DEVELOPING

FILIPINO IDENTITY IN
THE ARTS
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The students are expected to be able to:

1. Identify the different art forms and practices in the plains and
valleys of Luzon.

2. Appreciate the different art forms in Luzon specifically

textiles, performance arts and myths and epics.

3. Create an artwork based on the art forms in Luzon.

Textiles and Vanity
 Introduction
Before the Spanish colonial period,
Filipinos bartered cotton cloth for goods
that they fancied. The most sought after
clothing, were made of local cotton, piña,
sinamay, silk and jusi.
 Local cotton Sinamay

Piña Fabric Jusi Fabric Hemp Silk Fabric

 PIÑA
Piña was considered a luxury that it amounted
to a provincial governor’s wage in the 1890's.
It was embroidered delicately, as were fans
and handkerchiefs. It was sturdy and longer
lasting compared to jusi, that blended piña
threads and silk. The cheaper attire considered
of sinamay (pineapple and hemp) or jusi
(pineapple and silk).
 EMBROIDERY
Embroidery is called pagbuburda in the
Tagalog regions. Household linen was
always embellished with it. Runners for
church and household altars are also
embroidered. Vestments used for
ecclesiastical occasions, such as the priest’s
robes, were sometimes embroidered with
gold threads.
 EMBROIDERY
Embroidery is called pagbuburda in the
Tagalog regions. Household linen was
always embellished with it. Runners for
church and household altars are also
embroidered. Vestments used for
ecclesiastical occasions, such as the priest’s
robes, were sometimes embroidered with
gold threads.
 EMBROIDERY
In the 19th century, Manila and Taal, Batangas were almost synonymous to
embroidery. The woman who created the Philippine flag used by Emilio
Aguinaldo for the declaration of independence hailed from Taal, Batangas.
While in Hong Kong, General Emilio Aguinaldo requested her to sew the
flag that would represent the Republic of the Philippines. Doña Marcela
Mariño de Agoncillo, with her eldest daughter Lorenza and a friend Delfina
Herbosa de Natividad, niece of Dr. Jose Rizal, manually sewed the flag in
accordance with General Emilio Aguinaldo's design which later became the
official flag of the Republic of the Philippines.
 EMBROIDERY
Nuns of the Assumption Convent in Manila
also used to teach embroidery, but it is hardly
integrated in basic school education
curriculum. Therefore, embroidery today is
an art form in danger of disappearing.
 EMBROIDERY
Embroidery by hand is usually learned informally among a
community of practitioners, who are often women and who are
most likely relatives.

Women creating are women conversing together. They interact

casually, telling stories to one another as they sew. They
themselves assess whether a creation is well made (pinagbuti),
fine (pino), meticulous (masinsin). Embroidery requires patience,
neatness and orderliness for it is a meticulous craft, a yaring
kamay.
Performance, faith and the
everyday
 Elena Rivera Mirano
Elena Rivera Mirano, an art historian and professor, had a
groundbreaking research on the Musikang Pantinig ng
Lumang, Bauan, Batangas which identifies several vocal
forms.

The huluna
The huluna is a vocal form used to lull babies to sleep.
Because it is performed in intimate spaces, this vocal form
allows the performer to articulate affections, complaints, and
the like.
 The awit
It is a vocal and solo instrumental form. The forms are generally sung in
free verse, with the punto or accents determined by Tagalog language as
spoken.

Pandanggo
Music used for accompanying dances.

Pabasa
Mirano also describe the pabasa as a community effort often hosted by
wealthy families. It is recited in the form of a song, the content based on the
Casaysayan ng Pasyong Mahal and is often unaccompanied by music.
 Performance, Faith and the Everyday
• The Senakulo, also called passion y muerte (passion and death), is staged during
Lent. The Senakulo has reached heights of technical sophistication with its colorful
display of costumes and props during Lent.
• Secular plays such as komedya (also known as moro-moro, linambay, and arkayo)
are also present.
• Komedya is a play in verse widely performed in the region. It was introduced
locally by colonizers in the 16th century and popularized in town celebrations.
• Luzon is also the site of social dances such as fandango, mazurka, waltz and valse.
• Courtship is stylized in the cariñosa and pandanggo while the habanera botolena
and sinambali are dances performed in weddings.
Performance, Faith and the Everyday
 Processing Questions
1. The most sought after clothing, were made of _______?
2. It was considered a luxury that it amounted to a provincial
governor’s wage in the 1890's.
3. Embroidery is called _____________ in the Tagalog regions.
4. Vestments used for ecclesiastical occasions, such as the priest’s
robes, were sometimes embroidered with ____________.
5. It is an art form in that is in danger of disappearing today.
 Processing Questions
1. Women creating embroidered products are women ___________________.
2. Embroidery requires patience, neatness and orderliness for it is a
meticulous craft, a ___________.
3. It is a vocal form used to lull babies to sleep.
4. She is an art historian and professor, had a groundbreaking research on the
Musikang Pantinig ng Lumang, Bauan, Batangas which identifies several
vocal forms.
5. Music used for accompanying dances.
6. She is the woman who created the Philippine flag used by Emilio Aguinaldo
for the declaration of independence hailed from Taal, Batangas.
Myths and Epics
 Introduction
In his work Balatik, the late Dante Ambrosio
wrote that our ancestors have always been
fascinated by stars and how their beliefs
intertwined with their knowledge of the
constellations guided them in their daily lives
and across seasons.
 Introduction
• Among the constellations and asterisms
that were named by our ancestors, two
were given wide recognition among the
diverse regions of the Philippine
archipelago - Balatik and Moroporo.
 BALATIK
• Popularly known as the "Tres Marias" (The Three
Marias) in Tagalog, Magbangal in Bukidnon, and
Seretar in Teduray, Balatik is composed of perfectly
aligned and evenly spaced stars which act as the "belt"
of the constellation of Orion (the Hunter which is
observable in the night sky during the month of October
to May). In Palawan and Ibaloi however, Balatik is seen
as both the "sword" and "belt" of Orion.
BALATIK (ORION HUNTER)
 MOROPORO
• The second one, Moroporo, is also known by many
names such as "Supot ni Hudas", Mapolon
(Tagalog), San Apon (Ibaloi), and Kufukufu
(Teduray). In other parts of the world, it is known as
the star cluster Pleiades (Seven Sisters) located in the
constellation of Taurus the Bull and appears
sometime in the month of January.
MOROPORO
 MYTHS
They attach causality to existing natural
phenomena, such as earthquakes, floods,
torrential rains, thunder and lightning, volcanic
eruptions, eclipses, the changing of the tides, and
how land masses were formed and decimated.
 MYTHS
Myths also reveal a certain hierarchy among
deities. It is interesting to note that deities are
ascribed with human qualities – they are fallible
and they sometimes succumb to human emotions
like loneliness, jealousy, love and rage.
 MYTHS

