-awarded company, both nationally and internationally, Bayanihan has awakened
a new pride among Filipinos in their cultural heritage; added a new dimension to the
country’s dance tradition; and has built a rich reserve of international goodwill.
CONTEMPORARY ARTS FIRST SEMESTER
REVIEWER
Among the major works of Urtula are cultural dances namely Singkil, Vinta, Tagabili,
Pagdiwata and Salisid.

THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTIST FOR THEATER

Daisy Avellana
Daisy H. Avellana, is an actor, director and writer. Born in Roxas City, Capiz on
January 26, 1917, she is considered as the “ First Lady of the Philippine and
Theater Plays ”, she elevated legitimate theater and dramatic arts to a new level of
excellence by staging and performing in breakthrough productions of classic Filipino
and foreign plays and by encouraging the establishment of performing groups and the
professionalization of Filipino theater. Together with her husband, National Artist
Lamberto Avellana and other artists, she co-founded the Barangay Theatre Guild in
1939 which paved the way for the popularization of theatre and dramatic arts in the
country, utilizing radio and television.She starred in plays like Othello (1953),
Macbeth in Black (1959), Casa de Bernarda Alba (1967), Tatarin. She is best
remembered for her portrayal of Candida Marasigan in the stage and film versions of
Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Her directorial credits include Diego
Silang (1968), and Walang Sugat (1971). Among her screenplays were Sakay (1939)
and Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1955).

Rolando Tinio
Aside from Theater, Rolando Tinio is also a National Artist for Literature. He was
an outstanding director, poet, thespian and playwright known for his numerous
remarkable productions and notable scripts. With Teatro Pilipino, he revived the
sarswela and other traditional Filipino drama and introduced contemporary western
drama.

Wilfrido Ma. Gurrero

A teacher and theater artist whose 35 years of devoted professorship has
produced the most sterling luminaries in Philippine performing arts today: Behn
Cervantes, Celia Diaz-Laurel, Joy Virata, Joonee Gamboa, etc. In 1947, he was
appointed as UP Dramatic Club director and served for 16 years. As founder and
artistic director of the UP Mobile Theater, he pioneered the concept of theater
campus tour and delivered no less than 2,500 performances in a span of 19
committed years of service. By bringing theatre to the countryside, Guerrero made it
possible for students and audiences in general to experience the basic grammar of
staging and acting in familiar and friendly ways through his plays that humorously
reflect the behavior of the Filipino. His plays include Half an Hour in a Convent,
Wanted: A Chaperon, Forever, Condemned, Perhaps, In Unity, Deep in My Heart,
Three Rats, Our Strange Ways, The Forsaken House, Frustrations.

Honorata “Atang” dela Rama

Hailed as the Queen of Kundiman, she has already been a part of different Spanish
zarzuelas at a very young age of seven. According to Honorata “Atang” dela Rama,
the kundiman and zarzuelas mirror the Filipino people. Dalagang Bukid, Mascota,
Marina, Pangarap ni Rosa are few of the zarzuelas that she portrayed with excellence.

Salvador F. Bernal
An exceptional theater designer, the quality of his designs made him incomparable
to other designers. He used local materials in producing creative and unique sets and
costumes. He was a professor at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de
Manila where he shared his competencies to the aspiring young designers.

Severino Montano
Hailed as the Titan of the Philippine theater, he took the lead in promoting
“legitimate theater” in the country. He was a top caliber playwright, theater artist,
and director who took up degrees in and outside the Philippines, in order to share his
learning and skills to the younger Filipino generation. He became the dean of the
Philippine Normal College where he founded the Arena theater in 1953.The Arena
theater served the grassroots and promoted drama to the masses through school-
community theaters. National Artist Lino Brocka and Rolando Tinio were products of
graduate programs in PNC through the initiative of Severino Montano. Rama Hari
( Rama & Sita ).