FILIPINO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

KUBING
This is a jaw harp made with bamboo and is one of the more well
known traditional musical instruments. Found all throughout the
Philippines, the design and name of the instrument changes from
region to region. Meranao and other groups in Southern Mindanao
call it the Kubing, while the Tagalogs call it Barmbaw. It’s the Kuláing
for the Kapampangans, and Kinaban for the Hanunoo
Mangyans. The Ibaloi and Kalinga calls it Koding, while it’s known as
the Aroding in Palawan. This instrument is known to be used as a way
for our ancestors to communicate through song, especially during
courtship. The Kubing is played by placing the instrument between the
lips and the end is plucked to create different notes and sound,
depending on the tempo and rhythm of the plucking.

KULINTANG
Another well-known Filipino instrument, the natives of Meranao,
Tausug, and Maguindanao take a lot of pride and joy with these. The
Kulintang is a set of 5 to 9 pieces of gongs that vary in size and
sound. They’re aligned horizontally next to each other, usually on a
rack, and are arranged in order of their pitch. The gong with the
lowest pitch is placed on the players left side and two wooden sticks
are used to hit the gongs to make sounds. They were traditionally
made with bronze, but since the Second World War, most of the
gongs are made with brass. The frame or rack that the gongs are
placed in are often made with wood or bamboo and are decorated
with intricate designs and rich color. The Kulintang is usually played
for entertainment during festivals, weddings, and healing ceremonies.

KUDYAPI
Also known as the Kutiyapi, this is a stringed wooden lute that’s about
4-6 ft long. The lumads of Meranao, Maguindanao, T’boli, and
Manobo often play this instrument, but versions of it is seen
throughout the Philippines. Traditionally, the instrument is played by
men, mainly when singing love songs. A female equivalent of the
Kutiyapi is called a Korlong, which is a zither-like instrument made
with bamboo and is played with both hands like a harp. The strings
are traditionally made with abaca fibers or horse hair, but modern
versions of the Kutiyapi use wires like a guitar.

TONGALI
This noseflute is called by many names and is found all over the
Philippines, especially in the northern areas. According to historians,
the Tongali is played to mimic a mournful human voice. The flute has
three or four holes where the fingers are placed over. One hole is
found in the back where air is forced through from the right or left
nostril. Another hole is found about midway on the flute’s bottom where the thumb is placed to change the
tone and pitch of the flute.

GAMBAL
There are many different drums played by different local groups in the
Philippines. Among the lumads in the Visayas area, war drums called
Gambal or Gadang were used to boost their warrior’s esteem and get
them ready for battle. The drums were made with hollowed out tree
trunks and deer skin for drumheads. Usually, drums are not played
alone. They’re accompanied by other instruments, especially gongs.
Drums are played by hand or by striking a wooden stick on the
drumhead.

PHILIPPINE TEXTILE AND COSTUME

TAPIS

It is strikingly akin to most basic female garments in the

Southeast Asian world, and seems somehow related to

the Indian sari. The Filipino wrap-around skirt called tapis

or patadyong may have emerged from environmental

conditions and technical repertoires similar to those that

produced the sarong and the sari. As the female

counterpart to the loin cloth, the tapis covered the genital area. Again, fertility may have been an

associated value. The tapis was wrapped around the lower half of the woman’s body and tied at the waist

or below the breasts. It was secured in place by the knotted ends or by a length of braided material. In

some societies, belt-like pieces were used.

MARIA CLARA
The Maria Clara dress is an elegant formal outfit for
women. It is considered a mestiza dress because it is an
ensemble combining indigenous and Spanish influences.
The Maria Clara dress became very popular during the
Spanish era since its emergence in 1890. The name was
taken from the legendary Maria Clara, the heroine of Noli
Me Tangere, the then recently published novel of Dr.
Jose Rizal. Maria Clara remains a symbol of the virtues
and nobility of the Filipina woman
 BARO’T SAYA

The Spanish era brought about Spanish ethics, which

influenced Christianized women to wear a skirt called
the saya and a blouse called the baro, which was worn
throughout the 400 years of colonization. The baro was of
butterfly sleeves made consistently of fine fabrics and was
said to have been influenced by the costume of the
statues of the Blessed Virgin.The saya was generally
fashioned out of opaque plaid or striped cotton
and sinamay varieties, It was to remain unelaborated until
the period of intensified global trade. Since the baro was
made of fine material, a square kerchief called alampay,
usually made of the same fabric as the saya was worn
over the baro to cover the breasts which also doubled as a veil, later called the panuelo.

