Culture of the Philippines

Kalesa, a traditional Philippine urban tranportation

The culture of the Philippines is a combination of Eastern and Western culture. Before
the Spanish colonization of the country, the Philippines' culture was mainly influenced by the
indigenous Malay heritage of Southeast Asia.[1] The Spanish Empire then colonized the islands and,
after more than three centuries of colonization, Roman Catholicism spread throughout the
archipelago and Hispanic influence heavily impacted the country's culture. The Philippines, then
being governed from both Mexico and Spain, received a fair bit of Hispanic influence from the
regions. For instance, Mexican and Spanish influence can be seen in the country's dance and
religion as well as many other aspects of its culture. Then, after being colonized by Spain, the
Philippines became a U.S. territory for almost 50 years. Influence from the United States is manifest
in the wide use of the English language and in the modern pop culture of present-day Philippines.
The Philippines was first settled by Melanesians; today, although few in numbers, they preserve a
very traditional way of life and culture. After them, the Austronesians or more specifically, MalayoPolynesians, arrived on the islands. Today the Austronesian culture is very evident in the ethnicity,
language, food, dance and almost every aspect of the culture. These Austronesians engaged in
trading with Japan, China, India, Palau, Malay, America, Malaysia, Papua, west Pacific Islander,
Indonesian Islands, the Middle East, Borneo, and other places. As a result, those cultures have also
left a mark on Filipino culture.[2][3]
Contents
1Religion
2Architecture
3Visual Arts
o
3.1Painting
o
3.2Indigenous art
o
3.3Islamic art
4Performing arts
o
4.1Music
o
4.2Dancing
5Literature
6Cinema and media
7Cuisine
8Education
9Sports
o
9.1Martial arts
o
9.2Traditional Filipino games
10Indigenous groups
11Philippine diaspora
12Festivals
13Holidays
o
13.1Regular holidays

13.2Special holidays
14See also
15Further reading
16References
17External links

Religion[edit]
The Philippines is one of the two predominantly Roman Catholic (80.58%) nations in Asia-Pacific,
the other being East Timor. From the census in 2014, Christianity consist about 90.07% of the
population while Islam is the religion for about 5.57% [4][5] of the population. Those who reported
others or none composed 4.37% of the total population of the country.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards and the introduction of Roman Catholicism and Western culture in
the 16th century, the indigenous Austronesian people of what is now called the Philippines were
adherents of a mixture of shamanistic Animism, Islam, Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism.[6]

Architecture[edit]
Main article: Architecture of the Philippines

Calle Crisologo, Vigan City

Being a colony of the Spanish Empire for almost 300 years, the Spaniards introduced
European colonial architecture to the Philippines. The introduction of Christianity brought European
churches, and architecture which subsequently became the center of most towns and cities in the
country. The Spaniards also introduced stones as housing and building materials. Spanish colonial
architecture can still be seen in centuries-old churches, schools, convents, government buildings
and residences around the country. The best collection of Spanish colonial architecture can be found
in the walled city of Intramuros in Manila and in the historic town of Vigan. Colonial-era churches are
also on the best examples and legacies of Spanish Baroque architecture in the Philippines. Historic
provinces such as Ilocos
Norte, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Iloilo also boasts colonial-era
churches and houses.
In the past, before the Spanish colonization, the Nipa hut (Bahay Kubo) was the common form of
housing among the native Filipinos. It is characterized by use of simple materials such as bamboo
and coconut as the main sources of wood. Cogon grass, Nipa palm leaves and coconut fronds are
used as roof thatching. Most primitive homes are built on stilts due to frequent flooding during the
rainy season. Regional variations include the use of thicker, and denser roof thatching in mountain
areas, or longer stilts on coastal areas particularly if the structure is built over water. The architecture
of other indigenous peoples may be characterized by an angular wooden roofs, bamboo in place of
leafy thatching and ornate wooden carvings.
The University of Santo Tomas Main Building in Manila is an example of Renaissance Revival
architecture. The building was built on 1924 and was completed at 1927. The building, designed by
Fr. Roque Ruao, O.P., is the first earthquake-resistant building in the Philippines.[7] Islamic and other
Asian architecture can also be seen depicted on buildings such as mosques and temples.
Contemporary architecture has a distinctively Western style although pre-Hispanic housing is still

common in rural areas. American style suburban-gated communities are popular in the cities,
including Manila, and the surrounding provinces.
Architecture of the Philippines

