Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Contemporary
Philippine Arts from the
Regions

Working Module
1st semester (Week 2)

Introduction
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
The art of the Philippines refers to the works of art that have developed and accumulated
in the Philippines from the beginning of civilization in the country up to the present era.
Philippine art reflects to its society and non-Filipinos the wide range of cultural influences
on the country's culture and how these influences honed the country's arts. 

Art forms found in the Philippines

Additional information about the last topic regarding Luzon, The name Luzon is thought to derive from
the Tagalog word lusong, a large wooden mortar used in dehusking rice.

Luzon
Art Elements, Principles and Processes
1. Geometric lines – different straight or curved lines
2. Geometric shapes – squares, triangles, rectangles, ovals & hexagons
3. Repeated designs – one pattern or motif or color repeated over a space
4. Alternating designs – two or more patterns, motif or color-alternated
5. Graduated designs – a motif or pattern that is repeated but in graduated size from small to big, or if is
color, from light to dark.
6. Mural making – a big artwork which can be done alone or with a group, usually meant for a wall or wide
space.

Folk arts from Ilocos

Region and Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR)
Ilocos
Iloco/Inabel or Abel Fabric – made from cotton which undergo binatbatan or beating of cotton balls
using bamboo sticks.
Panagabel – oldest Ilocano tradition that they have inherited from their ancestors. The main
ingredients of this loom are tilar, sinulid and pasensya (patience).
Bolinao mats – smoothly-weaved mats made from Buri or Raffia leaves.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Benguet
Tinalik Baskets – baskets made from rattan where farming-related artistic expressions are noticed.

Kalinga
Kalinga Textiles – characterized by dominant red striped and motifs of geometric patterns as well as
nature symbols interlaced with white, yellow and black fibers.

Ifugao
Ikat – loincloth weaving characterized by diamond stripes of white and red stripes.
Lingling-o or Dinumug – amulets used as fertility symbols and worn around the neck.

Mountain Province
Hanging Coffins – special burial technique where humid air and atmosphere of Mountain Province
caves helped mummify the bodies.

Kadangyan cloth – burial cloth

only used for rich people.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Tattoo Art – a form of folk art which signifies a rite of passage from youth to adult life or heroism,
status in the community and bravery.

Siniwsiwan- Bontoc cloth fabric used for blanket and clothing.

Wanes – Bontoc men’s G-string; Lufid – Women’s wrap

Ginaspala – Belt worn by married women of Bontoc.

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Bobo Basket – used to catch fish in the river.

Suklang –

everyday hat used by men for their matches, tobacco and betel nut for chewing.

Abra
Binali – Ifugao grain container; also called Tinalik.

Visayas
Western Visayas
Panay Island
Aklan – The province of Aklan known for Basket, Tray, and Mat making.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Handloomed weaving – the primary art and one of the best sources of Livelihood in Panay.

Hablon – a heritage industry in Ilo-ilo. It is not only

means of livelihood but also part of culture and tradition.

Patadyong – traditional Filipino cloth worn by

women and wrapped around like a skirt.

Pinya/Jusi – making of pinya cloth.

Bariw – the type of Pandan leaves used in their mat making.

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Pagrara it banig – it means “mat weaving”

Capiz/Kapis – one of the noted crafts in Aklan and

Ilo-ilo. Kapis crafts are shells collected from the sea, dried, pressed, shaped and cut.

Negros Island – the art of weaving is an essential part

of the Negrenese’s rich culture.
Weaving Practices – their weaving practices are
evident in their roofs, clothing like Barongs, walls
and hats.

Pineapple weaving – is also a lucrative business in Negros.

Sinamay Textile – Negros also have their

unique way of making Sinamay textile. It is made from Abaca, similar to the one of Bicol region.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Central Visayas
Cebu – Known as the “Queen City of the South”. It is the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards.
Furniture Businesses – most furniture exporters and designers like Kenneth Cobonpue are from Cebu.

Guitar – most popular crafts in Cebu

Eastern Visayas
Samar, Leyte – the art of basey in Samar is known for its colorful Handwoven or Banig that came from
tikog leaves.