BALINTAWAK

The Balintawak is a traditional Filipino costume that has a

shortened skirt, with puffy butterfly short sleeves, plaid
textile, and low cut bodice and at times plenty of ornate
embroidery. It was worn during picnics and other jaunts
into the countryside. The balintawak was deeply
associated with Antipolo, a favorite summer destination for
Manila dwellers. This costume was to epitomize Filipina
gaiety, light-heartedness and her costuming sense of rural
roots. Even when it was absorbed into the domain of
haute couture, the balintawak continued to signal song,
dance, and festivity.

TRAJE DE MESTIZA

At the turn of the century with the Spanish and Spanish

American war, the Filipinos asserted themselves through
crystallizing their identity with costume. For four hundred
years, Filipinas wore plain wrap-around skirts (saya)
fashioned out of opaque plaid or striped cotton and
sinamay varieties, and the baro (blouse) fashioned out of
sheer lace fabrics.

In the early 1900’s, the Philippines was acquired by the

Americans from the Spaniards. From the Spanish colony,
we moved into the American colonial era (1902-1946). This gave way to the “Americana” in the
Philippines where Hollywood movies, musicals, magazines were introduced. Having a Hollywood
inspiration, a stunning Filipino costume was created called the “Traje de Mestiza”. Traje is the Spanish
word for dress. Mestizo came from the Latin word mixticius, meaning mixed. Roughly translated, traje de
mestiza means mestiza dress.
Noli Me Tángere by Dr. José Rizal
Among the great novels in Philippine literature, Noli Me
Tángere (Touch Me Not) is the most controversial and widely-known –
it’s included in the current education curriculum of Filipino high school
students. Written by the country’s national hero, Dr. José Rizal, this
novel sparked the social awakening of Filipinos during the Spanish
colonial era. As Rizal cannot fathom the unfairness of the Spanish
priests and the ruling government at the time, his purpose of writing the
book was to expose the ills of Philippine society at the time. In this
revolutionary book, you’ll learn about the story of Crisostomo Ibarra,
how he dealt with Spanish authorities, and how he prepared for his
revenge, as told in Rizal’s 2nd book, El Filibusterismo.

Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas

Another famous masterpiece in Philippine literature, Francisco
Balagtas’ Florante at Laura is written in the form of ‘awit’ where there
are four lines per stanza and 12 syllables per line. Set in the fictional
kingdom of Albania, it tackles the story between Duke Florante and
Princess Laura, who’s also being pursued by Florante’s enemy Count
Adolfo. As a literary classic, this book has become a favorite play not
only among Filipino high school students, but has been showcased in
grand theaters such as Gantimpala Theater and the Cultural Center of
the Philippines.

Mga Ibong Mandaragit by Amado V. Hernandez

Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Birds of Prey) was written by Filipino writer and
social activist, Amado V. Hernandez. Being a novel that tackles social-
political issues, particularly Philippine revolution and neocolonialism, it
has a connection to Rizal’s earlier novels – Noli Me Tángere and El
Filibusterismo. There was a passage in the novel where protagonist
Mando Plaridel was tested by Tata Matyas on what he knows about
Rizal’s controversial books. As he narrated the living conditions of
Filipinos then, readers will note how Hernandez had high hopes for
significant changes that would uplift the Philippine society.

