CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS

FROM REGIONS
lesson 1

NATURE OF ART THE 7 MAJOR CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS

It is derived from the Latin word ars/artis which means to-do IN THE PHILIPPINES
or man-made.
A medium of expression because we express our ideas, emotions, MUSIC
feelings without using words. An art form that appeals to sense of hearing, composed by
Creative activity that involves skill or expertise in handling combining notes into harmony.
materials and organizing them into something new.
LITERATURE
IMPORTANCE OF ART Art form of language through the combined use of words, creating
Satisfies the needs for personal expression meaning and experience.
Develops our skills to express ourselves
Challenges us to see things differently THEATER
Unleashes our hidden desires and passion Art form of performance. Dramatic text is portrayed on stage by
Sees truth that we might not understand before. actors and actresses and are enhanced by props, light, sound. It is
also a form of art in which artists use their voices and/or bodies,
FUNCTIONS OF ART often in relation to other object, to convey artistic expression.
Most important means of expression developed by man
To express beauty film
To give man moment of relaxation A technological translation of theater, special effects are utilized
To serve man as a channel of man’s passion to enhance story telling.
To overcome feelings of restlessness and loneliness
DANCE
SUBJECT OF ART Art of human form, body is used, mobilized and choreographed in a
The subject matter may vary, usually anything that is represented specific time, form and space.
in the art work. It may be a person, object, scene or event.
ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND ALLIED ARTS
CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS Structure that meant to be used as shelter, its art relies on the
design and purpose of structure.
Contemporary Arts
Contemporary art forms refer to field of arts such as painting, VISUAL ARTS
drawing, dancing, music and sculpture, etc. Artwork such as painting, photography, or sculpture that appeals
Contemporary Art is the art of today and produced in the primarily to the visual sense and typically exists in permanent
second half of the 20th Century or in the 21st Century. form.
During the 21st century, these art forms include photography,
graphic design, and animation.

Contemporary Philippine Art THE TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE ARTS

Contemporary Arts began during the 1950s, after World War II.
According to Santos (2016), in Philippine art as in its culture, Pre Conquest/ Ethnic Art(890 B.C.
one notes that various shades, lights, and tones, and even the to 225 A. D.
contrasting characters that have been absorbed and blended In art historical terms, we refer to art before the coming of
into new forms that are particularly Filipino. the first colonizers as “pre-conquest.”
Art before is referred to as an expression of an individual but
Contemporary Art Forms from Regions yet not categorized into different kinds of forms.
It refers to art forms that are developing in various regions of the
Philippines that relied on the existing culture and materials in visual arts
specific region or province. Filipino contemporary artists use a. wood carving
various local materials that are indigenous in our country. It is the action or skill of carving wood to make functional or
ornamental objects.
CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS FROM
REGIONS Bulul - Also known as bul-ul, is carved wooden figure used to
guard rice crop by the Ifugao peoples of northern Luzon. The
ABACA
sculptures are highly stylized representations of ancestors and
its fiber has natural luster with colors ranging from pure white to
are thought to gain power from the presence of the ancestral
ivory and dark brown. It is being used in making slippers, ropes,
spirit.
twine and hammock.

