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Contemporary Art Defined

Contemporary art is the art that springs out of the present-day events and passions of the
society. It is the newest form of art, amusing people from the middle to the late 20th century
up to this very minute.

Authorities in the arts place the emergence of contemporary art sometime during the start of
postmodernism in the west, around the late 1970s. This was the time when artists reacted to
the previous art called modernism, whose idea of using a pure, simplified, and a streamlined
form and style was fundamental in creating something new at that time.

Contemporary Art vs. Modern Art

In grade 10, you have come across the different art forms of the Modern Era. You have
learned about the movements, the artist and the other by-products of the late 1800s up to the
mid-20th century.

Perhaps the main distinction between modern art and contemporary art is the time period in
which they have existed. Modern art emerged in the late 1800s and continued to grow for
more or less a century. It slowly waned in the middle to late 20th century when
postmodernism came to light. Postmodernism then give birth to what we know now as
contemporary art. This art exists up to this day, and no one knows when a new period will
arrive to veil contemporary art in its shadow.

The Subject and Elements of Art

The Subject of Art

To create your own contemporary piece, you must fully understand what makes an artwork a
true work of art. You must first explore the subject of art.

In visual design, there are different ways or styles of depicting a subject. Get to know these
styles through the works of art of various Filipino contemporary artist

1. Realism
The first style is realism in which the subject is done the way it actually looks. An
example of this is the painting of Araceli Dans, the Bridal White.
2. Distortion The artist uses his or her imagination and alters the subject according to his
or her desire. A stylized work is a form of distortion like Norma Belleza’s
painting, the Fiesta.

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3. Abstraction
The artist breaks a part a subject and rearranges it in a different manner. The
paintings of the National Artist Vicente Manansala belong to this category.
4. Non Objectivism
In here, there is no subject at all-just an interplay of pure elements, like line, shape or
color, and so on. A good example of this is the painting of Roberto Chabet which is
on Acrylic paper.

Elements of Art

Art forms in the different regions vary in subject, theme, style, medium, and technique.
However as you have learned in Grade 7, there are certain characteristics that are common to
all. The following are the elements of art:

1. Space
 Space in visual arts can be defined as a void, an emptiness which can either
be positive or negative.
 Space refers to the area that is occupied by an object or a subject, as well as
the area surrounding that object or subject. An illusion of space can still be
created in a two-dimensional surface using perspective. There are two types
of perspective: atmospheric perspective, which utilizes the properties of light
and air in depicting the illusion of distance; and linear perspective, which
involves the use of vanishing points and receding hidden lines.

2. Line
 Line is the extension of a point, a short or long mark drawn or carved on a
surface.
 This refers to a prolongation of a point or a mark on a surface. Solid lines can
be used in order to define form while broken lines are typically used to
suggest hidden forms.

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3. Shape and Form

 When the ends of a line meet, they form a shape. It can also be described as a
figure separate from its surrounding area or background.
 This element refers to an area with boundaries identified or drawing lines. A
shape may be natural or living forms called an organic shape and can be
irregular or rounded. It may also be measured forms called geometric shape.

4. Color
 Probably the most striking art element that catches the eye is color. It is a
sensation created by visible wavelengths of light caught in a prism.
 This refers to visual perception that allows a person to differentiate objects
due to the way various wavelengths of light are reflected. Color is a very
important element because it can communicate information and emotion to
the viewer. These are the three properties of color:

 Hue, which refers to the basic or pure color, and is represented in the
color wheel.
 Value, which refers to the lightness and darkness of color. A light color
or tint is the result of adding white to a hue, while a dark color or shade
results from adding black to a hue.
 Saturation, which refers to brightness and dullness of color. It is also
referred to as purity of the color. A bright color can be produced by
adding more pigment to the same hue, while a dull color can be
produced by adding gray or the color’s complement to the pigment

 The color wheel is an arrangement of primary, secondary and tertiary

colors. It is important tool to identify which colors can work well if
used in a certain artwork which is the color schemes or color
relationships. These are some of the color schemes:

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5. Value
 In visual arts, value is the degree of lightness and darkness of a color.

6. Texture
 Texture is the surface of an artwork. A texture can be actual or tactile,
meaning, it can really be felt by touch, or it can be simulated or illusory,
which mean it can only be seen, not felt.
 This element refers to the feel or appearance of a surface. Person may
describe as actual or implied. Actual texture can be felt tangibly based on the
material that is used for the artwork while implied texture can be exhibited,
for instance, in a painting of fur of an animal.

7. Time and Motion

 Movement in the visual arts can either be an illusion or an actual motion. An
illusion of movement is more common in two-dimensional artworks. On the
other hand, actual motion is easily seen in kinetic sculpture that moves with the
wind or are vibrating with the surrounding air.

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Philippine Art Forms in Modern and Contemporary Era in Various Regions

Artistic works produced in the period beginning in the 1860s and ended in the 1970s. On this
module let us describe the two forms of arts in the Philippines, the dance and the painting.

Philippine Arts in Modern Era

 It has evolved into a wide variety of expressions and medium turning the country into
a situation of creative upheavals
 Modern Filipino Artists have more freedom to explore on his own.
 Their style is from cross-cultural exposures in the Eastern and Western world yet they
have not forgotten their Filipino roots.
 Many of them use color for their emotional rather than intellectual values.

Contemporary Era
 It follows modern art, beginning from 1970s to now and ongoing.
 Contemporary artworks use a variety of materials and techniques, including new
technologies such as computers, three-dimensional, live elements and performances,
etc.

Example of Contemporary Art in Some Regions in the Philippines

I. Dance
 A performing art that involves rhythmic body movement within a given space,
choreographed based on musical beat. Performed either in front of an audience or by
everyone on a dance floor.

Elements of Dance

1. Theme – most basic element of a dance. It conveys the message of a dance.

2. Design – pattern of movement in time and space.
3. Movement – the bodily actions of the dancer that include his steps
4. Technique – the skill of movement executed by the dancer
5. Music – the auditory background to which a dancer moves
6. Costume & body paraphernalia – properties worn by the dancer that help reflect the
message, customs and beliefs
7. Choreography – the figures and steps in dancing that enable the dancers to perform in
an organized manner
8. Scenery – the background or setting where the dance is performed to make it more
realistic and enriching

Some Examples of Contemporary (Folk/Ethnic) Dance in Mindanao

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A. Pangalay: A Tausug Dance

Pangalay is a traditional Tausug dance, from Jolo and Tawi-Tawi, characterized by elaborate
body postures and gestures and the graceful arm and hand movement of the dancer, amplified
by the use of janggay or metal claws. The dance is performed to the music of the kulintangan,
gandang, agong and gabang. Commonly referred to as the fingernail dance, Pangalay is
usually performed during weddings and other festive celebrations.

Kulintang/Kulintangan

Refers to a racked gong chime instrument played in

the southern islands of the Philippines, along with
its varied accompanying ensembles.