Bohol – in the
Bohol
town of
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Antequera, the art of Basketry is still popular among the people. It is the source of livelihood in the
community.

Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest island of the Philippines at the southern end of the archipelago. Its
culture consists of mostly Muslim or “Moro” people. It is also composed of other ethnic groups such as
the Maranao, Tausug, Banguingi and indigenous tribes known as Lumad.
Balangay
The Balangay (formerly synonymous with Butuan boat) is a plank boat adjoined by a carved-out plank
edged through pins and dowels. It was first mentioned in the 16th century in the Chronicles of Pigafetta,
and is known as the oldest watercraft found in the Philippines. The Balangay was the first wooden
watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia and is evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and their
seamanship skills during pre-colonial times.

Vinta
The Vinta (locally known as lepa-lepa or sakayan) is a
traditional boat from the Philippine island of Mindanao. The
Boats are made by Sama-Bajau and Moros living in the Sulu
Archipelago, Zamboanga peninsula, and Southern Mindanao. It
has a sail with assorted vertical colors that represents the
colorful culture and history of the Muslim community. These
boats are used for inter-island transport of people and goods.

Malong
The Malong is a traditional “Tube skirt” made of hand woven or
machine-made multi-colored cotton cloth, bearing a variety of
geometric or okir designs. The Malong is directly akin to the
sarong worn by peoples in other parts of Maritime Southeast
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Asia (Malaysia, Brunei, East Timor and Indonesia), and is the etymological cognate of the Polynesian
‘malo’ (loin cloth).

Brasswares
Kulintang, gongs and even the elaborate designs of a Muslim jar are brasswares popularly made in
Mindanao, Particularly the oldest city in the region, Cotabato City.

Okir
Okir or Okkil is the term for geometric and flowing designs
(often based on an elaborate leaf and vine pattern) and folk
motifs that can be usually found in Maranao and Muslim-
influenced artwork, especially in the southern Philippines,
and in some parts of Southeast Asia.

Panolong
Is a wing like design of a vernacular house in Maranao called
Torogan. These are ends of the floor beams that projects and splay
out triangular butterfly wings on the façade and side elevations.

Torogan
A traditional residence of the reigning Sultan of the Maranao
people and his family. It is where the community traditionally
gathers for wedding, thanksgiving rites, enthronement, and vigils
for the dead. Torogan is no ordinary home especially to a regular Maranao family because it was a
symbol of high social status.

Sarimanok
The Sarimanok is a legendary bird of the Maranao people who originate from
Mindanao, a major island in the Philippines. It comes from the words “sari”
(means cloth or garment, which is generally of assorted colors) and “manok”
means “chicken”.
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Yakan’s Fabric and Face Make-up

The Yakan are indigenous Muslim tribe native to the tropical island of Basilan. Located in the Sulu
Archipelago in the most southern region of the Philippines. Yakan people are recognized for their
remarkable Technicolor geometric weaves and the distinctive face decorations used in their traditional
ceremonies. The Yakan are kind and loving people that embody a non-materialistic culture and live in
close-knit communities.

Yakan Weaving
Yakan weaving uses bright, bold and often contrasting colors
in big symmetrical patterns. Inspiration for designs comes
from island living and Islamic sacred geometry.
Face Decorations
Tanyak Tanyak is a face painting custom is unique to Yakan
tribal culture. Worn only for wedding ceremonies; circles, spots and diamond patterns are printed on the
skin using bamboo implements and a thick mixture of white flour and water. The patterns are said to
have no symbolic meaning but have been used for centuries as a form of cosmetic decoration long
before commercial products were accessible.

T’nalak
T’nalak is a traditional cloth found in Mindanao Island made by a group of people in
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato called T’bolis, Tboli people. This traditional cloth is hand-
woven made of Abaca fibers which traditionally has three primary colors, red, black
and the original color of the Abaca leaves.

Pangalay
Pangalay (also known as Daling-Daling or Mengalai in
Sabah) is the traditional “fingernail” dance of the Tausug
people of the Sulu Archipelago and Sabah. The dance also
means offering from its Sanskrit origin pang alay. Mangalay
which also means dance is very similar to classical Balinese and Thai dances.
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