Philippine Arts: Understanding its origin and evolution
The term “Art" extends beyond visual and physical appreciation. It's a broad and complex term. But it depends on how one appreciates and defines, art is an expression of one's feelings and imagination concretized through physical representation of any form of art.
The Filipinos, for example, have a rich and long history of their arts dating back to centuries, continuously evolving through several colonial periods from pre-conquest to post-modern.
Pre-colonial Arts
Unknown to many, Philippine arts have already been in existence long before the colonizers set foot on Philippine soil. These pre-conquest arts forms were in the form of dancing such as men hunting wild animals in crouching form or rituals during offering with musical instruments accompaniment.
Other forms of arts during the pre-colonial period were weaving and body parts in the Visayas regions. Pintados are body art. Aside from its aesthetic aspect, it also projects prestige and machismo among men. While weaving is an art whose finished products were worn by the Filipinos back then.
Spanish period
Literary 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.
Japanese period
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
American period
Although, during the American period, there had been pockets of resistance staged by the Filipino guerillas on the Americans but 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.
The wonder of technology
Today’s Filipino artists are privileged because of the availability of technological advancement which is of great help in creating and producing a piece of art. With modern technology, artists will now have various platforms to promote their arts.
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 is the prevailing ruler in the country.
Passion for Arts
The colonial periods 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 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 in the Philippines.