The Kulintang

Pangalay is a living link to the traditional dance cultures of Asia with closest affinity to the
Indian, Javanese, Thai, Burmese and Cambodian styles of classical dancing.

Pangalay is basically pure dancing. A sense of anti-linear time pervades the slow, refined,
meditative, elegant and almost hypnotic movements. The dancer’s serious face with
downcast eyes creates a mask-like expression, matched by a countenance generally refined,
dignified but without stiffness.

Postures and gestures suggest emotional metaphors and symbols that offer a broad range of
expression. For instance: outstretched palms and arms can stand for salutation, welcome or
joy; or, as a symbol of things in nature such as a palm leaf, flowers, sea waves, the wind, sea
weeds, a bird and a flutter of wings.

The Pangalay Courtship is one of the

versions of the dance wherein a pair of
dancers imitate the graceful courtship
dance of birds. During
wedding
performances, it is a tradition that
guests would tuck money between the
fingers of the female dancer.

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Pangalay has a number of versions including the

Pangalay Linggisan, which is performed by a solo
female dancer imitating the movement of a bird in
flight. According to Mr. Rapih Jairi, Director of the
Ingat Kapandayan Performing Arts of the Notre
Dame of Jolo College, the Pangalay performed in
Sulu is characterized by the graceful movement of
Pangalay with money tucked on the dancer's arms and hands flowing in synchrony
hand by audience.
the gentle blowing of the wind. While in other
parts of the Sulu Archipelago, including Tawi-Tawi
and Sabah, the movements of the arms and hands
are more pronounced as they are imitating the
waves of the Sulu Sea.

Pangalay Linggisan (Wind Dance/Bird Dance

Pangalay Courtship Dance

The Pangalay ha Patung is characterized by two

men carrying two bamboo poles on their
shoulders with a solo female dancer keeping her
balance on top of the two bamboo poles. This
version of Pangalay paints a picture of a woman

dancing on a sail boat.

Pangalay ha Patung (Bamboo)

Hand paraphernalia

Janggay from Sulu,

Philippines.
Beautifully made for
Pangalay traditional
dance of the Tausug
people.

Pangalay Costume
<Biatawi=

Pangalay Dancers from Notre Dame of

Jolo College

B. Singkil: A Maranao Dance

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The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanao. It is
derived from a story in the Darangen, the Maranao interpretation of the ancient Indian epic,
the Ramayana. The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet with disturbing
objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during
celebrations and other festive entertainment. Originally only women, particularly royalty,
danced the Singkíl, which serves as either a conscious or unconscious advertisement to
potential suitors. A kulintang and agung ensemble always accompanies the dance. While
often erroneously referred to by non-Maranaos as a "Muslim dance", the Singkíl is in fact
secular in nature, performed by the Ummah communities of the Maranao and Maguindanao.
Initially, the dance was performed with just one pair of bamboo poles, eventually adopting the
use of two criss-crossing pairs.

The Singkil Dance

Costume Used in Singkil

A Maranao costume is mainly worn in this form of

dancing. In addition, the female lead dancer wears an
elaborate dress of a
princess and holds
<decorated fans= in
both hands, while the
male lead dancer holds
either handkerchiefs in
both hands and in some
cases a sword and a
shield.

II. Painting

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 Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a

solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support").The medium is commonly applied
to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and
airbrushes, can be used.
 In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action (the final
work is called "a painting"). The support for paintings includes such surfaces as
walls, paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer, pottery, leaf, copper and concrete, and
the painting may incorporate multiple other materials, including sand, clay, paper,
plaster, gold leaf, and even whole objects.
 Among the famous artist in the field of painting is Fernando Amorsolo. By one of
his painting.
Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was a dominant figure in the visual arts of the

Philippines during the decades before the

Second World War and into the post-war Period. The 8Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano,
Exhibits the happiness across from the difficulties in planting rice. The Filipino Villagers in
their bright clothes and straw hats plant together with a fresh and green landscape of plenty.
Behind the Filipino villagers is the peaceful flume of steam.

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Principles of Design

Design is the overall structure of an art form. It is a plan for

order. It is the means by which artist indicate and demonstrate
the ideas and feelings they wish to convey.

Here are some principles of design found in the arts

1. Harmony
 This
refers to
the
wholenes
s of the
design,
the
pleasing
arrangem
ent of
parts,
and the
agreemen
t between
parts of a
compositi
on,
resulting
in a
united
whole.

2. Variety
 It
pertains
to the
assortme
nt or
diversity
of a work
of art.

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3. Rhythm
 It is the
regular,
repeated
pattern in
the
elements
of art. It is
a flow, or
feeling of
movement,
achieved
by the
distributio
n of visual
units in
time.

4. Proportion
 Elements in a
work of art
should have a
relationship
with one
another. This
relationship is
called
proportion.

5. Balance
 Pertains to the
even

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distribution of
weight. It is the
principle that
deals with
equality.

6. Movement
 This is a
fundamental
principle in
choreography and
the theatre arts.

Various Art Forms Found in the Philippines

Pre-Colonial Art

Through migration and trade during Pre-Colonial Period,

there was a lively cultural interchange between the
Philippines and other Asian countries. This helped
Philippines to develop their own way of living, their own
culture such as pottery, weaving, wood carving, jewelry, etc.
That they could use for their everyday living.

I. Paintings
 Introduced by Spaniards during 16th century. They use
paintings as religious propaganda. Painting refers to the
process of applying color on a flat surface. Forms can be
created using a wide variety of materials such as
watercolor, acrylic, ink, oil, pastel, and charcoal.
Surfaces for painting include wood, canvas, cardboard,
and paper. Painting is considered two-dimensional,
meaning it only has height and width.

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Forms of Painting:

1. Easel Painting

The easel painting is perhaps the

most common form of painting
which involves applying color to a
board or canvas that is fixed on
an upright support called an
easel. These are meant to be
framed and hanged on a wall after
creating them.

2. Murals

A mural is described as a huge

wall-sized painting used to impart
messages to the public. A new
form of. Mural which isa portable
mural, was developed in order to
prevent the mural from being
erased from the wall which was
created by using bold strokes in
applying bright colors on
pieces of cheesecloth or canvas.

3. Telon Painting

A telon is describes as a backdrop

or background for the stage
which are used for komedya,
sarswela, and sinakulo, the
popular forms of theater in the
country.

2. Jeepney and Calesa Painting

The calesa is typically painted

using one color. The borders of
the calesa are decorated with
geometric patterns, repetitive
patterns, and/or thin lines.

Jeepney painting evolved from

calesa painting. In a typical
jeepney, a logo, number, or
painting is covered near the
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driver’s seat, as well as near the

seats adjacent.to it.

