Paintings[edit]

Artistic paintings were introduced to the Filipinos in the 16th century when the
Spaniards arrived in the Philippines. During this time, the Spaniards used pain
tings as religious propaganda to spread Catholicism throughout the Philippines.
These paintings, appearing mostly on church walls, featured religious figures ap
pearing in Catholic teachings. Due to the Church's supervision of Filipino art a
nd Spanish occupation of the Philippines, the purpose of most paintings from the
16th-19th century were to aid the Catholic Church.[1]
In the early 19th century, wealthier, educated Filipinos introduced more secular
Filipino art, causing art in the Philippines to deviate from religious motifs.
The use of watercolor paintings increased and the subject matter of paintings be
gan to include landscapes, Filipino inhabitants, Philippine fashion, and governm
ent officials. Portrait paintings featured the painters themselves, Filipino jew
elry, and native furniture. The subject of landscape paintings featured artists'
names painted ornately as well as day-to-day scenes of average Filipinos partak
ing in their daily tasks. These paintings were done on canvas, wood, and a varie
ty of metals. [1]
During World War II, some painters focused their artwork on the effects of war,
including battle scenes, destruction, and the suffering of the Filipino people.
Dance[edit]
It has been suggested that this article be merged into Philippine Dance. (Discus
s) Proposed since June 2012.
There are many different types of Filipino dances varying in influence and regio
n. Types of Filipino dance include Cordillera, Muslim, tribal, rural, and Spanis
h style dances.
Within the cordillera dances, there is Banga, Bendayan, Lumagen/Tachok, Manmanok
, Ragragsakan, Salisid, Talip, Tarektek, and Uyaoy/Uyauy. The Banga dance illust
rates the grace and strength of women in the Kalinga tribe. Women performing the
Banga balance heavy pots on their heads while dancing to beat of wind chimes. T
his mimics Kalinga women collecting and transporting water. Another dance, calle
d Lumagen or Tachok, is performed to celebrate happy occasions. When Lumagen is
performed, it is meant to symbolize flying birds and is musically-paired to the
beat of gongs. Another cordillera dance, Salisid, is the dance to show courtship
. In the Salisid dance, a male and a female performer represent a rooster attemp
ting to attract a hen.[2]
Tribal dances include Malakas at Maganda, Kadal Blelah, Kadal Tahaw, Binaylan, B
agobo Rice Cycle, and Dugso. Malakas at Maganda is a national folklore dance. It
tells the story of the origin of the Filipino people on the islands. Another da
nce, called the Binaylan dance, tells the story of a hen, the hen's baby, and a
hawk. In this dance, the hawk is said to control a tribe's well-being, and is ki
lled by hunters after attempting to harm the hen's baby.[3]
Two examples of traditional Filipino dances are Tinikling and Binasuan and many
more. Filipinos have unique folk dances like tinikling where assistants take two
long bamboo sticks rapidly and in rhythm, clap sticks for dancers to artistical
ly and daringly try to avoid getting their feet caught between them. Also in the
southern part of the Philippines, there is another dance called singkil using l
ong bamboo poles found in tinikling; however, it is primarily a dance showing of
f lavish Muslim royalty. In this dance, there are four bamboo sticks arranged in
a tic-tac-toe pattern in which the dancers exploit every position of these clas
hing sticks. Dancers can be found trying to avoid all 4 bamboo sticks all togeth
er in the middle. They can also try to dance an entire rotation around the middl
e avoiding all sticks. Usually these stick dances performed in teamwork fashion
not solo. The Singkil dance is identifiable with the use of umbrellas and silk c

lothing.[4]
Weaving[edit]
Philippine weaving involves many threads being measured, cut, and mounted on a w
ooden platform. The threads are dyed and weaved on a loom.[5]
Before Spanish colonization, native Filipinos weaved using fibers from abaca, pi
neapple, cotton, and bark cloth. Textiles, clothes, rugs, and hats were weaved.
Baskets were also weaved and used as vessels of transport and storage, and for h
unting. These baskets were used to transport grain, store food, and catching fis
h.[6] They also used weaving to make just about all of the clothing that was wor
n.
They weaved rugs that they used for quilts and bedding. The quality of the quilt
/bedding was based on how soft, how tight together, and the clean pattern. The p
atterns were usually thick stripes with different colors and with a nice pattern
.
However, during Spanish colonization, Filipinos used fabric called nipis to weav
e white clothing. These were weaved with decorative, flower designs.[6]
Pottery[edit]
Traditional pot-making in certain areas of the Philippines would use clay found
near the Sibalom River. Molding the clay required the use of wooden paddles, and
the clay had to be kept away from sunlight.[7]
Native Filipinos created pottery since 3500 years ago.[7] They used these cerami
c jars to hold the deceased.[8]
Other pottery used to hold remains of the deceased were decorated with anthropom
orphic designs. These anthropomorphic earthenware pots date back to 5 BC. - 225
A.D and had pot covers shaped like human heads. [8]
Filipino pottery had other uses as well. During the Neolithic period of the Phil
ippines, pottery was made for water vessels, plates, cups, and for many other us
es.[9]
Other Art Forms[edit]
Tanaga is a type of Filipino poetry. Kut-kut is an art technique used between th
e 15th and 18th centuries. The technique was a combination of European and Orien
tal style and process mastered by indigenous tribes of Samar island.
Past Filipino Artists[edit]
Past notable Filipino artists include Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Augusto Arbi
zo, Flix Hidalgo, and David Corts Medalla. Present-day Filipino artists featuring
Filipino culture include Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Fred DeAsis, Daniel Coquilla, Ang K
iukok, Lito Mayo, Mauro Malang Santos, Santiago Bos, Francisco Viri Rey Paz Contr
eras, and Nunelucio Alvarado.[10] The Arts or Paintings by Zbel, Amorsolo and man
y more could be seen in most of the art museums in the Philippines. Zobel's pain
tings can be seen in the Ayala museum.