bamboo Hagabi - These are traditionally large ceremonial benches carved

is used as raw material in creating many products. It is used in for wealthy Ifugao families as a symbol of wealth, power and
construction, textile, musical instruments, weapons and many more. prestige. The bench serves as a symbol of prestigious “hagabi
feast” in which the carving of the bench marks the beginning of
buri celebration. Only Ifugao of the cadangyan class were allowed to
extracted from matured leaves of the buri palm. The fiber is have hagabi.
durable and resistant to moisture. Hats, bags, baskets, memorabilia
boxes, perfume tray, are other products that can be made out of Sarimanok - This is a legendary bird of Maranao people who
Buri leaves. originate from Mindanao, a major island in the Philippines. It
comes from the words “sari” and “manok”. “Sari” means cloth or
pandan garment, which is generally of assorted colors. Manok, which
tropical plant, is processed and transformed into splints that are makes up part of its name, is a Philippine word for chicken.
being used as raw material. Pandan is used in producing baskets,
hats, picture frames and bags. Panolong - It’s a house ornament fashioned by the Maranao
people. It is a carved beam that protrudes in the front of the
rattan
house and styled with okir motif. The shape of panolong is an
being used in manufacturing baskets, picture frames, furniture,
architectural translation of “prow” meaning the protruding part
and other novelty items, Zoya lounge chair, Valencia queen size bed,
in the front of a ship.
and rest divan.
b. pottery TINIKLING
Pots, dishes, and other articles made of earthenware or baked clay. (Leyte)
Pottery can be broadly divided into earthenware, porcelain, and The tinikling is named after the tikling bird. The dancers imitate
stoneware. the bird’s flight in grace and speed as they play and chase each
other, run over tree branches or dodge farmer’s traps. The dance is
The tradition of pottery dates back to prehistoric times as done with a pair of bamboo poles.
proven by the Manunggul Jar which is at least 3500 years old,
and which depicts on its lid two boatmen riding a banca on their MUSIC
way to their great divide. (Leyte)
Banga - Used for storing water Filipinos already had rich musical traditions. Philippine indigenous
Tapayan - used for storing food music before the colonial era was largely functional. Expressed
either instrumentally or vocally or a combination of both, music
c. weaving
was deeply integrated with the activities of the natives. The
The craft or action of forming fabric by interlacing threads.
ancient Filipinos had music practically for all occasions, for every
phase of life, from birth to death.
1. TEXTILE WEAVING - A method of textile production in which two
distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to
CHARACTERISTICS
form fabric or cloth. Purpose: reverence for spirits and nature,
Music styles vary from region to region
criteria for the beautiful and societies sociopolitical structures.
Often the music is Polyphonic and uses highly interlocking
Made of: Fibers- cotton, abaca, pineapple leavesPigments: clay,
repeated patterns
roots and leaves
Most musical instruments are primarily objects of nature as
they consist mainly of bamboo, wood, shell, animal skin and
Malong - It’s a traditional Filipino rectangular or tube-like
metal; just as many of the melodies and rhythms of tribal
wraparound skirt bearing a variety of geometric or okir designs.
chants imitate some aspect of nature’s sounds and movements.
The malong is traditionally used as a garment by both men and
women of the numerous ethnic groups in the mainland Mindanao
FORMS
and parts of the Sulu Archipelago.
The musical form/style of the Philippines can be grouped into two:
PisSiyabit - A traditional cloth tapestry made from cotton or
the southern style and northern style. But as a whole, instruments
silk worn as a head covering by the Tausug of Sulu.
are classified using four different categories depending on the
Langkit - a traditional weave of the Maranaos made through a
manner in which the instrument creates the sound: Idiophoones,
backstrap loom. The weave pattern is usually found in the
Membranophones, Chordophones and Aerophones.
malong a cultural attire which can be used for both special
occasions and everyday wear.
Idiophones - Any musical instrument which creates sound
primarily by the way of the instrument’s vibrating, without the
2. PRODUCT WEAVING - Majority of woven products are created with
use of strings or membranes. Most percussion instruments which
one of three basic weaves: plain weave, satin weave, or twill.
are not drums are idiophones.
D. BODY ORNAMENTS
These involve decorating the body by wearing specific clothing, Membranophones - Any musical instrument which produces sound
jewelry, headdress, body paints, tattoos, body piercings, brandings, primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane. Most
scarifications or cicatrizations. membranophones are drums.