3. Collage

This refers to a form of painting

that involves combine images in a
single artwork. This entails
cutting and pasting materials
such as paper, fabric, tin foil and
other relatively flat materials onto
a board or canvas.

II. Dance
 Refers to the movement of the body in a rhythmic way,
usually to music and within a given space, for the
purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing
energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself.

Types of Filipino Dance

a. Banga
 Illustrates the
grace and
strength of
women in the
Kalinga tribe
of Cordillera
Autonomous
Region (CAR). Banga Dance-Kalinga Apayao (CAR)
Women
performing
the Banga
balance
heavy pots on
their heads
while dancing
to beat of
wind chimes.

b. Lumagen or Tachok

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 It is
performed to
celebrate
happy
occasions.
When Lumangen Dance-Kalinga Apayao (CAR)
Lumagen is
performed, it
is meant to
symbolize
flying birds
and is
musically-
paired to the
beat of gongs.

c. Salisid
 It is the
dance to
show
courtship. In
the Salisid
dance, a male
and a female Salisid Dance-Kalinga Apayao (CAR)
performer
represent a
rooster
attempting to
attract a hen.

d. Malakas at Maganda
 It is a national
folklore dance. It
tells the story of the
origin of the Filipino
people on the
islands.

Malakas at Maganda Dance

e. Binaylan
 The Binaylan dance,
tells the story of a
hen, the hen's baby,
and a hawk. In this
dance, the hawk is

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The Binaylan Dance-Agusan
(CARAGA Region)
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said to control a
tribe's well-being,
and is killed by
hunters after
attempting to harm
the hen's baby.

f. Tinikling
 Take two long
bamboo sticks
rapidly and in
rhythm, clap sticks
for dancers to
artistically and
daringly try to avoid
getting their feet
caught between
them.

Tinikling Dance-Leyte (Region 8)

Philippine National Dance

g. Singkil
 In this dance,
there are four
bamboo sticks
arranged in a tic-
tac-toe pattern in
which the dancers
exploit every Singkil Dance-Lanao
position of these del Sur (BARMM)

clashing sticks. It
is identifiable with
the use of
umbrellas and silk
clothing.

h. Pangalay
 It is a traditional
Tausug dance, from
Jolo and Tawi-Tawi,
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characterized by
elaborate body
postures and
gestures and the
graceful arm and
hand movement of
the dancer,
amplified by the use
of janggay or metal
claws. The dance is
performed to the
music of the
kulintangan,
gandang, agong and
gabang. Commonly
referred to as the
fingernail dance,
Pangalay is usually
performed during
weddings and other
festive celebrations.

III. Weaving
 Weaving is a method of textile production in which two
distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right
angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are
knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting.
The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the
lateral threads are the weft, woof, or filling. (Weft is an
old English word meaning "that which is woven";
compare leave and left.) The method in which these
threads are inter-woven affects the characteristics of
the cloth.

Weaving Method
1. Textile Weaving

This refers to the

process of creating
cloth by interweaving a
series of parallel Textile weaving-South Cotabato
(Region XII)
vertical threads with
another series of
horizontal threads at
right angles.
2. Mat Weaving

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This refers to the art of

“plaiting strips of
organic fibers into
mats”. These mats,
locally known as banig, Mat Weaving (Banig)
(Region XII)
are cool, light, and
portable compared to
fixed beds.

3. Basketry

This refers to the art of

creating containers by
weaving, plaiting, or
braiding materials into
hollow three-
The Basketry
dimensional shapes
that can either be used
for carrying, storage
and trapping animals.

4. Kalakat Weaving

The process used on the

oil palm fronds into
finished product is thru
pruning the green stalk, Kalakat Weaving
then splitting and (Region XII)

cleaning the fronds,

drying, weaving and
cutting or trimming the
edges.

Kalakat sheets are

primarily used as a
cheap but durable
construction material. It
is a preferred material
for housing and resort
cottages because of its
cool and insulator
characteristic. It is
environment friendly as
it utilizes basically an

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agricultural waste
material.

Kalakat is famous in
Mindanao that is useful
in many ways like ceiling House with Kalakat
Materials
and walling in a (Region XII)
traditional house of the
Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
Nowadays, it is used not
only by the IPs but the
common residents as
well.

IV. Sculpturing
 From the transitional carving of anitos to the santos to Christ
and down to the saints, Filipinos find it rather not difficult as
they are already familiar with the ways of the wood.
 It is a branch of the visual arts that operates in three
dimensions. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sculptural
processes originally used carving and modelling; in stones,
metals, ceramics, woods and other materials but, since
Modernism, there has been an almost complete freedom of
materials and process. In contrast to painting, sculpture has
three dimensions – height, width, and depth. It is created by
either carving, modelling, or assembling parts together.
General Kinds of Sculpture

1. Free-standing

This is a kind of sculpture

that can independently
stand in space. It has a flat
horizontal base. All its sides
contribute to the overall
form of the sculpture.

2. Relief

This kind of sculpture does

not have a flat horizontal
base. The form is projected
from a flat surface. There
are two types of relief – low
relief or bas-relief which is
slightly from the flat
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surface; and high relief.

Cagayan de Oro’s Legendary
River Monster is an example
of relief sculpture.

3. Assemblage

This sculpture is formed by

putting together materials
such as found objects, pieces
of paper, sponges, wood
scraps, and other materials.
A good example of this is
Lamberto Hechanova’s Man
and Woman.

4. Kinetic Sculpture

This is considered as a
sculpture in motion because
the entire sculpture or some
parts of the sculpture are
moving with the wind or are
vibrating with the
surrounding air.

5. Welded Sculptures

Creating these sculptures

involve the process of.
connecting sheets of metal
together by using an acetylene
or electric torch.

6. Use of Glass

A kind of sculpture where the

medium of expression used by
the artist is glass.

7. Symbolic Sculpture

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It is a kind of sculpture in which an abstract idea is

represented by means of allegory and personification.

Forms of Sculpture

Wood Carving
 In Southern Philippines, the Maranao and Tausug of
Mindanao are known for their okir, ornate curvilinear
designs and motifs applied to wood carving. The
principal okir designs are the sarimanok, the naga, and
the pako rabong.

Sarimanok
 It is the legendary bird
or “artificial cock” that
has become an
ubiquitous symbol of
Maranao art. It is
depicted as a fowl with
wings and feathered tail, The Sarimanok
(Region XII)
holding a fish on its
beak or talons. The head
is profusely decorated
with scroll, leaf and
spiral motifs.

Naga
 It has form of an
elaborate mythical
serpent or dragon with
vigorous S-curve.

Naga

Pako Rabong
 It is a stylized growing fern
with a broad base
gracefully tapering
upwards.