Myths also reveal concepts of good and

evil, justice and retribution, the scared
and profane, and a sense of the common
welfare.
THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE FIRST HUMANS (Tagalog
Creation Myth)

Bathala was a caretaker of the earth and was lonely. The

other ancient gods were Ulilang Kaluluwa, a traitor who
lived in the clouds, and Galang Kaluluwa, a winged god.
Bathala and Ulilang Kaluluwa had a chance meeting on
earth but the latter saw the former as rival. They fought
for three days.
THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE FIRST HUMANS (Tagalog
Creation Myth)

When Ulilang Kaluluwa was defeated, Bathala

burned his body. After some time, Bathala met
Galang Kaluluwa and they became friends. When
the latter became ill, he asked Bathala to bury him in
the same spot where the serpent was burned and
soon, a coconut tree grew.
THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE FIRST HUMANS (Tagalog
Creation Myth)

Bathala then created the first man and woman and

the coconut tree provided for most of their needs.
Thus, it can be said that the coconut tree is the tree
of life. Bathala is considered the deity(god) of the
Tagalogs.
 GUGURANG AND ASUANG
(BICOL REGION)

According to the Myths: Philippine Folk Literature by

Damiana L. Eugenio (1994), a good deity named
Gugurang resided in Mount Mayon. The people believed
that the volcano rumbled to indicate a warning for them
to mend their ways and offer a sacrifice (atang).
 GUGURANG AND ASUANG
(BICOL REGION)

He was Gugurang, the chief deity of Bicol who was ready

to exact judgment on the people by making the volcano
erupt to wipe them out when they are beyond reproach.
He also controlled fire and thus controlled the welfare of
the people. He was the brother of Asuang and lived in
Mount Malinao, Albay.
 GUGURANG AND ASUANG
(BICOL REGION)

Long ago, good and evil deities co-exist as a form of

check and balance. However, Asuang grew jealous and
asked Gugurang for fire. He wanted to have the power to
harm people if he grew angry. Unlike the Christian God,
deities like Gugurang are not almighty and absolute.
 GUGURANG AND ASUANG
(BICOL REGION)

In the argument, between the two brothers, it is revealed

that even Gugurang cannot control the fire fully, the
earth rumbles beyond his will when people are lawless-
and thus the fire has to be kept in Mount Mayon.
Gugurang refused and called his brother a “lay god”
because Mount Mayon was more beautiful than Malinao.
 GUGURANG AND ASUANG
(BICOL REGION)
Asuang decide to oppose his brother whom he saw as vain.
Asuang made himself invisible just as Gugurang tried to hurt
him. He then gathered evil spirits and encouraged the people to
commit lawless acts. Gugurang tried to restore order and
required the people for an atang. Soon, Asuang was able to steal
fire from the chamber by tempting the helpers (catambang) with
gold.
 GUGURANG AND ASUANG
(BICOL REGION)
He went back to head for Mount Malinao with the stolen fire in
a coconut husk container. However, he was unable to control the
fire that ravaged towns that he passed by. Gugurang eventually
caught up to his brother and wept to the heavens (calangitan)
for continues heavy rains so that the fires will be stopped. He
then sent a thunderbolt that decimated Mount Malinao in half.
Thus, to this day, Asuang was considered the enemy of the good
and the people.
Written Work #4
Directions: List at least five (5)
superstitious beliefs about constellations
in the Philippines on one whole sheet of
yellow paper.
Performance Task #4
Directions: Show your most creative self in
creating an infographic about at least ten
(10) mythical creatures in the Philippines.
Your infographic must be a DIY not a
printed one.