The Woman Who Had Two Navels by NickJoaquin

Being one of the most admired writers in Philippine literature, Nick
Joaquin was recognized as National Artist of the Philippines for
Literature in 1976. In his historical novel entitled The Woman Who Had
Two Navels, Joaquin examines the effects and influence of the past
towards the post-war events in the Philippines. Lead female character
Connie Escobar thinks she has two navels, and thus requests her
doctor to remove one – which symbolically means that she wants to
shun away from a traumatic past. She later finds out that her husband,
Macho Escobar, was the lover of her mother. Hoping to escape after
being betrayed, she flees, only to discover more truths.
 Po-on A Novel by F. Sionil Jose
Like Hernandez and Joaquin, F. Sionil Jose’s works have been deeply
influenced by Rizal. This was reflected in his books and short stories,
particularly the five-part novel series Rosales Saga, which narrated
class struggles and colonialism experienced by Filipinos. Po-on A
Novel is the first book in the Rosales Saga, which tells stories about
Rosales, Pangasinan in the Philippines. While this book is the last
written and published in the series, it’s actually the book that sets the
five-part story. Discover the story of Eustaqio “Istak” Samson who
abandoned his family to join the rebel forces and escape the cruelty of
Spanish authorities. The other four books in the saga are: Tree, My
Brother, My Executioner, The Pretenders, and Mass.

Spoliarium by Juan Luna

(1884, Rome)

Painted by Juan Luna, one of the first

internationally recognized Filipino artists,
the Spoliarium is the most famous artwork in
the National Museum. The painting is
impossible to miss, as it is 6.75 meters tall by
4.22 meters wide, the largest painting in the
Philippines. The Latin word Spoliarium refers
to the basement of the Colosseum in Rome,
where dying gladiators were stripped of their garments and weapons after battle and left to take their last
breath. It took Luna eight months to paint this scene in Rome. Trained in the Western style of painting in
19th century Spain, Luna eventually won the Philippines’ first gold medal for the Spoliarium at the
Exposition de Bellas Artes in May 1884.

El Asesinato del Gobernador

Bustamante (The Assassination
of Governor Bustamante) by
Felix Resurrection Hidalgo
(1898-1904, Paris)

Hidalgo’s painting presents a theatrical

portrayal of the shocking assassination of
Governor General Fernando Bustamante in
1719 by a mob of friars in a conflict between
church and state. Hidalgo highlights the
dramatic event with the use of bold color, dramatic lighting and dynamic movement. Fearing that the
artwork would spark controversy, Hidalgo never showcased it in Barcelona. He later won a silver medal
for it at the 1905 St. Louis Exposition in Missouri. The painting is now known as a national treasure, with
its place in the museum right across Luna’s Spoliarium.

Portrait of a Lady by Juan Luna

Juan Luna’s Portrait of a Lady was long-believed to be a

portrait of his wife, Paz Pardo de Tavera, but is more
likely a depiction of one of his favorite models. The
painting portrays an idyllic image of a beautiful fair-
skinned Spanish mestiza reclining in her bed. The
portrait carries with it a legend that it brings bad luck to
each of its owners, with its last proprietor being the
former Philippine First Lady, Imelda Marcos. The
picture was once displayed at Malacañang Palace before
it was eventually donated to the National Museum by
the Marcos family.

The Progress of Medicine in the

Philippines by Carlos “Botong” V.
Francisco

This four series painting by National Artist

Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco depicts the history
and development of Philippine medicine over
the centuries. Francisco was a muralist painter,
known for his historical works, and one of the
first artists known to veer way from Amorsolo’s
romanticism of Philippine subject matter.
Originally located in the Philippine General
Hospital, the mural was restored several times in 1974, 1991, and 2006. Each panel
portrays medicine in a different era, with the first being the pre-colonial period, followed
by the Spanish colonization, the American colonization and lastly, the modern era. The
series is a must-see, as it was declared a national treasure in 2011.
 Mission Accomplished by HR
Ocampo

National Artist for the Visual Arts HR Ocampo

was a member of the pre-war “Thirteen
Moderns,” a group of artists established by
Victorio Edades in 1938. Their works often
showcasing the jarring realities of the
Philippines post World War II.
Ocampo was one of the artists who paved the
way for modern art in the Philippines and was
known for his use of bold and intense colors
and abstract shapes. This painting is one of the
few Ocampo works where figures are still
distinguishable, the battlefield and planes in the artwork depicting the reality of war. His
later works fell more in the abstract spectrum, with his drawings becoming even more
unorthodox in manner.