Pako Rabong
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V. Pottery
 Is one of the oldest and most widespread of the
decorative arts, consisting of objects made of clay and
hardened with heat. The objects made are commonly
useful ones, such as vessels for holding liquids or
plates or bowls from which food can be served.
 Pottery is a general term for decorative and useful
objects made from clay and set off at high
temperatures. This is frequently interchanged with
“ceramics”. However, it is important to note that
application of ceramics is wider and even includes
industrial use.

Types of Pottery
1. Earthenware or Terracotta
This type of pottery is made from clay and is
usually fired at 1,700-2,100 ᵒF.
2. Stoneware
This type of pottery is made from clay and
feldspar.
3. Porcelain
This type of pottery is made from kaolin, a special
type of clay that is extra fine, white and feldspar.

In the Philippines, there are some famous pottery in various

regions:

1. Manunggul Jar

The Manunggul Jar is a

secondary burial jar
excavated from a
Neolithic burial site in the
Manunggul cave of the

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The Manunggul Jar
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Tabon Caves at Lipuun

Point in Palawan. It dates
from 890–710 B.C.[2] and
the two prominent figures
at the top handle of its
cover represent the
journey of the soul to the
afterlife.

Manunggul Jar displayed at Philippine National

Museum of Anthropology

The Manunggul Jar is widely acknowledged to be one

of the finest Philippine pre-colonial artworks ever
produced and is considered a masterpiece of Philippine
ceramics. It is listed as a national treasure and
designated as item 64-MO-74[3] by the National
Museum of the Philippines. It is now housed at the
National Museum of Anthropology and is one of the
most popular exhibits there. It is made from clay with
some sand soil.
2. Burnay Jar

The potter
Burnay jars are carefully molds
the clay
commonly used for
storage of water or
grains, as well as for
fermenting of Vigan’s
local Basi wine and
bagoong (fermented
fish). It is said that
burnay jars are
much harder than
the typical terracotta
pots used in
gardening.

Established in 1922,
its origin goes way
back to the pre-
colonial era when

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The finished burnay jars are ready
for the air-drying process
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Chinese immigrants
learned about the
abundant source of
clay in the lands of
Vigan, and settled to
start the industry of
pagbuburnay or jar
making.

The materials for burnay jars only consists of clay,

water, and sand. Its process starts with kneading of
clay to warm it up and remove sharp objects that may
ruin the clay.

Once it is ready to be molded on the wheel and kiln, it

will be tempered with sand to prevent the clay from
sticking to the surface of the table. The jar will be air
dried for three long weeks to harden, after which, it
will be put in a furnace to cook for one day and one
night at 1,370 or 1,500 degrees centigrade.
3. Maitum Anthropomorphic Burial Jar

The Maitum
anthropomorphic burial jars
are earthenware secondary
burial vessels discovered in
1991 by the National
Museum of the Philippines'
archaeological team in Ayub
Cave, Barangay Pinol,
Maitum, Sarangani
Maitum anthropomorphic burial jar
Province, Mindanao,
Philippines. The jars are
anthropomorphic;
characterized by a design
that suggests human figures
with complete or partial
facial features of the first
inhabitants of Mindanao.
Furthermore, they give
emphasis to the Filipinos’

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popular belief of life after

death.

According to Dr. Eusebio Dizon, head of the archaeological

team, this type of burial jars are "remarkably unique and
intriguing" because they have not been found elsewhere in
Southeast Asia. Thus, many archaeologists from Vietnam,
Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Indonesia
gained interest on this initial find and a number of
archaeological – either government or privately sponsored –
excavations have been conducted to recover these artifacts.

VI. Islamic Art

Islamic art is characterized by designs of flowers, plant
forms and geometric designs. It is used in calligraphy,
architecture, painting, clothing and other forms of fine arts.
In the 13th century, traders and missionaries have
introduced the religion of Islam in the Philippines. Islamic
art meshed with ethnic culture and produced a Filipino
Muslim Art that reflects the ethnic background and Islamic
identity of the people.

Calligraphy
 It is a visual art
related to writing. It
is the design and
execution of lettering
with a broad-tipped
instrument, brush,
or other writing
instrument.
The Islamic Calligraphy

Philippine Muslim homes represents their identity,

therefore Islamic art is seen in their houses. These
houses usually contains framed calligraphy of Qur’an
passages in its walls. These ornaments usually are
made from Muslim dominated countries like Malaysia,
Egypt and Saudi Arabia brought home by overseas
Filipino workers as mementos of their pilgrims.

VII. Architecture
 Architecture is considered to be one of the most functional
branches of the visual arts. We can freely see architecture in
our surroundings because architecture involves designing the
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form of a building while allowing the building to serve its

function. It is considered to be the “art to inhabit.”
 Throughout Philippines history, both foreign and Filipino
architects introduce innovations when it comes to creating
buildings and large structures. Even though the design of
buildings and homes are still Western-inspired, architects
started to appreciate Filipino social traditions and cultural
values. In fact, local materials were used by architects like
Francisco Mañosa, a Filipino architect considered as one of
the most influential Filipino architects of the 20th century, in
designing homes and buildings. In addition to that, they
sought ways to express these traditions and values in
architecture.

Forms of Contemporary Architecture:

Domestic Buildings and Houses

1. Apartment

This refers to a building

composed of many residences
called units. This is usually
built in populated urban areas.
Nowadays, in order to maximize
the use of space and because of
the increased buying power of
the population, condominiums The Apartment
were developed. These
condominiums are larger
offshoots of apartments.

2. Bahay na Bato

The bahay na bato is considered

to be a residence of. the wealthy.
A typical two-storey bahay na
bato generally has a ground floor
that is made of brick or stone,
and has a wooden upper level.
The windows and the level have Bahay na Bato
grilles, while the windows at the
upper level have sliding shutters.
The roof of a typical bahay na
bato slants on four sides.

3. Barong-barong

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The barong-barong are houses of

the landless poor that are built
on any land or area. These are
usually found near the esteros,
riverbanks, and bayshores;
spaces along high walls, railroad
tracks; spaces near abandoned Barong-barong
buildings, and garbage dumps;
or any vacant lot. Some of these
barong-barong are built under
bridges.

4. Bungalow

This refers to one-story house

with a wide front porch and large
windows. It may also have a
terrace, which may be roofed or
not.

Bungalow House

Ethnic Houses

1. Bahay Kubo

The bahay kubo is considered as

an ethnic house of Christian
peasant families living in the
lowland areas. Thisis typically
owned by families belonging in low
income groups.
The Bahay Kubo
2. Houseboat

The houseboat is basically a boat

that also serves as dwelling. The
Badjaos or Sama Laut typically
reside in houseboats.

3. Tsalet

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The Houseboat
The Philippine tsalet refers to a
suburban house that has one story,
a two-story house with living
quarters on the upper level, or an
elevated one-story house. The term
tsalet came from the term “chalet”
which refers to a peasant house in
Switzerland that has upper levels
jutting over the lower levels, a steep
roof and a decorated gable.