Visual Arts[edit]
Painting[edit]
Early Filipino painting can be found in red slip (clay mixed with water) designs embellished on the
ritual pottery of the Philippines such as the acclaimed Manunggul Jar. Evidence of Philippine potterymaking dated as early as 6,000 BC has been found in Sanga-sanga Cave, Sulu and Laurente Cave,

Cagayan. It has been proven that by 5,000 BC, the making of pottery was practiced throughout the
country. Early Filipinos started making pottery before their Cambodian neighbors, and at about the
same time as the Thais as part of what appears to be a widespread Ice Age development of pottery
technology.
Further evidence of painting is manifest in the tattoo tradition of early Filipinos, whom the
Portuguese explorer referred to as Pintados or the 'Painted People' of the Visayas.[8][9]Various
designs referencing flora and fauna with heavenly bodies decorate their bodies in various
colored pigmentation. Perhaps, some of the most elaborate painting done by early Filipinos that
survive to the present day can be manifested among the arts and architecture of the Maranao who
are well known for the Naga Dragons and the Sarimanokcarved and painted in the beautiful
Panolong of their Torogan or King's House.
Filipinos began creating paintings in the European tradition during 17th-century Spanish period. The
earliest of these paintings were Church frescoes, religious imagery from Biblical sources, as well as
engravings, sculptures and lithographs featuring Christian icons and European nobility. Most of the
paintings and sculptures between the 19th and 20th centuries produced a mixture of religious,
political, and landscape art works, with qualities of sweetness, dark, and light.
Early modernist painters such as Damin Domingo was associated with religious and secular
paintings. The art of Juan Luna and Flix Hidalgo showed a trend for political statement. The first
Philippine national artist Fernando Amorsolo used post-modernism to produce paintings that
illustrated Philippine culture, nature and harmony. While other artist such as Fernando Zbel used
realities and abstract on his work. In the 1980s, Elito Circa, popularly known as Amangpintor, gained
recognition. He uses his own hair to make his own paintbrushes and signs his painting using his own
blood on the right side corner. He developed his own styles without professional training or guidance
from masters.
Popular paintings of the Philippines

Indigenous art[edit]

The Kutkut Art

The Itneg people are known for their intricate woven fabrics. The binakol is a blanket which features
designs that incorporate optical illusions. Woven fabrics of the Ga'dang people usually have bright
red tones. Their weaving can also be identified by beaded ornamentation. Other peoples such as
the Ilongot make jewelry from pearl, red hornbill beaks, plants, and metals. Some indigenous
materials are also used as a medium in different kinds of art works especially in painting by Elito
Circa, a folk artist of Pantabangan and a pioneer for using indigenous materials, natural raw
materials including human blood. Many Filipino painters were influenced by this and started using
these materials such as extract from onion, tomato, tuba, coffee, rust, molasses and other materials
available anywhere as paint. The Lumad peoples of Mindanao such as the B'laan, Mandaya,
Mansaka and T'boli are skilled in the art of dyeing abaca fiber.Abaca is a plant closely related
to bananas, and its leaves are used to make fiber known as Manila hemp. The fiber is dyed by a
method called ikat. Ikat fiber are woven into cloth with geometric patterns depicting human, animal
and plant themes.

A technique combining ancient Oriental and European art process. Considered lost art and highly
collectible art form. Very few known art pieces existed today. The technique was practiced by the
indigenous people of Samar Island between early 1600 and late 1800 A.D. Kut-kut is an exotic
Philippine art form based on early century techniquessgraffito, encaustic and layering. The
merging of these ancient styles produces a unique artwork characterized by delicate swirling
interwoven lines, multi-layered texture and an illusion of three-dimensional space.

Islamic art[edit]
Islamic art in the Philippines have two main artistic styles. One is a curved-line woodcarving and
metalworking called okir, similar to the Middle Eastern Islamic art. This style is associated with men.
The other style is geometric tapestries, and is associated with women. The Tausug and SamaBajau
exhibit their okir on elaborate markings with boat-like imagery. The Marananaos make similar
carvings on housings called torogan. Weapons made by Muslim Filipinos such as the kampilan are
skillfully carved.