Boxer Codex - Sometimes known as the Manila Manuscript, is a Chordophones - Any musical instrument which makes sound by a
manuscript written in 1950 which contains illustrations of way of vibrating string or strings stretched between two
ethnic groups in the Philippines at the time of their initial points.
contact with Spaniards– representation of various
ethnolinguistic groups, where the following are classified: Aerophones - Any musical instrument which produces sound
primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate without the use of
DANCE strings or membranes and without the vibrations the vibration
of the instrument itself adding considerably to the sound.
Pre-colonial dances are distinctly meant to appease the gods and
to ask favors from spirits, as a means to celebrate harvest or hunt. SOUTHERN STYLE(Ethnic groups in Mindanao)
Their dance mimicked life forms and the stories of their community.
Moreover, these dances were also ritualistic in nature, dances Palendag - (Aerophone Instrument) A type of Philippine bamboo
articulated rites of passages, the community’s collective legends flute, the largest on used by the Maguindanaon, a smaller type
and history. of this instrument is called the Hulakteb (Bukidnon).
PANGALAY DANCE
(Badjaos of Sulu Archipelago) Kudlong - (Chordophone Instrument) An ethnical instrument from
The Panglay, a dance native to the Badjaos meant to highlight the the Manobo tribe in the Philippines. It is a two-stringed guitar
power of the upper body, es executed through the rhythmic bounce that can produce near speech-like sound through manipulation
of the shoulder while simultaneously waving the arms. Most times, by the hand. The instrument is often featured as part of
this dance is performed in social gatherings like weddings. courting rituals as the sounds produced are considered to be
expressive of love.
BANOG BANOG DANCE
(Mandayas kinabua of Mindanao) Kulintang - (Idiophone Instrument) A modern term for an ancient
It is a hawk dance usually performed by the healed patients of the instrumental form of music composed on a row of small,
babaylan (priest) and sometimes on social occasions. The dancers horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied
usually move around each other and sometimes break off to dance by larger, suspended gongs and drums.
in different directions.
NORTHERN STYLE(Ethnic groups of Central Cordilleras
MANMANOK DANCE
of Luzon
(Bagobos of Mindanao)
Manmanok is a dance that dramatizes three roosters from the Bago
Paldong - A traditional lip-valley flute of the Kalinga tribes in
Tribe who compete against one another to be able to get attention
the Philippines. The paldong is made of bamboo.
of a hen, Lady Lien. They try to attract her by making use of
blankets that depict their feathers and wings.
Gitgit - An instrument of Mindoro with 3 to 4 strings with a
TALIP DANCE wooden body and human hair for the bow.
(Ifugaos)
It is a dance done after a courtship dance. The man lures a woman Gangsa - A single hand-held smooth-surfaced gong with a
with an attractive blanket to place on her shapely shoulder, the narrow rim. A set of gangsa, which is played one gong per
Ifugao celebrate the intaneg or wedding with the festival dance musician, consists of gangsa tuned to different notes,
called dinnuya. depending on regional or local cultural preferences.
literature theater
Before the Spanish period, the early forms of the Philippine drama
a. RIDDLES (Mga Bugtong)
were the duplo and the karagatan.
These are statements that contain superficial words, but they
function figuratively and as metaphors, and are in the form of
Duplo was a poetical debate held by the trained men and women
questions.
in the ninth night, the last night of the mourning period for the
These are questions that demand deeper answers.
dead.
Deals with everyday life
Bellacos are the male participants, they are the heads of the
It usually has mundane things as answers
games
This is used in the past as a form of game in small or large
Karagatan- was also a poetical debate like the duplo, but its
gatherings.
participants were amateurs.
b. Proverbs (Mga Salawikain) Both were held in the homes
These are statements that are considered as wise. Theme- all about a ring that fell into the sea.
These are usually given by parents or elders of the community.
There is belief that experience is the best teacher ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND ALLIED ARTS
1. Folk Songs Nipa Hut - a single room house composed of wood, bamboo or
These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted other native materials.
These usually contain ideas on aspirations, hopes, and everyday
life and expressions of love for loved ones. Tree House - small house built on top of trees to prevent animal
It is bounded by the learning of good morals as well as enemy attcks.
It is easy to understand because it is straightforward and not
figurative in nature.
Lullabies
Islamic Art (15thCentury to Present)
These are locally known as the Hele. These are sung to put to sleep Islam as a religion has long been established since the early A.D.
babies. The content varies, but usually, parents sing these with 600s. Along with its emergence around the world, it also paved way
ideas on how hard life is and how that their child will not for the development of its own unique style of art. Islamic art
experience hardship of life. place emphasis on creating an artform that is built on the beauty
and respect for the teachings of Islam. Islamic art is characterized
Drinking Songs
by designs of flowers, plant forms and geometric designs. It is used
These are locally known as Tagay and are sung during drinking
in calligraphy, architecture painting, clothing and other forms of
sessions
fine art.
Love Songs
To many Filipinos, these are known as Harana. It can also be called ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND ALLIED ARTS
courtship songs and are used by young men to capture the heart of Mosques in the Philippines have a common architectural feature
the girl that they love. that is similar with its Southeast Asian neighbors. It is made of
light materials such as wood, bamboo and cogon grass and was used
Songs of Death
in the building of the early types of mosques but these light
These are lamentations that contain the roll of good deeds that the
materials did not last long.
dead has usually done to immortalize his or her good image.