The Tsalet

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To be a National Artists is considered to be the highest national recognition given to

Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of
Philippine arts which is awarded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
together with Cultural Center of the Philippines.

NATIONAL ARTIST FOR VISUAL ARTS:

Fernando Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972)

Amorsolo is the first National Artist in the country and.. was

known for using backlighting technique in painting,. making his
creations bright and cheerful.
Carlos “Botong” Francisco (November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969)

Francisco revived the art of mural and was considered.. to be

the most distinguished mural painter for about three.. decades
and was known for using historical events as.. subject matter for
his murals.

Guillermo E. Tolentino (July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976)

Honored as National Artist for Sculpture in 1973 and was known for designing the seal
of the Republic of the Philippines, and the gold and bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay
Award. Tolentino’s works include the “UP Oblation”.

Napoleon V. Abueva (January 26, 1930)

Abueva was considered to be the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture. He is skillful in

creating both representational and modern abstract sculptures using a wide variety of
materials. He was also known for creating “buoyant sculpture,” a type of sculpture to be
viewed from the surface of a pool.

Victorio C. Edades (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985)

Recognized as the Father of Modern Philippine Painting and was known for using dark
somber colors in his paintings. His works focused on factory workers, laborers or other
simple townspeople.

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Vicente Manansala (January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981)

He was known for his paintings depicting realistic.. themes

using an abstract or a cubist style. He believed.. that.“the beauty
of art is in the process, in the moment of.. doing a particular
painting, closely associating it with the.. act of making love.

Hernando R. Ocampo (April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978)

Ocampo was largely known for his abstract paintings. His works featured shapes
bounded with curved lines painted in intense colors. His masterpiece “Genesis” was used as
the basis of the design of the curtain of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main
Theater.
Cesar Legaspi (April 2, 1917 – April 7, 1994)

Legaspi was known for utilizing and refining cubism, a style involving breaking parts
into geometric shapes, in his paintings.

Elizalde Navarro (May 22, 1924 – June 10, 1999)

He was known for his hardwood masks reflecting the human and the animal, abstract
paintings in oil and watercolor, and assemblages. He was also known for his fiction works
for This Week of the Manila Chronicle, and for his figurative drawings for Lydia Arguilla’s
Juan tamad.

Ang Kiukok (March 1, 1931 – May 9, 2005)

He was known for his paintings expressing nationalism and sociological agenda during
the 60’s through vivid cubistic figures. His works include “Geometric landscape,” “Pieta,”
and the “Seated Figure.”

Benedicto Cabrera (April 10, 1942)

Known as “Bencab,” Cabrera was noted as the.. bestselling

painter of his generation of Filipino artists and.. also known for
his sketches of a scavenger named “Sabel,. a symbol of
dislocation, despair and isolation-the.. personification of human
dignity threatened by life’s.. circumstance.”

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Abdulmari Asia Imao (January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014)

Imao was instrumental in popularizing the ukil, sarimanok and naga motifs in the
country as original Filipino creations. He helped in developing trust and confidence among
cultural groups, which is needed in building a more humane community and society.

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (June 6, 1932 – February 2, 2011)

Alcuaz was mainly known for his oil and acrylic paintings, and sketches in ink, pencil,
and watercolor.

Francisco Coching (January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998)

Tagged as the “Dean of Filipino Illustrators,” Coching is best known for his work on
comics and illustrations which lead to its recognition as popular art. He has influenced
cartoonists such as Larry Alcala, Ben Infante and Nestor Redondo.
Jose T. Joya (June 3, 1931 – 1995)

Joya is known for pioneering abstract expressionism in the Philippines. His most notable
work is the Granadean Arabesque (1958). He also represented the Philippines in the 1964
Venice Biennale.

NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR ARCHITECHTURE:

Pablo S. Antonio (January 25, 1902 – June 14, 1975)

He was considered a pioneer in modern Philippine architecture. A prominent feature of

his designs is the use of natural light and cross ventilation. According to Antonio, buildings
should be planned with austerity in mind and its stability forever as the aim of true
architecture; that buildings must be progressive, simple in design but dignified, true to a
purpose without resorting to an applied set of aesthetics and should eternally recreate truth.

Leandro V. Locsin (August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994)

His designs usually features themes of floating volume and a mix of both eastern and
western aesthetics.

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Ildefonso P. Santos (September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014)

Santos pioneered landscape architecture in the Philippines. His work in the Makati
Commercial Center incorporated fountains, sculptures and landscapes to a shopping area.

NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE:

Historical Literature
Carlos Quirino (November 4, 1910 – May 20, 1999)

He is the first and so far the only National Artist for..

Historical Literature and was also known for writing “The. Great
Malayan,” which considered to be one of the earliest.
biographies of Jose Rizal.

Literature
Francisco Arcellana (September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002)

Arcellana is a writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher, who is recognized as
one of the pioneers in writing modern Filipino short stories in English. He also originated the
lyrical prose-poetic form in writing short stories.

N.V.M Gonzales (September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999)

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales is a fictionist, essayist, poet and teacher. He earned
numerous recognitions including the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, the
Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1960 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990.

Nick Joaquin (May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004)

He is considered as the most distinguished Filipino.. writer

in English writing. His body of work extends from.. short stories
to poems to essays which includes journalism. and reportage. He
used the name Guerre Quijano de..
Manila as journalist.

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F. Sionil Jose (December 3, 1924)

F.Sionil Jose is one of the most widely read Filipino writers founded the Philippine
chapter of the international organization PEN.

Alejandro Roces (July 13, 1924 – May 23, 2011)

Roces is known for his comic short stories which includes “My Brother’s Peculiar
Chicken.” He also led the campaign to change the country’s Independence Day from July 4
to June 12.

Edith L. Tiempo (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011)

Tiempo is a poet, fictionist, teacher and literary critic who founded the Siliman National
Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City with her late husband Edilberto K. Tiempo.
Virgilio S. Almario (March 9, 1944)

Also known as Rio Alma, who is among the notable..

modernist poets. He reinvented the traditional Filipino.. poetry
forms.

Amado V. Hernandez (September 13, 1903 – May 24, 1970)

Hernandez is known for his contribution in the development of the Tagalog prose
through the use of colloquial style.

Carlos P. Romulo (January 14, 1899 – December 15, 1985)

Romulo is noted as a diplomat and an awarded journalist. He is the first Asian President
of the United Nations General Assembly, and the only Asian to win the Pulitzer Prize in
Journalism for his articles on the World War II.

Bienvenido Lumbera (April 11, 1932)

Lumbera is a multi-awarded poet, critic and librettist. His works includes Likhang Dila,
Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and English), 1993; Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at

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Manibalang, 2002; Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May Musila, 2004; Tales of the
Manuvu and Rama Hari.

Cirilo F. Bautista (July 9, 1941)

Bautista is a poet, fictionist and essayist. He founded Philippine Literary Arts Council in
1981, the Iligan National Writers Workshop in 1993, and the Baguio Writers Group.