Performing arts[edit]
Music[edit]
Main article: Music in the Philippines

A Philippine Kulintang ensemble

The early music of the Philippines featured a mixture of Indigenous, Islamic and a variety of Asian
sounds that flourished before the European and American colonization in the 16th and 20th
centuries. Spanish settlers and Filipinos played a variety of musical instruments, including flutes,
guitar, ukulele, violin, trumpets and drums. They performed songs and dances to celebrate festive
occasions. By the 21st century, many of the folk songs and dances have remained intact throughout
the Philippines. Some of the groups that perform these folk songs and dances are the Bayanihan,
Filipinescas, Barangay-Barrio, Hariraya, the Karilagan Ensemble, and groups associated with the
guilds of Manila, and Fort Santiago theatres. Many Filipino musicians have risen prominence such
as the composer and conductor Antonio J. Molina, the composer Felipe P. de Leon, known for his
nationalistic themes and the opera singerJovita Fuentes.
Modern day Philippine music features several styles. Most music genres are contemporary such
as Filipino rock, Filipino hip hop and other musical styles. Some are traditional such as Filipino folk
music.

Dancing[edit]
Main article: Philippine Dance

A Zamboangueo dance in Philippine Hispanic tradition.

Philippine folk dances include the Tinikling and Cariosa. In the southern region of Mindanao, Singkil
is a popular dance showcasing the story of a prince and princess in the forest. Bamboo poles are
arranged in a tic-tac-toe pattern in which the dancers exploit every position of these clashing poles. [10]
[11]

Literature[edit]
Main article: Literature of the Philippines
The Philippine literature is a diverse and rich group of works that has evolved throughout the
centuries. It had started with traditional folktales and legends made by the ancient Filipinos before
Spanish colonization. The main themes of Philippine literature focus on the countrys pre-colonial
cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and contemporary traditions. The
literature of the Philippines illustrates the Prehistory and European colonial legacy of the Philippines,
written in both Indigenous and Hispanic writing system. Most of the traditional literatures of the
Philippines were written during the Mexican and Spanish period. Philippine literature is written
in Spanish, English, or any indigenous Philippine languages.
Some of the well known work of literature were created from the 17th to 19th century. The Ibong
Adarna is a famous epic about an magical bird which was claimed to be written by Jos de la
Cruz or "Huseng Sisiw".[12] Francisco Balagtas is one of the country's prominent Filipino poets, he is
named as one of the greatest Filipino literary laureates for his contributions in Philippine literature.
His greatest work, the Florante at Laura is considered as his greatest work and one of the
masterpieces of Philippine literature. Balagtas wrote the epic during his imprisonment.[13]Jos Rizal,
the national hero the country, wrote the novels Noli Me Tngere (Touch Me Not) and El
Filibusterismo (The Filibustering, also known as The Reign of Greed).

Cinema and media[edit]

Main article: Cinema of the Philippines

Mila del Sol starred in one of the earliest Filipino movies,Giliw Ko (1939), along withFernando Poe, Sr..

The formative years of Philippine cinema, starting from the 1930s, were a time of discovery of film as
a new medium of expressing artworks. Scripts and characterizations in films came from popular
theater shows and Philippine literature.
The advent of the cinema of the Philippines can be traced back to the early days of filmmaking in
1897 when a Spanish theater owner screened imported moving pictures.
In the 1940s, Philippine cinema brought the consciousness of reality in its film industry. Nationalistic
films became popular, and movie themes consisting primarily of war and heroism and proved to be
successful with Philippine audiences.
The 1950s saw the first golden age of Philippine cinema,[14][15] with the emergence of more artistic and
mature films, and significant improvement in cinematic techniques among filmmakers. The studio
system produced frenetic activity in the Philippine film industry as many films were made annually
and several local talents started to gain recognition abroad. Award-winning filmmakers and actors
were first introduced during this period. As the decade drew to a close, the studio system monopoly
came under siege as a result of labor-management conflicts. By the 1960s, the artistry established in
the previous years was in decline. This era can be characterized by rampant commercialism in films.
The 1970s and 1980s were considered turbulent years for the Philippine film industry, bringing both
positive and negative changes. The films in this period dealt with more serious topics following the
Martial law era. In addition, action, western, drama, adult and comedy films developed further in
picture quality, sound and writing. The 1980s brought the arrival of alternative or independent cinema
in the Philippines.
The 1990s saw the emerging popularity of drama, teen-oriented romantic comedy, adult, comedy
and action films.[15]
The Philippines, being one of Asia's earliest film industry producers, remains undisputed in terms of
the highest level of theater admission in Asia. Over the years, however, the Philippine film industry
has registered a steady decline in movie viewership from 131 million in 1996 to 63 million in 2004. [16]
[17]
From a high production rate of 350 films a year in the 1950s, and 200 films a year during the
1980s, the Philippine film industry production rate declined in 2006 to 2007. [16][17] The 21st century
saw the rebirth of independent filmmaking through the use of digital technology and a number of
films have once again earned nationwide recognition and prestige.
With the high rates of film production in the past, several movie artists have appeared in over 100+
roles in Philippine Cinema[18] and enjoyed great recognition from fans and moviegoers.

Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Philippine cuisine

Puto, a steamed rice cake usually served as a dessert or snack.

Filipinos cook a variety of foods influenced by Western, Pacific Islander, and Asian cuisine. The
Philippines is considered a melting pot of the West and Asia.
The Spanish colonizers and friars in the 16th century brought with them produce from the Americas
such as chili peppers, tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and the method of sauting with garlic and onions.
Eating out is a favorite Filipino pastime. A typical Pinoy diet consists at most of six meals a day;
breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, dinner, and again a midnight snack before going to sleep. Rice is a
staple in the Filipino diet, and is usually eaten together with other dishes. Filipinos regularly use
spoons together with forks and knives. Some also eat with their hands, especially in informal

settings, and when eating seafood. Rice, corn, and popular dishes such as adobo (a meat stew
made from either pork or chicken), lumpia (meat or vegetable rolls), pancit (a noodle dish),
and lechn baboy (roasted pig) are served on plates.

Sarciado, a fish dish stewed in tomato sauce mixed with egg.

Other popular dishes brought from Southeast Asian, and Spanish influences include
afritada,asado, chorizo, empanadas, mani (roasted peanuts), paksiw (fish or pork, cooked in vinegar
and water with some spices like garlic andpepper), pan de sal (bread of salt), pescado frito (fried or
grilled fish), sisig, torta (omelette), kare-kare (ox-tail stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew),
pinapaitan, and sinigang (tamarind soup with a variety of pork, fish, or prawns). Some delicacies
eaten by some Filipinos may seem unappetizing to the Western palate include balut (boiled egg with
a fertilized duckling inside), longanisa (sweet sausage), anddinuguan (soup made from pork blood).
Popular snacks and desserts such as chicharon (deep fried pork or chicken skin), halo-halo (crushed
ice with evaporated milk, flan, slicedtropical fruit, and sweet beans), puto (white rice
cakes), bibingka (rice cake with butter or margarine and salted eggs), ensaymada (sweet roll with
grated cheese on top), polvoron (powder candy), and tsokolate (chocolate) are usually eaten outside
the three main meals. Popular Philippine beverages include San Miguel Beer, Tanduay
Rhum, coconut arrack, and tuba.
Every province has its own specialty and tastes vary in each region. In Bicol, for example, foods are
generally spicier than elsewhere in the Philippines. Patis (fish sauce), suka (vinegar), toyo (soy
sauce), bagoong, and banana ketchup are the most common condiments found in Filipino homes
and restaurants.
Western fast food chains such as McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a common sight in
the country. Local food chains such as Jollibee, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Mang
Inasal and Chowking are also popular and have successfully competed against international fast
food chains.[19][20]

Education[edit]
Main articles: Education in the Philippines and Higher education in the Philippines
University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Education in the Philippines has been influenced by Western and Eastern ideology and philosophy
from the United States, Spain, and its neighbouring Asian countries. Philippine students enter public
school at about age four, starting from nursery school up to kindergarten. At about seven years of
age, students enter elementary school (6 to 9 years) this include Grade 7 to Grade 10 as Junior High
School then after they graduate. Since the Philippines has already implemented the K-12 system,
students will enter SHS or Senior High School, a 2-year course, to be able to prepare College life
with their chosen track such as ABM (Accountancy Business Management), STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) other
tracks are included like TECH-VOC (Technical Vocational). Students can make a choice if they will
take the college entrance examinations (CEE) for which they enter college or university (3 to 5
years) or find a work after they graduate on Senior High School.
Other types of schools in the country include Private school, Preparatory school, International
school, Laboratory high school, and Science high school. Of these schools, private Catholic schools
are the most famous. Catholic schools are preferred in the Philippines due to their religious beliefs.

