By: Sharmane Soriano

Tre Maddalene Fisherman

One method of painting that Filipinos use is oil painting. This method was introduced
as early as the 16th century which was influenced by the European traditions. It was
first used as a propaganda to spread Catholicism in the Philippines. These paintings
usually appeared on church walls which features religious figures on the Catholic
paintings. By the 19th century Philippines deviated from the religious motifs and
turned to a more secular art.
 Woman and Seeds Pangangande/Prayer

As many artist use water colors to paint, the Talaanding, an indigenous people of the
Banwaon tribe use soil for painting. This method of painting was introduced by
Waway Saway in the Talaanding community in the year of 1995. With the soil that
they use, their artworks are in tones of browns, reds, and grays. The pictures depicted
on their artworks are pieces of their tribe’s life, beliefs, practices, and their close
association with land.
 Manunggul Jar
Palayok
During the Neolithic period, Philippine pottery was used to suit individual household
needs. One of these potteries included “palayok” which was used for daily cooking
activities. Other forms of pottery that they made were pouring vessels, jugs, dishes,
vases, and native dippers, known as “tabo.” One of these famous pottery that was
discovered was the Manunggul Jar, which was described to be unique. It shows an
example of a cultural link between the archaeological past and the ethnographic
present. With its unique attributes, The Manunggual Jar was put on the 100 PHP bill
in the year of 1995.
 Funerary Mask Burial Offering Earthenware Pots Resembling Human Figures
It wasn't till the Metal Age that Philippines changed their pottery tradition, in which they
experimented with forms, designs, and techniques. A result of their pottery during that
period were Anthropomorphic pots which are pots that have human characteristics. The
Funery Mask Burial Offering dates back to 350 BC, while the Earthenware Pots dates back
5 B.C.- 225 A.D. The Earthenware Pot was found in the Ayub Cave of the Saranggani
Province. The 29 other jars that were recovered with it had different kinds of facial
expressions and had heads that were either plain, perforated or coated with black and red
paints. These jar burial practices in the Philippines date back to the Late Neolithic Period
from 1,000 B.C. to 16th century.
 A Banig Being Hand-woven
Banigs in Different Colors and Designs

Weaving is a major part of Philippine’s art and culture. Filipinos weave different
kinds of things such as slippers, hats, bags, and mats. Banig is a hand-woven mat
used for sleeping and sitting. It is made out of palm, pandanus, or sea grass
leaves. The leaves are usually dried, then dyed, and then cut into strips, which is
now ready to be woven. It is then woven into unique designs with a clean pattern.
 Bayong Made Out of Palm Leaves Women of Berong Making Bayong

Bayong is another famous art weaving in the Philippines. It is an alternative to

using plastic bags. Locals usually use bayong to carry their groceries as they head
off to the market. Alike banigs, it is made out of dried leaves. It is traditionally
made out of palm leaves, but in some cases it can be made out of plastic. The use
of bayong is more popular in the provinces than in the cities, however, it has
evolved into a more fashionable style.
 Mangyan Script on Bamboo
A Man Writing a Script on a Fresh Bamboo

Ambahan is a chanted poetry of the Hanunoo-Mangyan, an ethno-linguistic tribe of the

Mangyans. The poetry is usually scripted on bamboo slats, in which they preserve the
ambahan for hundreds of years. Ambahan is a set of poetic expression with a measured
rhyme of seven-syllable lines. It is chanted without a determined melody and musical
instruments. It is chanted in a metaphorical way and many times chanted in a dialogue
fashion. It can be vocalized in the presence of interested audience of various size.
 Pabasa during Holy Week in Quiapo, Manila Pasyón Mahal Book

Another form of poetry ritual in the Philippines is Pabása ng Pasyón. It is a Catholic

devotion during Holy Week where it involves uninterrupted chanting of the Pasyón. It is
an early 16th century epic poem that narrates the life, passion, death, and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. The readers are usually groups of individual taking turns to chant verses in
a capella or accompanied with a musical instrument. You can sing by yourself , with a
partner, or with a group. Pabasa is done continuously day and night and last for 3 days.
The pabasa usually begins on Holy Monday, the second day of Holy Week, or afternoon
of Maundy Thursday, and ends in the morning of Good Friday.
Women Performing Kalinga or KnownAs “Banga” Locals Performing Uyaoy / Uyauy

Philippine offers different types of dances varying in influence and region. The
Cordillera dances include: Banga, Salisid, Talip, Lumagen, Manmanok,
Ragragsakan, Taretek, and Uyaoy/Uyauy. The Banga mimics Kalinga women
collecting and transporting water, in which when the dance they balance as much as
8 pots on their heads. Another form of dance is the Uyaoy/Uyauy. This type of
dance is performed by affluent to attain the second level of the wealthy class.
 Women Dancing Tinkling Women Dancing Binasuan

Two of the famous folklore dances in the Philippines include: Tinikling and
Binasuan. Tinikling originated during the Spanish colonial era. The dance involves
two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against
each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between
the poles to dance. The Binasuan is when the performers holds full wine glasses in
each hand while performing balancing tricks.
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