Lazaro Francisco (February 22, 1898 – June 17, 1980)

Francisco is among the prominent writers in the Tagalog language. He established the
Kapatiran Ng Mga Alagad Ng Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA) in 1958 to support Tagalog as
national language.

Jose Garcia Villa (August 5, 1908 – July 7, 1997)

Villa is recognized as one of the best contemporary.. poets.

He is best known for introducing the reversed.. consonance
rhyme scheme and his use of punctuation,. especially commas.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR DANCE, MUSIC, FILM, AND
THEATER:

Cinema/Film
Lamberto V. Avellana (February 12, 1915 – April 25, 1991)

Avellana was tagged as the “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies” as early as 1939.
Kalderong Pilak was the first film by a Filipino filmmaker shown in Cannes
International Film Festival.

Manuel Conde (October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985)

Conde is known for producing and directing films.. based

on old Filipino tales such as Siete Infantes de.. Lara .(1950), Si
Juan Tamad (1974), Ang Ibong Adarna.. (1941). He also brought
to the silver screen stories from.. the other parts of the worlds
like Genghis Khan (1950).

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Eddie S. Romero (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013)

He is a screenwriter, film director and producer who is behind the Filipino classics such
as “Ganito Kami Noon...Paano Kayo Ngayon?”, “Banta ng Kahapon” and “Aguila” as well
as the 13-part series “Noli Me Tangere”.

Lino Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991)

Catalino “Lino” Ortiz Brocka is recognized for his films which explores the lives of
people in the marginalized sectors. Brocka also directed for theater organizations such as the
Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and the Concerned Artists of the
Philippines (CAP).

Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981)

De Leon is a prominent film maker in the 50’s and 60’s.

producing classics such as “Daigdig ng Mga Api,” “Noli Me.
Tangere,” “El Filibusterismo,” “dyesebel” and “Sisa.”

Ishmael Bernal (September 30, 1938 – June 2, 1996)

Bernal, who was hailed by the critics as “The Genius of the Philippine Cinema,” is
known for directing films that projects the realities of the Filipinos. He was hailed as
Director of the Decade of the 1970s by the Catholic Mass Media Awards; four-time Best
Director by the Urian Awards (1989, 1985, 1983 and 1977); and given the ASEAN Cultural
Award in Communication Arts in 1993.
Ronald Alan K. Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004)

More known as Fernando Poe, Jr. He is an icon in film.

industry as an actor, director, writer and producer. He. starred in
films like “Mga Alabok sa Lupa” (1967), “Partida”. (1985),
“Ang Probinsyano” (1996), and among others.

Dance
Francisca Reyes Aquino (March 9, 1899 – November 21, 1983)

She was known for her research on Philippine folk dances, which later resulted to a
thesis entitled “Philippine Folk Dances and Games.” It was distributed to public and private
schools.

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Leonor Orosa Goquingco (July 24, 1917 – July 15, 2005)

She was known as the “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance,” Goquingco blended
folkloric and Asian styles in ballet choreography. She was a founding member of the
Philippine Ballet Theater and the Honorary Chair of the Association of Ballet Academies of
the Philippines.

Ramon Obusan (June 16, 1938 – December 21, 2006)

A dancer, choreographer, artistic director, researcher, and documentary filmmaker. He

was able to promote Filipino culture in other countries using the art of dance through the
Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.

Lucrecia Reyes – Urtula (June 29, 1929 – August 24, 1999)

Reyes-Urtula was the dance director of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, for
which she choreographed different Philippine folk, ethnic dances, pageants and festivals.

Alice Reyes (October 14, 1942)

Reyes is known in blending styles and movements from Philippine indigenous dance,
classical ballet, and modern dance in expressing Filipino subject matters. This is said to be
the “contemporary dance language that is uniquely Filipino.”

Music
Antonino Buenaventura (May 4, 1904 – January 25, 1996)

He was known for his marches including the.. “Triumphal

March,” “History Fantasy,” “Echoes from the.. Philippines,” and
“Ode to Freedom.” He was a conductor.. of.the Philippine Army
Band. He wrote compositions for.. solo instruments, symphonic
and orchestral works, which. are based on Philippine folksongs.

Ernani Cuenco (May 10, 1936 – June 11, 1988)

He was known for the following songs: “Bato sa Buhangin,” “Gaano Kita Kamahal,”
“Inang Bayan,” “Isang Dalangin,” “Kalesa,” and “Pilipinas.” These works brought
contemporary Filipino music to a higher level. The song, “Gaano Kita Kamahal”, he added
elements of Kundiman. He played with the Filipino Youth Symphony Orchestra and the
Manila Symphony Orchestra from 1960 to 1968.
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Francisco Feliciano (February 19, 1941 – September 19, 2014)

His major works include “Ashen Wings,” “Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam,” and
“Pamugun.” He was known for the use of modal scales in his operas and orchestral works.
He used indigenous music in his compositions.

Jovita Fuentes (February 15, 1895 – August 7, 1978)

She was best known for her portrayal of Cio-cio San in Giacamo Puccini’s Madame
Butterfly in Italy in April 1925. When she returned to the Philippines, she established the
Artists’ Guild of the Philippines in an effort to instill love for opera in her countrymen.

Jose Maceda (January 31, 1917 – May 5, 2004)

He conducted researches and fieldwork to explore. Filipino

traditional music further and to understand the. nature of
Philippine ethnic and traditional music. His. efforts.gave birth to
a huge number of recorded Philippine. ethnic and traditional
music.

Lucio San Pedro (February 11, 1913 – March 31, 2002)

Best known for his compositions “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” “Sa Mahal Kong Bayan,”
“Dance of the Fairies,” “Triumphal March,” and “Lahing Kayumanggi,” Lucio San Pedro
was the conductor of the Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band, the San Pedro Band of
Angono, and the Benda Angono Numero Uno. Working with these bands and other town
bands helped in the development of a civic culture among
Filipino communities.

Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002)

Celerio is most known for his recognition as the only man who could play music with a
leaf in the Guinness Book of World Records. He also earned Lifetime Achievement Award of
the Film Academy of the Philippines for writing songs for local movies. He was also known
as the dean of Filipino lyricists.

Felipe Padilla de Leon (May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992)

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He was known for Filipinizing western music forms.

His.works, which include “Mariang Maikling Overture,”.
“Maynila Overture,” “Payapang Daigdig,” and “Ako’y.
Pilipino,” expressed sentiments and aspirations of the. Filipino
in times of strife and peace.

Lucrecia R. Kasilag (August 31, 1918 – August 16, 2008)

She was known for fusing Filipino ethnic music with Western musical influences. She
was also known for incorporating Filipino indigenous musical instruments in orchestral
works.