Most Catholic schools are co-ed. The uniforms of Catholic schools usually have an emblem along
with the school colors.
The school year in the Philippines starts in June and ends in March, with a two-month summer break
from April to May, two-week semestral break in October and Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Changes are currently being made to the system and some universities have copied the
Westernized academic calendar and now start the school year in August.
In 2005, the Philippines spent about US$138 per pupil compared to US$1,582 in Singapore,
US$3,728 in Japan, and US$852 in Thailand.[21][22]

Sports[edit]
Main article: Sports in the Philippines

Manny Pacquiao, the first and onlyeight-division world champion in boxing

Arnis, a form of martial arts, is the national sport in the Philippines.[23] Among the most popular sports
include basketball, boxing, football,billiards, chess, ten-pin bowling, volleyball, horse racing, Sepak
Takraw and cockfighting. Dodgeball, badminton and Tennis are also popular.
Filipinos have gained international success in sports. These are boxing, football, billiards, ten-pin
bowling, and chess. Popular sport stars include Manny Pacquiao, Flash Elorde, and Francisco
Guilledo in boxing, Paulino Alcntara in football, Carlos Loyzaga, Robert Jaworski, and Ramon
Fernandez in basketball, Efren Reyes and Francisco Bustamante in billiards, Rafael Nepomuceno in
ten-pin bowling, Eugene Torre and Renato Naranja in chess, and Mark Munoz in MMA.
The Palarong Pambansa, a national sports festival, has its origin in an annual sporting meet of
public schools that started in 1948. Private schools and universities eventually joined the national
event, which became known as the "Palarong Pambansa" in 1976. It serves as a national Olympic
Games for students, competing at school and national level contests. The year 2002 event included
football, golf,archery, badminton, baseball, chess, gymnastics, tennis, softball, swimming, table
tennis, taekwondo, track and field, and volleyball.

Martial arts[edit]
Main article: Filipino martial arts

A grandmaster of Arnis

There are several forms of Filipino martial arts that originated in the Philippines (similar to
how Silat is the martial arts practiced in Asia) including Eskrima (weapon-based fighting, also known
as Arnis and in the West sometimes as Kali), Panantukan (empty-handed techniques),
and Pananjakman (the boxing component of Filipino martial arts).

Traditional Filipino games[edit]

Main article: List of traditional Filipino games
One Traditional Filipino game is luksong tinik. A very popular game to Filipino children where one
has to jump over the tinik and cross to the other side unscathed. [24] Other traditional Filipino games
include yo-yo, piko, patintero, bahay kubo, pusoy, and sungka. Tong-its is a popular gambling game.
Individuals play the game by trying to get rid of all the cards by choosing poker hands
wisely. Sungka is played on a board game using small sea shells in which players try to take all
shells. The winner is determined by who has the most shells at the point when all small pits become
empty.[25] Filipinos have created toys using insects such as tying a beetle to string, and sweeping it
circular rotation to make an interesting sound. The "Salagubang gong" is a toy described by Charles
Brtjes, an American entomologist, who traveled to Negros and discovered a toy using beetles to
create a periodic gong effect on a kerosene can as the beetle rotates above the contraption.
[26]
Piko is a Philippine version of the game hopscotch. Children will draw a sequence rectangles
using chalk on the ground. With various level of obstacle on each rectangle, children will compete
against one another or in a team. Players use pamato;usually a flat stone, slipper or anything that
could be toss easily.

Indigenous groups[edit]
Main article: Indigenous peoples of the Philippines

An Igorot man in Ifugao.

The Indigenous peoples of the Philippines consist of a large number of Austronesian ethnic groups.
They are the descendants of the original Austronesian inhabitants of the Philippines, that settled in
the islands thousands of years ago, and in the process have retained their Indigenous customs and
traditions.[27]
In 1990, more than 100 highland peoples constituted approximately three percent of the Philippine
population. Over the centuries, the isolated highland peoples have retained their Indigenous
cultures. The folk arts of these groups were, in a sense, the last remnants of Indigenous traditions
that flourished throughout the Philippines before the Islamic and Spanish contacts.
The highland peoples are a primitive ethnic group like other Filipinos, although they did not, as a
group, have as much contact with the outside world. These peoples displayed a variety of native
cultural expressions and artistic skills. They showed a high degree of creativity such as the
production of bowls, baskets, clothing, weapons and spoons. These peoples ranged from various
groups of Igorot people, a group that includes the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga and
Kankana-ey, who built the Rice Terraces thousands of years ago. They have also covered a wide
spectrum in terms of their integration and acculturation with Christian Filipinos. Other Indigenous
peoples include the Lumad peoples of the highlands of Mindanao. These groups have remained
isolated from Western and Eastern influences.