Religious Songs visual arts

These are songs or chants that are usually given during exorcisms ORNAMENTS
and thanksgiving during good harvest. Philippine Muslim homes represents their identity therefore Islamic
art is seen in their houses. These houses usually contain framed
2. Folk tales calligraphy of Qur’an passages in its walls. These ornaments usually
These are stories of native Filipinos are made from Muslim dominated countries like Malaysia, Egypt and
These deal with the power of nature- personified, their Saudi Arabia brought home by overseas Filipino workers as
submission to a deity- usually Bathala– and how this deity is mementos of their pilgrims.
responsible for the blessings and calamities
These also tackle about irresponsibility, stupidity, deception GRAPHIC ART
and fallibility that eventually leads to the instilling of good A design related to Islam that is used in the Philippines is batik
morals cloth design. This kind of design traces its influence from
Indonesia. It contains abstract themes with geometric and floral
Usual Themes: design. However, human and animal depiction is a rare motif in batik
Ceremonies needed to appease deities
Pre and Post Apocalypse
Life and Death literature
Gods and goddesses ur’an is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to
Heroes and heroines be a revelation from God (Allah).
Supernatural beings
Animals
Spanish Era(1521 to 1898)
Myths Though the South have been resistant, the Spanish Colonizers
These tackles the natural to strange occurrences of the earth and gained control in the Central part, which they classified them as
how things were created with an aim to give an explanation to “Lowland Christians”
things. Art forms, as they demanded, are under the strict rule of the
Legend church and the colonial state
Through legends, the natives understood mysteries around them. By religious orders, they dispatched t convert all the natives to
These stories usually come with a moral lesson that give credit to Catholicism
supernatural powers, supernatural occurrences, and other out-of- Art forms are stylistically and culturally which are classified
this-world native imagination. under religious art, lowland Christian art and folk art
Baroque are implied with churches like:
Fables - San Agustin Church in Manila
Short or brief stories that cater the children or the native. -Morong Church in Rizal
Filipinos are usually bounded by good manners and right conduct. - Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte
These stories use animals as characters that represents a - Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo
particular value or characteristic.
painting
Epics
The Spanish Friars introduced western paintings to the artisans who
Are very lengthy narratives that are based on oral traditions. These
learned to copy two dimensional forms from religious paintings such
contain encounters of fighters, stereotypical princes or heroes
religious icons were paintings of saints and of the holy family.
that save a damsel in distress.
Sculpture and Ornamentation visual arts
In the 17th Century, Chinese artisans are engaged in making 1909, a year after establishment of the University of the
icons or saints or santos. Philippines, School of Fine Arts was opened and the course on
Santos are displayed most on decorative altar niche which are commercial design aforementioned had in-demands
called retablo Fernando Amorsolo became a professor in the UP School of Fine
Via Crucis (14 paintings or relief sculptures) is series of reliefs Arts, which students pertained to as “Amorsolo School”
which shows Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Guillermo Tolentino, on the other hand, in sculpture studied Fine
Arts in Rome being influenced by the classical tradition.
Writing System He made the Oblation (1935, original/ 1958, bronze cast found at
Spanish colonization brought with it printing technology in the the UP- Oblation Plaza
form of catechism and prayer books in Spanish for a lot to read Bonifacio Monument, 1933 in Caloocan
and write and to evangel.

