Philippine Arts: Showcasing the Filipinos centuries-old artistry
In simple terms, art is an expression of one's feelings and imagination concretized by physical representation through an artist's exquisite craftsmanship in various art forms such as painting, sculpture, literature, music, architecture, theater, cinema, etc. Arts transcends beyond beauty: it embodies one's culture, history, and life's realities.
This article delves into deep history of Philippine arts, highlighting the Filipinos' innate craftsmanship in various art forms across different regions in the country. Undeniably, the Philippines has a rich, long history of creating arts dating back to pre-colonial, to post-colonial periods.
Filipinos' skills and craftsmanship are manifested in various art forms, particularly the Pintados, a form of art which uses human body as subject. This art form has been popular during among people in the Visayan region during the colonial period. Other forms of arts of Filipino artisans are sculpture or wood carving, weaving, and pottery.
Pre-colonial Arts
Philippine arts have already been in existence long before the arrival of the colonizers dating back centuries ago. These pre-conquest art forms were in the form of dancing, depicting men in crouching form when they hunted for wild animals. Other forms of Philippine arts during this period were wood carving, pottery, textile weaving, metal weaving, and other forms of Philippine arts.
The ' bulul, ' a miniature, wooden piece of art valued and treasured for its significance exemplifies Filipino artists' skills in wood carving. Bulul is believed to have supernatural power which would bring bountiful harvest and rain. It is a valued art that replicas of this wooden figure are found in different museums in the country.
Weaving has also been a popular art in some parts of the country, particularly for the people of Ifugao.
During the colonial period, a popular form of art was the "Pintados "or body paintings. Aside from its aesthetic aspect, it also projects prestige, influence, social stature and machismo among men in the Philippines during the colonial. Architecture and painting also flourished during the Spanish period. Filipino artists during this period depicted religious images as subjects because of the influence of the Spaniards.
Filipinos' artistic hands have been proven in pottery art making. Pottery refers to finished products earthenware, such as cooking pots, plant and flower vases, water jars, and even burial jars. Centuries ago, in the absence of commerially available containers, ancient Filipinos used earthenware pots as their storage.
Manunggul Jar, the ship of the dead to the afterlife. The discovery of Manunggul jar in the province of Palawan in the 1960s by a team of archaeologists is living proof of the ancient Filipinos' artistry. Likewise, this jar has clearly established the connection between the Filipinos' artistry and superstition.
What made the features of the jar extraordinary are its intricate designs and the ship and the two human-shaped figure atop the circular cover of the jar. Figuratively, the ship on which the two human-shaped figures symbolize the ship, and the human figures ascent to heavens. It is believed that it is 2,700 years old.
Another form of art where the Filipinos are good at is weaving. Like pottery, weaving has been in existence long before the arrival of the country's colonizers. This particular form of art had been produced by the Filipinos using different techniques and materials. Pineapple fibers, abaca, and cotton are just some of the materials used by the Filipinos in weaving. Weaving has been a popular form of art across the country. Each region has its distinct techniques and materials used in weaving.
Some of the weaving techniques used by ancient Filipinos in the Philippines
Ikat: A weaving technique that involves intricate process of dying first bundled strand or fiber of abaca or cotton before weaving. Colored dye is taken from bark and leaves of trees and plants.
Pinilian: This technique of weaving originated in Ilocos region. Pinilian is a distinct to the people of Ilocos or the Ilocanos. It is a weaving which a weaver inserts a stick into the fabric to make it float. Pinilian is a dialect which means ' to choose or select' in the English language.
Binakol: Another weaving pattern popular among the Filipinos is the " Binakol." Like the Pinilian, binakol has its origin in Ilocos region. But what makes this type of weaving fascinating is the element of superstition.
The story behind this particular type of weaving pattern. It is believed that 'Binakol weaving is created to drive away evil spirits hovering and preying on the sleeping humans. Binakol weaving are in the forms of blankets which the residents of Ilocos used. When one takes a closer look at the blankets, it appears dizzying this is to confuse the evil spirits. Itneg tribe weavers created geometric, dizzying illusion products on purpose to confuse and drive away evil spirits.
Langkit: Another traditional weaving technique created by the Maranao in Mindanao is the Langkit. Langkit is a traditional multi-colored strip of fabric produced using backstrap loom, a wooden weaving tool used to create and produce textile arts such as the Langkit. Backstrap loom is manually operated by the weaver.
Weaving has already been a popular art among ancient Filipinos even before the pre-conquest period. It has been passed from generation to generation embedding the culture of the Filipinos.