Philippine diaspora[edit]
Main article: Overseas Filipino
An Overseas Filipino is a person of Filipino origin, who lives outside of the Philippines. This term is
applied to people of Filipino ancestry, who are citizens or residents of a different country. Often,
these Filipinos are referred to as Overseas Filipino Workers.
There are about 11 million overseas Filipinos living worldwide, equivalent to about 11 percent of the
total population of the Philippines.[28]
Each year, thousands of Filipinos migrate to work abroad through overseas employment agencies
and other programs. Other individuals emigrate and become permanent residents of other nations.
Overseas Filipinos often work as doctors, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, engineers,
architects,[29] entertainers, technicians, teachers, military servicemen, students, caregivers, domestic
helpers, and household maids.
International employment includes an increasing number of skilled Filipino workers taking on
unskilled work overseas, resulting in what has been referred to as brain drain, particularly in the
health and education sectors. Also, the employment can result in underemployment, for example, in
cases where doctors undergo retraining to become nurses and other employment programs. The
Moro Muslim, Lumad, and Igorot peoples resisted Spanish rule unlike the Filipinos who submitted to
the Americans and Spanish such as the Tagalog. The mixed Moro and Igorot Joseph Allen RuantoRamirez wrote on how these Filipinos suffer from "Bahag syndrome" trying to compensate for their
colonized mentality and culture by adopting Igorot clothing and faux Igorot tattoos. [30][31] Eric John
Ramos David authored the book Brown Skin, White Minds: Filipino-/American Postcolonial
Psychology (with Commentaries) on this topic.[32][33] E. J. R. David authored the book FilipinoAmerican Postcolonial Psychology: Oppression, Colonial Mentality, and Decolonization.[34] The King
Philip II colonial derived name "Philippines" is held in scorn by Moro Muslims and instead Maharlika
is favored as a better native origin name.[35]

Festivals[edit]
Main article: Festivals of the Philippines

The Sinulog Festival is held to commemorate the Santo Nio

The MassKara Festival of Bacolod

The Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo

Festivals in the Philippines, locally known as fiestas, originated dating back to the Spanish colonial
period when the Spaniards introducedChristianity to the country. Most Philippine towns and cities
has a patron saint assigned to each of them. Fiestas in the Philippines serve as either religious,
cultural, or both. These festivals are held to honor the patron saint or to commemorate history and
culture, such as promoting local products and celebrate a bountiful harvest. Fiestas can be
categorized by Holy Masses, processions, parades, theatrical play and reenactments, religious or
cultural rituals, trade fairs, exhibits, concerts, pageants and various games and contests.
Month
Festival
Place

January

Ati-Atihan

Kalibo, Aklan

Sinulog

Cebu

Dinagyang

Iloilo

Coconut

San Pablo City, Laguna

Hinugyaw

Koronadal, South Cotabato

Panagbenga

Baguio

Kaamulan

Bukidnon

Paraw Regatta

Iloilo City and Guimaras

Pamulinawen

ilocos

Pintados de Passi

Passi City, Iloilo

Araw ng Dabaw

Davao

Kariton

Licab, Nueva Ecija

Moriones

Marinduque

Sinuam

San Jose, Batangas

Aliwan

Pasay

Magayon

Albay

Pahiyas

Lucban, Quezon

Sanduguan

Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Butwaan

Butuan City

Baragatan

Palawan

Sangyaw

Tacloban City

Pista Y Ang Kagueban

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

July

T'nalak

Koronadal, South Cotabato

August

Kadayawan

Davao

Pavvu-rulun

Tuguegarao City

Peafrancia

Naga, Bicol

Padul-ong

Borongan City, Eastern Samar

Bonok-Bonok

Surigao City

Banigan

Basey, Samar

Diyandi

Iligan City

Fiesta Pilar

Zamboanga City

Masskara

Bacolod

Buglasan

Oriental Negros

November

Itik

Victoria, Laguna

December

Paru-Paru

Dasmarias, Cavite

February

March

April

May

June

September

October

Holidays[edit]