Print Making Japanese Era(1941 to 1945)

Doctrina Christiana (The Teachings of Christianity)- printed in As the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, the Modern Art
1953 in Spanish and Tagalog compiling song lyrics, project begun to slowdown
commandments, sacraments, and other catechetical material. The “Moderns” and “Conservatives” producing art continued in
It also engraves the production of secular or non-religious works KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod ng Bagong Pilipinas)
like which scientists and artists does maps as other sources of Since the Japanese advocated for culture of East Asia,
classification. preference was given to the indigenous art and traditions of the
Another example is Augustinian botanist Fr. Manuel Blanco made Philippines. This emphasized their propaganda of Asia belonging
an extensive compilation of the Philippine plants in Flora de to Asians.
Filipinas in 1878
Post War/ Modern Era(1949 to
architecture 1969)
Many Philippine churches shows the influence of the baroque Modern Era in the Philippine Art began after World War II and
style with a massive walls and thickness buttresses to adapt our granting of independence. Writers and artists posed the question
geographical condition of national identity as the main theme of the various art forms.
Houses also is that of native hut, wide windows, its utilization
of a ground floor is only for storage and garage for the visual arts
carruaje.
Modern, Conservative, abstract, experimental and public art

music architecture
Western musical instruments like the pipe organ, the violin, the
Real Estate, Safe Housing, Condominiums, Subdivision, Villages,
guitar, and the piano give a very new European flavor with new
Malls, Commercial/Business/Convention Buildings
rhythms, melodies and musical forms.
Other musical forms like pasyon or pabasa which are biblical
narration of Christ’s passion chanted (sometimes read) Contemporary Era(1970s to
Another one is Balitao which is sentimental love songs and Present)
lullabies in the latter half of the 19th century. Philippine Contemporary Art was an offshoot of social realism
Sentiments began to develop which Kundiman is born that spoke brought about by Martial Law. Art became expression of people
about resignation and fatalism, a vehicle for resistance with aspiration for a just, free, and sovereign society.
lyrics of unrequited love.
visual arts
dance Figurative, non-figurative, art for art sake, multi-media, mixed
As the galleon trade between Mexico and Philippines brought media
Mexican influences Cariñosa, Pandanggo or Fandango, Polka,
Dansa and the Rigodon and European influence like Habañera, architecture
Jota, and Tango dances from Spain. Real Estate, Safe Housing, Condominiums, Subdivision, Villages,
Malls, Commercial/Business/Convention Buildings
dance
One of the earliest forms of theater is pomp and pageantry
Zarzuela or Sarsuwela in the 19th Century is a singing ang
lesson 2
dancing- prose dialogue which the story is carried out in song. Research on Various Contemporary Art Forms
Senakulo- Christ’s suffering in metaphor to the suffering of
Filipinos under Spanish colonial rule VARIOUS CONTEMPORARY ART
First Senakulo written in 1704 by Gaspar Aquino de Belen is now
divided into two main types: FORMS
a. Komedya de Santos
b. Moro-moro FINE ART or AESTHETIC ART (MAJOR ARTS)
This art is primarily for aesthetic enjoyment through the senses,
especially visual and auditory. It is the changing certain materials
American Era(1898 to 1940)
or media for aesthetic pleasure.
Independence The five main fine arts were painting, sculpture, architecture,
Philippine Revolution of 1896 was cut short to the establishment music, and pottery, with performing arts including theatre and
of dance.
American Colonial Government.
Treaty of Paris in 1898 is where the Spain surrendered the PRACTICAL ART or UTILITARIAN ART (MINOR
Philippines to the United States ART)
Filipino playwrights found themselves confronted by censorship
in issuance of Sedition Law which banned writing, printing, and This art is intended for practical for practical use or utility. It is
publication of materials advocating Philippine independence the changing of raw materials for utilitarian purposes. However,
they must possess ornaments or artistic qualities to make them
architecture useful and beautiful..
Lingua Franca in English, poems and stories from books in the INDUSTRIAL ARTS
classroom to facilitate teaching of the English through public
It is the changing of raw materials into some significant products
school system, which the American has brought.
for human consumption or use. Examples of this are shell craft,
In less than a decade, Filipino began to write plays in English.
bamboo crafts, leather craft, pottery making, sheet – metal work
In 1915, Lino Castillejo and Jesusa Araullo authored “A Modern
and manufacture of automobiles, home appliances and televisions
Filipina”
set.
which was the first Filipino play written in English.
APPLIED / HOUSEHOLD ART GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN OR
It refers mostly to household arts such as flower arrangement, NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES AWARD
interior decoration, dress making, home – making, embroidery, Formalized in 1992, through Republic Act No. 7355, the Manlilikha
cooking and others. ng Bayan Act.
CIVIC ART The National Commission for the Culture and the Arts oversees
its implementation.
This art includes city or town planning, maintenance, and
The award is tied with a program that ensures the transfer of
beautification of parks, plazas, roads, bridges, and farms. This
their skills to new generations and the promotion of the craft
refer to beautification to improve the standards of living
both locally and internationally.
COMMERCIAL ART In 2014, the Senate of the Philippines adopted Senate Resolution
It involves business propaganda in the form of advertisements in No. (SRN)765 aimed at recognizing the accomplishments of the
newspapers and magazines, sign painting, billboard and country’s living treasures.
announcements, leaflets, displays, poster designing, movie
illustrations and many more. EMBLEM
The award logo is a representation of the human form used in
graphic ART traditional cloth. Below the logo is the phrase “Manlilikha ng Bayan”
It is anything printed from raised or sunken reliefs and plane written in Baybayin,an ancient Filipino script used in the Philippines
surfaces. in the 16th century.