Another form of art where the Filipinos are good at is the art of wood carving or sculpture. Filipinos' artistic hands are able to create and produce intricate wooden pieces of arts such as flower vases, picture frames to livelihood use such as boats, wooden chairs, tables, and many others. To many Filipinos, wood carving has become their main sources of income. Their finished products are bought by wooden arts enthusiasts.
During the pre-colonial period, ancient Filipinos had already been producing pieces of wooden art. Some of these wooden arts are associated with the Filipinos' superstitious beliefs. Below is the proof of the Filipinos' wooden artistry:
Bulul is human-shaped wooden figure. This treasured masterpiece is significant to the people of Ifugao for it is perceived to have possessed divine power. The people of Ifugao offer this piece of sculpture in exchange for bountiful harvest and protection of crops. For the people of Ifugao, bulul is the representation of departed ancestors.
Aside from bulul, there are also numerous pieces of wooden arts created and produced by the Filipinos. The artistic talent of the Filipinos in wood carving is beyond question. In the Philippines, many Filipinos skillfully create and produce pieces of wooden arts such as flower and plant vases, wooden door designs, wooden windows, chairs and tables.
Paete, Laguna, has been the "carving capital" of the Philippines. To many residents of this province, wood carving has been their source of income. But what makes this particular income-generating art creation is that it has been passed from generation to generation.
Philippine literature has been in existence for centuries and even before the arrival of the colonizers. Philippine literature is of diverse background and subjects. The contribution of the culture brought into the country by the colonizers has partly influenced the Philippine literature, particularly the themes and subjects of the Filipino literary writers.
During the colonial period, the Filipino artists then did not stop from creating and producing different forms of arts. Although, colonizers, particularly, the Spaniards partly influenced the themes and subjects of arts in the Philippines.
During the Spanish period, arts during this period centered on religious subjects and themes such as architectural design of Catholic churches and other houses of worship. During this period, the Filipino literary writers were obliged to use the prevailing language of this period which was Spanish. Themes were focused on oppression and poverty on the Filipinos.
During this period, Filipino writers were still able to write literary pieces with themes and subjects of their own choice. But the use of the American English in their literary work was prohibited for obvious reasons; the Japanese were apprehensive that the English language as a medium in relaying the activities of the Japanese soldiers in the country.
During the Japanese period, Philippine arts, paintings in particular focuses on the atrocities of war such as poverty, oppression, and sufferings. Surprisingly, there were also Filipino artists whose arts are in support of the Japanese occupation.
Filipino artists who were against the occupation showed their sentiments and resistance through different forms of arts, particularly in paintings. Ironically, there were Filipino artisans whose themes and subjects were in support of the occupation.
Although during the American period, there had been pockets of resistance staged by the Filipino guerilla on the Americans, the Philippine literature had not been affected. Filipino literary writers were still allowed to write literary pieces freely. Most of the writers during this period used the English language in their works.
Some notable Filipino artists during this period were Fabian de la Rosa, with his works, the Planting Rice for which he won a gold medal, Young Filipina, and Washing by the River. Guillermo Estrella Tolentino with his famous works, " Bonifacio Monument," " The Oblation," and " Venus." Another Filipino artist during this period was Pablo Cueto Amorsolo, a painter and the younger brother of Fernando Amorsolo.
Visual arts such as illustrations, commercial design and architecture flourished during the post-Spanish period. From religious arts of the Spanish period shifted to visual arts during the American period. The aforesaid Filipino artisans each produced visual arts.
Despite the unavailability of modern technology, Filipino artists then were able to create and produce great arts on social realities, particularly the atrocities, resistance and sufferings of war.
21st Century Arts
Today's Philippine Arts has evolved from using obsolete art-making materials to utilizing modern technology. With the technology's limitless reach, it will now be easier for artists to promote and market their works in the cyberspace. Arts subjects and themes are no longer limited
The wonder of technology
How do Filipino artists utilize the modern technology in their arts? Filipino artists are privileged enough to have technological advancement, which is of great help in creating and promoting their pieces of art in cyberspace. With the advanced technology's limitless reach, an artist can become famous in an instant.
Conversely, artists before limited their exposure to your arts to stationary exhibition venues such as malls, museums, and a few public places. The availability and accessibility to cyberspace have changed all of these limitations.
The Philippine Arts transcends different periods from the Spanish to the Americans. Literature in the Philippines is quite diverse as it depends on who is the ruler. The language to be used depends on who the prevailing ruler is in the country.
Passion for Arts
The colonial period may be dark years for Filipinos. Their sovereignty has been trampled, but this oppression and injustices did not prevent the Filipinos from pursuing their passion for the arts. During these periods, Filipinos had been able to produce pieces of art with themes focusing on the prevailing situations such as oppression, poverty, and war.
Author: Samuel A. Escabarte, a licensed teacher from the Philippines.