Main article: Public holidays in the Philippines

Parol (Christmas lanterns) being sold during the Christmas season

Good Friday observance inPampanga

Regular holidays[edit]
Date (Gregorian
Calendar)

Filipino language

English language

January 1

Araw ng Bagong Taon

New Year's Day

MarchApril

Mahal na Araw including Biyernes

Santo and Huwebes Santo

Holy Week including Good

Friday and Maundy Thursday

April 9

Araw ng Kagitingan

Day of Valour

May 1

Araw ng mangagawa

Labour Day

June 12

Araw ng Kalayaan

Independence Day

August 27

Araw ng mga Bayani

National Heroes' Day

November 30

Araw ni Bonifacio

Bonifacio Day

December 24

Bispers ng Pasko

Christmas Eve

December 25

Araw ng Pasko

Christmas

December 30

Araw ni Rizal

Rizal Day

Special holidays[edit]
Date (Gregorian
Calendar)

Filipino language

English language

JanuaryFebruary

Bagong Taong Pang Intsik

Chinese New Year

February 25

Anibersaryo ng Rebolusyon ng Lakas ng

mga Tao

People Power
Revolution Anniversary

August 21

Araw ni Ninoy Aquino

Ninoy Aquino Day

November 1

Araw ng mga Santo

All Saints Day

November 2

Araw ng mga Kaluluwa

All Souls' Day

December 31

Bispers ng Bagong Tan

New Year's Eve

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Philippine art refers to the work of art that developed since the beginning of civilization in
the Philippines up to the present era. It reflects to the society with wide range of diverse cultural
influences and how it honed the culture and the arts of the country. Philippine art can be referred to
visual arts, performing arts, sculptures and textiles.
Artistic paintings were introduced to the Filipinos in the 16th century when the Spaniards arrived in
the Philippines. During this time, the Spaniards used paintings as religious propaganda to spread
Catholicism throughout the Philippines. These paintings, appearing mostly on church walls, featured
religious figures appearing in Catholic teachings. Due to the Church's supervision of Filipino art and
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 watercolour paintings increased and
the subject matter of paintings began to include landscapes, Filipino inhabitants, Philippine fashion,
and government officials. Portrait paintings featured the painters themselves, Filipino jewelry, and
native furniture. The subject of landscape paintings featured artists' names painted ornately as well

as day-to-day scenes of average Filipinos partaking in their daily tasks. These paintings were done
on canvas, wood, and a variety 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.
Contents
[hide]

1Dance
2Weaving
3Pottery
4Other art forms
5Notable Filipino artists
6Museums
7See also
8References
9External links

Dance[edit]
Main article: Philippine Dance
There are lots of different types of Filipino dances varying in influence and region. Types of Filipino
dance include Cordillera, Muslim, tribal, rural, and Spanish style dances.
Within the cordillera dances, there is Banga, Bendayan, Lumagen/Tachok, Manmanok,
Ragragsakan, Salisid, Talip, Tarektek, and Uyaoy/Uyauy. The Banga dance shows 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. This mimics Kalinga women collecting and transporting
water. Another dance, called 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 attempting to attract a hen. [2]
Tribal dances include Malakas at Maganda, Kadal Blelah, Kadal Tahaw, Binaylan, Bagobo 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 dance, 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
killed 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 artistically 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 long bamboo poles found in tinikling; however, it is primarily a dance showing off
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 clashing sticks. Dancers can be found trying to
avoid all 4 bamboo sticks all together in the middle. They can also try to dance an entire rotation
around the middle 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 clothing. [4]

Weaving[edit]