agriculture ART
(crop production), horticulture (garden or orchard cultivation), GINAW BILOG (1953 – 2003)
husbandry (raising of cows, carabaos, poultry and swine) and A Hanunuo Mangyan of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. Awarded for
farming. faithfully preserving the Hanunuo Mangyan script and Ambahan
poetry. He has promoted the local script and poetry so that the art
business ART will not be lost but preserved. Bilog, who was awarded in 1993, died
This includes merchandising, accounting, bookkeeping, typewriting, in 2003.
stenography, salesmanship, and business administration
MASINO INTARAY (1943 – 2013)
fishery ART A Pala'wan of Brookes Point, Palawan. He was awarded for his
It includes shallow and deep-sea fishing, fish refrigeration and exemplary skills in basal or gong music ensemble. He was also
culture, net weaving. recognized for his versatility as musician, poet, epic chanter, and
storyteller of the Kulilal and Bagit traditions of the Pala'wan. A
MEDICAL / CLINICAL ART member of the Pala’wan tribe, musician and epic chanter Masino
It includes first aid treatments, medical manufacturing, surgery, Intaray was a master of the basal, who was awarded in 1993, died in
medical operation, rehabilitations and other 2013.

lesson 3 SAMAON SULAIMAN (1953 – 2011)

The Contemporary in Traditional Art: Gawad sa A Maguindanaon of Mamasapano, Maguindanao. He was awarded for
Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) his outstanding artistry and dedication to his chosen instrument,
the Magindanao kutyapi. Kutyapi is a two-stringed plucked lute,
regarded as one of the most technically demanding and difficult to
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan master among Filipino traditional. He was awarded in 1993 and died
(GAMABA). in 2011.