Antonio J. Molina (December 16, 1894 – January 29, 1980)

Molina was known for introducing the pentatonic scale, whole tone scale, linear
counterpoints and the use of dominant ninths and eleventh chords in Philippine music.

Ramon P. Santos (February 25, 1941)

Santos is a Filipino composer, musicologist and..

ethnomusicologist who was made a Chevalier de I’Orde.. des
Arts et Lettres in 1987. He helped in advocating.. modern
Philippine music that is still based on early Asian. practices and
way of life.

Andrea Veneracion (July 11, 1928 – July 9, 2013)

She was the founder of the world-renowned University of the Philippines Madrigal
Singers, or simply the Philippine Madrigal Singers, which is the first choir in the world to
win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice. Veneracion is also recognized as an
important authority in the development of Philippine choral music.

Theater
Daisy Avellana (January 26, 1917 – May 12, 2013)

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She co-founded the Barangay Theatre Guild,.. together

with her husband, National Artist Lamberto.. Avellana, in
1939. This move made theatre and.. dramatic arts popular in
the country. She was known.. as.director of films “Diego
Silang” (1968) and “Walang.. Sugat” (1971).

Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (January 11, 1902 – July 11, 1991)

She was named National Artist for Theater and Music in 1987. She was known as the
Queen of Kundiman, and the first actress to portray a 15-year-old in the very first Tagalog
film, which was the film version of the Sarsuela “Dalagang Bukid.”

Salvador F. Bernal (January 7, 1945 – October 26, 2011)

Honored as National Artist for Theater Design in 2003, Bernal used local materials
including bamboo, abaca, hemp twine, and rattan in theater design for local productions.

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (January 22, 1910 – May 1, 1995)

He served as the director of UP Dramatic Club for 16 years since 1947. He founded the
UP Mobile Theater, which started the concept of theater campus tour.

Severino Montano (January 3, 1915 – December 12, 1980)

He organized the Arena Theater Playwriting Contest which became the initial ground for
playwrights to showcase their talents in writing while serving as Dean of Instruction of the
Philippine Normal College.

GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN (GAMABA):

Eduardo Mutuc (2005 awardee)

He dedicated his life in creating religious and secular art in silver, bronze and wood.
According to him, craftsmanship begins with respect for one’s tools and the medium, and the
only way to improve one’s skills is to immerse oneself, learn the technique, and to practice.

Darhata Sawabi (2005 awardee)

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She is a Tausug weaver of pis syabit – the traditional cloth tapestry worn as a head cover.
Women in Sulu province have grown up learning in weaving the pis syabit and she is one of
those who took the art of pis syabit making to heart.

Haja Amina Appi (2005 awardee)

She is recognized as a master mat weaver among the Sama indigenous community for
her unique designs, straightness of her edging (tabig), and fineness of her sasa and kima-
kima.

Lang Dulay (1998 awardee)

She is a T’boli traditional weaver of “tinalak” or T’boli cloth made of colorful abaca
fabrics. She used abaca fibers as fine as hair which speaks more eloquently than words can.

Salinta Monon (1998 awardee)

She is a Tagabanwa-Bagobo traditional weaver of distinct abaca fabrics called inabal.

She developed a keen eye for the traditional designs and can identify the designs as well as
the author of a woven piece just by a glance.

Alonzo Saclag (2000 awardee)

He is a Kalinga master of dance and the performing arts who mastered not only the
Kalinga musical instruments but also the dance patterns and movements associated with his
people’s ritual.

Federico Caballero

He is a Sulod-Bukidnon epic chanter who works for the documentation of the oral
literature. He is considered as bantugan which means a person who has attained distinction.
He strikes to dispense justice in the community through his work as a manughusay which is
an arbiter of conflicts.
Masino Intaray (1993 awardee)

He is a prolific and pre-eminent epic canter and story teller recognized for his
outstanding mastery of various traditional musical instruments of the Palaw’an people, such
as basal, kulilal and bagit. He is an outstanding master of the basal, kulilal (musical
ensemble) and bagit; a gifted pot, bard artist, and musician.
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Samon Sulaiman (1993 awardee)

He is Magindanaon, who is highly sophisticated in weaving, okir designs, jewelry,

metalwork and brassware which art is Southeast Asian yet distinct in character.

Uwang Ahadas (2000 awardee)

His near-blindness eyesight made music his constant companion. He is a Yakan, a people
to whom instrumental music is of much significance, connected as it is with both the
agricultural cycle and the social realm.

Ginaw Bilog (1993 awardee)

He is a Hanunoo Mangyan who is considered as a master of the ambahan poetry. He

shares old and new ambahans with his fellow Mangyans and promotes this poetic form in
every occasion. A common cultural aspect among cultural communities nationwide is the
oral tradition characterized by poetic verses which are either sung or chanted.

Magdalena Gamayo (2012 awardee)

She is a master weaver who makes “inabel”, an Ilokano handwoven cloth. She was
awarded for her wide array skills in textile weaving. Her handiworks are finer than most
abel. Her blankets have a very high thread count and her deigns are the most intricate that
sometimes take up to five colors.

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LITERATURE

This is a body of workshop that show the best that has been thought and said or works that
signify the achievements of a particular culture.

Types and elements of literature:

Prose and Poetry
 Poetry refers to expressing of feeling or idea with the use of figurative or symbolic
language.
▪ Meaning. A writer can use idioms, new words, allusion, and
connotations in expressing his feelings or ideas.
▪ Figurative language. A writer may use of simile, metaphor, and
other figures of speech in expressing something in a different way aside from its literal
meaning.
▪ Imagery. This consists of descriptions and details that can trigger
the readers’ senses.
▪ Sound and Rhythm. Sound is the emphasis on certain words
while rhythm is the position of beats or the sound pattern of the work.
 Prose is a literature that is not poetry with two categories: informative and persuasive,
just like an essay.
▪ Theme or content. This is the general thought or idea of the
composition.
▪ Style. This refers to the choices of words and sentence structures
used to convey the message.
▪ Form and structure. This is the sequence of topic and transitions that make the whole
essay.
▪ Plot or story line. This is the sequence of events in the story that gives the flow of the
narrative.
▪ Characters. This can be a person, an animal or even thing who takes part in the story.
▪ Setting. This is the time and place where the story happened.
▪ Theme. This is the central thought of the story.
▪ Language and style. Style is the choices of words which includes the sentence structures
and figurative language that affect the mood of the story.
▪ Point of view. The narrator may present the author himself for the thirdperson point of
view. The narrator can also be one of the characters in the story for the first-person point of
view.

Ethnic Tradition

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 Epic. This relates adventures of a super hero with powers and serves as a code of
values of a particular ethnic group.
 Folk song. A song that is transmitted orally from one generation to another and
known as awiting bayan in Tagalog.
 Proverbs. A concise statements that teach morality and tradition and usually
expressed as rhyming pair of lines that depict two different elements.
 Riddles. This describes an object in a different manner or in a way that is not easily
understood and may be a question for someone to discover the meaning.
 Short poems. This usually has four lines, with 5-12 syllables per line.
 Poetic jousts. This may involve marriage negotiations between two families in which
every region has their own version.