Rizal Monument (Bantayog ni Jose Rizal)

In the Philippines, probably the most popular, most

visited, most guarded and most photographed
monument is the monument of Jose Rizal in Luneta.

We know that Rizal has died fighting for the freedom of

our country. He is considered our national hero. He’s
even admired and honored by people from the other
parts of the world.

His monument in Rizal Park or Luneta is not only built

with precious metal and stone, but it also housed his
remains. Hence, every Filipino should learn how to give
honor and respect to this important landmark in the
Philippines.
 Bonifacio Monument (Monumento)

Andres Bonifacio is popularly known as the father of

the Philippine Revolution, and the founder and
Supremo of the Katipunan or the Samahang
Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan (KKK). He is an icon of bravery and
pride of the Filipinos.

The monument is one of the most beautiful works of

art in the Philippines. It was designed by national
artist Guillermo Tolentino, who also sculpted the
famous University of the Philippines’ Oblation statue.

An important historical and cultural landmark in the Philippines, the monument has twenty-three figures,
including Emilio Jacinto (popularly known as the brains of the Katipunan ) and the three martyred priests
Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (well known by many Filipinos as the
GOMBURZA).

Lapu-Lapu Shrine

Lapu-Lapu is considered as the first Filipino hero who

successfully defended the Philippines from the
Spanish invasion. He’s a symbol of courage and
success in defeating enemies. In fact, his image is the
central figure in the seal of the Philippine National
Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection. He is best
known as the hero of the Battle of Mactan on April 27,
1521. The battle of Mactan stopped the invasion of
Magellan in Cebu and delayed the Spanish
occupation of the islands by over forty years until the
expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564. The
monument of Lapu-Lapu is located in Liberty Shrine
(Mactan Shrine), where the historic battle of Mactan
took place at dawn on April 27, 1521. The area is also
the place where Magellan Shrine and the marker of
the spot the Portuguese conquistador was killed are
located.

Leyte Landing Monument

MacArthur Landing Memorial Park in Palo beach was

the site where the Allied Forces led by General
Douglas MacArthur landed in Leyte on October 20,
1944. The monument also reminds us the fulfillment
of MacArthur’s iconic words and promise “I shall
return”. The fulfillment of that promise was the start of
the Leyte invasion and his campaign to liberate the
Philippines from the Japanese occupation during the
World War II.
This historic event also led to the naval battle between the Japanese Imperial Navy and the US Navy
(with the help from the Australian Royal Navy). The Battles of Leyte Gulf is recognized by many historians
as the largest naval battle in history.

The Leyte Landing monument is composed of seven double-life-sized bronze statues of General Douglas
MacArthur, Philippine President Sergio Osmeña, Lieutenant General Richard Sutherland, Brigadier
General Carlos P. Romulo, Major General Courtney Whitney, Sergeant Francisco Salveron and CBS
Radio correspondent William J. Dunn.

The monument also resembles the iconic photo of MacArthur and his entourage during the historic A-Day
Landing as captured by Gaetano Faillace.

Sandugo (Blood Compact) Shrine

The province of Bohol in Visayas is not only home to

the magnificent Chocolate Hills and clear water
beaches but also to rich historical sites. One of the
most famous landmarks and historical sites in the
Philippines is the site of the Blood Compact
(Sandugo) between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López
de Legazpi in 1565 to insure the friendly relations
between the Spaniards and Filipinos. Among the
monuments in this list, the Blood Compact shrine
commemorates friendship rather than battles or
wars.The Blood Compact monument is one of the works of Napoleon Abueva, a Filipino national artist
and also called as the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”.