In 1992, the National Commission on Culture and therefore the Arts

(NCCA) began selecting and honoring recipients of the National
LANG DULAY (1928 – 2015)
Living Treasures Award, also referred to as Gawad sa Manlilikha ng A T'boli of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, was awarded for weaving the
Bayan (GAMABA), through Republic Act No. 7355. It continues to be abaca ikat cloth called t’nalak. She has produced creations which
awarded today and is handed out in the form of a medal remain faithful to the T’boli tradition as manifested in the
complexity of her design, fineness of workmanship and quality of
Teofilo Garcia finish. In Lang Dulay’s family, the weaving of the t’nalak (a fine
a farmer from San Quintin in the Province of Abra, 2012 GAMABA abaca cloth) took place before or after farm work, when the
awardee who have discovered and popularized the durable weather was cool, and the conditions were better for the product.
tabungaw hat out of enlarged upo or gourd. He hollowed out the She was awarded in 1998 and died in 2015.
upo / tabungaw, varnished and polished it to make it more
durable and unique yellow sheen.
SALINTA MONON (1920 – 2009)
He used different mediums such as varnish to strengthens A GAMABA awrdee of Tagabawa Bagobo of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
organic material, strips of rattan (uway) to line the hat, fern She was awarded for fully demonstrating the creative and
(nito) is placed on the mouth of the hat as decoration. He expressive aspects of the Bagobo abaca ikat weaving called Inabal at
intended to transform the harvest into durable hats to protect a time when such art is threatened with extinction. She was
the people who are exposed for long hours under the heat of the awarded in 1998.
sun, especially the farmers. Until now, he shared his knowledge
and skills of making the Tabungaw hat at San Quintin National ALONZO SACLAG (1942)
High School and inspires the youth to value tradition and to A Kalinga of Lubuagan, Kalinga was awarded for his mastery of the
ensure its preservation. Kalinga dance and the performing arts. He was also recognized for
his persistence to create and nurture a greater consciousness and
Teofilo Garcia, we reiterate that Philippine traditional art, appreciation of Kalinga culture among the Kalinga themselves and
though based on long - standing , established practices, has beyond their borders. He was awarded in 2000.
always been contemporary in a sense that it is art that is being
made now, and that it persists as part of continuing FEDERICO CABALLERO (1938)
performance of tradition
A Panay-Bukidnon of Calinog, lloilo was awarded for his mastery of
chanting the sugidanon, the epic tradition of Central Panay. He
contemporary-traditional art ceaselessly worked for the documentation of the epics of his people
refers to an art produced at the present period that reflects the painstakingly piecing together the elements of this oral tradition
current culture by utilizing classical techniques in drawing, nearly lost. He was best known for his expertise in the Sugidanon, a
painting, and sculpting. Practicing artists are mainly concerned Central Panay epic traditionally chanted while lying on a hammock,
with the preservation of time-honored skills in creating works of and his work in the preservation of oral literature, documenting 10
figurative and representational forms of fine art as a means to Panay-Bukidnon epics in an extinct language with close ties to
express human emotions and experiences. Kinaray-a. He was awarded in 2000.
UWANG AHADAS (1945)
A Yakan of Lamitan, Basilan was awarded for his dexterity in playing
Yakan musical instruments such as the kwintangan, gabbang, agung,
kwintangan kayu, tuntungan among others. He has a deep knowledge
of the aesthetic possibilities and social contexts of those
instruments. In spite of the dimming of his eyesight, he has devoted
his life to the teaching of Yakan musical traditions. He was awarded
in 2000.

DARHATA SAWABI (Unknown - 2005)

A GAMABA awardee of barangay Parang, Jolo Island, Sulu province.
Has preserved the art of Pis Syabit weaving. It is difficult art of
tapestry weaving that creates the traditional squares used by the
Tausug for ornamentation. was awarded in 2004

EDUARDO MUTUC (1949)

A Kapampangan from Central Luzon is recognized for reviving the
Spanish colonial-era craft of Plateria. This self-taught master
craftsman found his calling in producing religious and secular art in
silver, bronze, and wood. In doing so, and in his pursuit of
perfection for himself and his apprentices, he assures the
continuity of this rich tradition. was awarded in 2004

HAJA AMINA APPI (1925 - 2013)

Lives in Ungos Matata, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi,. She is recognized as
the master mat weaver among the Sama indigenous community of
Ungos Matata. Her colorful mats with their complex geometric
patterns exhibit her precise sense of design, proportion and
symmetry and sensitivity to color. She was awarded National Living
Treasure in 2004.

TEOFILO GARCIA (1941)

A GAMABA awardee of San Quintin Abra who have discovered and
popularized the durable Tabungaw hat out of enlarged upo or gourd.
He hollowed out the upo / tabungaw, varnished and polished it to
make it more durable and unique yellow sheen. Awarded in 2012.

MAGDALENA GAMAYO (1924)

Based in Pinili, Ilocos Norte, Magdalena Gamayo took up weaving
when she was 16, guided by her aunt’s patterns. She received her
first loom from her father three years later, which she would end
up using for 30 years. She taught herself traditional patterns, such
as kusikus (whirlwind), marurup (Milky Way), and sinan paddak ti
pusa (cat’s pawprint), building on the more common inuritan
(geometric design) and sinan-sabong (flowers). Gamayo’s skill and
instinct are none more apparent than they are in her ability to
replicate designs she’s only seen once. Her binakol, or woven cloth,
continues to draw praise and awe for its above-average thread
count and uniform weave. To keep Ilocos’ abel weaving tradition
alive, she teaches her practice to her cousin’s daughter-in-law and
sister-in-law. She was awarded in 2012.