Spanish Colonial Tradition

 Metrical romance. This focuses on chivalric, folkloric, legendary, and religious
themes.
 Pasyon. This is written in a stanza with 5 lines with 8 syllables per line which
recounts the life of Jesus Christ. This is useful as a source of images, stories of Jesus Christ.
Forms of Contemporary Prose In The Philippines:
 Folk narrative. Any story based on real or fictional events in the past told among the
people in a community.
 Myth. This is a story that explains the origin of the world and its first inhabitants.
 Legend. Heroic and historical legend tackles episodes in the lives of great men and
women. Religious legend narrates display of miracles of God and of the saints. Supernatural
legend focuses on the existence of beings from the underworld. Toponymical legend explains
why a certain place has this name.
 Folktales. These are classified into animal tales or fables, magic tales, humorous
tales, novelistic tales, religious and didactic tales.
 Essay. This explains the insights or information using description, narration, and
humor.
 Novel. This defined as the lengthy and complex narrative of events based on the
author’s imagination.
 Short story. This is a concise secular narrative with romantic, realistic and radical
tradition.
 Komiks. This is a special form of contemporary literature which involves drawing
frames showing a set of characters with their actions and usually contains a balloons enclosed
with words or dialogue.

MUSIC It is an arrangement of sounds to create a continuous and unified compositions.

Elements of Music:
Melody. This is succession of consecutive notes or tones changing in pitch and duration.
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Rhythm. It has three qualities: tempo which describes how fast or slow is the music; meter
which refers to the unit of time that is made up of beats or pulses; and rhythmic pattern.
Harmony. This is a combination of different tones or pitches played sung together at the
same time.
Texture. This is the relationship of melodic and harmonic lines in music.
Dynamics. This is the degree of softness and loudness of music.
Timbre. Also known as tone color which is the quality of sound generated by the
instrument or voice.
Form. This refers to how the elements of music are organized.

Forms and Types Of Philippine Music:

Ethnic traditional music
• Ballad. A song that explains an event occurring in a community.
• Chant. A song with an unaccompanied melody and variable rhythm.
• Song debate. A song involving male and female singers who try to outsmart each
other about a certain topic.

European-influenced Religious and Secular music

• Art song. A composition characterized by merging the voice part, lyrics, and the
accompaniment together to achieve an artistic musical whole.
• Habanera/Danza. This is a social dance in duple time.
• Liturgical music. This is a vocal and instrumental compositions that go together with
the official rites of Christian churches.
• Kumintang. This is a dance of love accompanied by a guitar and a string bass and
documented as a war song.
• Pasyon chant. Refers to the various styles used throughout the country for the singing
of the pasyon.

American-inspired music
• Classical music. This music includes classical music from the western world; and
classical and modern music composed by Filipinos.
• Semi-classical music. These includes band and rondalla music, hymns and marches,
sarswela music, and stylized folk songs.
• Popular music. This includes original music composed by Filipinos which utilizes
Western and local musical influences.

DANCE
It is an art of involving a series a rhythmic human movements that are purposely selected and
involves a mindful effort to combine movements together.

Elements of Dance:
▪ Body element. This is how the body of the dancer moves, what part of the body moves,
what actions are performed, and how the body support itself.

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▪ Space. This focuses on the area where the dance is performed.

▪ Time. This is the accent, beat, duration, meter, rhythm, and acceleration.
▪ Energy. This is referred to as dynamics. This element describes how energy is directed
through the body, and how the body releases it.
▪ Relationship. This is how the person relates to the stage and to production elements.

Forms and types of dances in the Philippines:

 Folk dance. This is a dance that are developed and performed together by ordinary
people. This includes ceremonial, combative, courtship, exorcism, funeral, game, torture,
comic, and religious dances.
 Ballet. This is a theatrical dance presentation in which a plot is integrated with
dancing, music, and stage design.
 Modern dance. A dance form that emerged during the 20th century and still
considered theatrical but it veers away from the technique and style of ballet.

• Other forms of dance

 Aerobic dance. Dancing to the tune of popular music with the purpose of
increasing consumption of oxygen over a period of time.  Bodabil dancing.
This is used to be popular during the American period.
 Jazz dance. This uses African dance techniques like isolation of individual
human body parts, rhythm, and polycentrism.
 Polynesian and Tahitian dance. These dances began from the people living
in the Polynesian chain.
 Tap dance. A dance which entails tapping with toes and heels to generate
rhythmic patterns.

THEATER
It is an art form that involves performing carefully planned actions and emotions in front of
an audience. Philippine theater is described as a wide range of mimetic performances that
were created and presented during occasions.

Elements of theater:
 Performers. These are the persons who are on stage and portray their
characters for the audience.
 Audience. They serves as the witness of the performance and energy given by
the performers.
 Director. Serves as an overseer to the entire production and ensures that the
performers do their job well and the design works well.
 Performance space. This refer to the space in which the actors can perform
and space for the audience to stand.
 Design. This is essential in placing the overall feel of the production which
includes lighting, set, costumes, and sound.
 Text. This is the script to be presented in a play or production.

Form and types of Philippine theater:

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 Dulang Pahiyang. Theater is not viewed as a separate activity, but as part of

life.
 Dulambayan. Also known as people’s theater and considered “theater in the
context of social movements”
 Teatrong Pansimbahan. This is concerned with spirituality and usually
performed depending on the events in the church calendar.
FILM
This refers to a sequence of moving pictures shown on television or in cinema. Film making
became an industry in the Philippines during the 1950’s.

Elements of Film:
• Time. This is considered as the most significant element of cinema.
• Techniques of cinema.
 Cutting or editing. Involves one shot with another, making sure that these two shot
are connected.
 Camera movement. This is done in order to have a smoother change of view.
 Framing. This helps bringing balance to the film as it is being viewed.

Forms and types of Film:

 Aksyon (Action). This uses conflict as emphasis based on real-life stories or actual
experiences of persons and based from the tradition of metrical romance or literary komedya.
 Animation. A film that involves creating illustrations or inanimate images and
bringing them to life.
 Bomba. A film that depicts nudity and sex but is different from X-rated pornography.
 Dokyu (documentary). This is a motion picture that narrates news events or explain
other subject matter based on facts.
 Drama. This is a motion picture that dwells on personal problems and conflicts which
draws sentiment and emotion.
 Experimental. This attempts to create something innovative or that is never done
before with the camera.
 Fantasy. This depicts scenes in an imaginary world.
 Historical. This shows actual events that occurred in the past.
 Horror. This is shown to bring fear to the audience.
 Komedi (Comedy). This is to introduce or bring laughter to the audience.

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