A Filipino loom for weaving rough fabrics of abaka fiber, 1905

Philippine weaving involves many threads being measured, cut, and mounted on a wooden platform.
The threads are dyed and weaved on a loom.[5]
Before Spanish colonization, native Filipinos weaved using fibers from abaca, pineapple, 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 hunting. These baskets were used to transport grain, store
food, and catching fish.[6] They also used weaving to make just about all of the clothing that was
worn.
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 patterns were usually thick stripes with
different colors and with a nice pattern.
However, during Spanish colonization, Filipinos used fabric called nipis to weave 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 ceramic jars to hold the
deceased.[8]
Other pottery used to hold remains of the deceased were decorated with anthropomorphic 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 Philippines, pottery was
made for water vessels, plates, cups, and for many other uses.[9]
Kalinga Pottery [10]
Ceramic vessels of Kalinga are divided into three types: rice cooking (ittoyom), vegetable/meat
cooking (oppaya), and water storage (immosso) pots. According to Skibo, the rice cooking pots are
usually larger, thinner and have a smaller opening than vegetable/meat pots. On the other hand,
water storage pots have an average and uniform size and a smaller neck size.
Except for water storage pots, which have a uniform size, the other two kinds can come in three
different sizes, large, medium and small. Although this is true in some cases, another larger type of
vegetable/meat pot and smaller water storage pot exists.
Manufacture of Kalinga potteries
The first step in the manufacture of pots is the acquisition of the starting material, clay. The clay is
then pounded, added with enough amount of water, to reach the wanted flexibility, and placed in a
rotating plate. Using the hand-modeling and coil-and-scrape techniques, the height, thickness and
shape of the pot is established. After this, the rim is designed by placing a wet rag on top of it and
then rotating it in the other direction. Furthermore, scraping of the walls can also be done if the walls
produced are too thick.
The pot, after the modeling stage, is then dried for a short period of time before the base is shaped.
Also, after additional heating, small amounts of clay are added inside and outside the clay to
maintain the evenness of the surface. A polishing step can also be done through the use of a

polishing stone. In some cases, pots are also painted with red hematite paint for some stylized
design.
Pottery Functions [10]
Pots are ceramic vessels that are made by molding clay into its wanted shape and then leaving it in
an environment with an elevated temperature thereby making it solid and sturdy. It is widely
recognized as one of better tools that humans invented since it managed to store the surplus of food
Neolithic humans gathered.
In the book Pottery Function: A Use-Alteration Perspective, the author, James Skibo, reasoned out
why the use of pots is far more advantageous than baskets and other organic containers. He said
that since potteries are commonly made in clay, heat has little to none effect on the container, and its
contents, and that it protects the food from moisture and pests. Furthermore, its range of storable
contents is far wider than baskets and animal skins since it can store both liquid and dry goods.
Also, Rice, in his book Pottery Analysis, classified ceramic vessels into 17 categories depending on
various factors that concern the use and production of the tool. One of these is the content wherein
he further divided a type of pot into four depending on the state (liquid or solid) and temperature (hot
or cold) of the food inside it. He also said that a ceramic has three main uses. These three are
storage, processing, and transfer.
Based from these three uses that Rice gave, Skibo further characterized the usage of ceramic
vessels by dividing the tools function into two, (1) intended use and (2) actual use.
Intended use, as the name implies, is how the tools supposed to be used. This is the basis of the
manufacture of the ceramic vessel since the form follows the function. On the other hand, actual use
is how the tool was used. This sometimes disregards the pots form as long it can do a specific
function.
Kalinga Pottery and its Uses [10]
In Kalinga, ceramic vessels can be used for two situations: daily life use and ceremonial use. Daily
life uses include the making of rice from the pots and the transfer of water from nearby water bodies
to their homes.
Determining actual function of Kalinga pots
As said, a pottery sometimes has a different actual use than intended use. This is the reason why
when archaeologists study the function of a pottery, they tend to focus on how the tool was actually
used. They do this by studying the alterations that the pottery has. These alterations, accretion and
attrition, are commonly the abrasions and scratches on the vessel. In Skibos study of Kalinga
potteries functions, he relied on three main tests, namely (1) dissolved residue, (2) surface attrition
and (3) carbon deposition.
1. Dissolved residue This test was done to determine the organic matters that were once
placed in the vessel. Through the combination of a gas chromatograph and a mass
spectrophotometer, the composition of the fatty acids inside the vessel was determined.
Although a complete identification of the species of plant and animals was not possible,
Skibo managed to know which pots were used for rice and vegetable/ meat cooking.
2. Surface Attrition Skibos study on the attrition of the pots showed how the pot was used. By
looking at the trace attritions inside the vessel, the type, frequency, angle and direction of
stirring for each pot was determined. Furthermore, Skibo also concluded that two pots can
be differentiated from each other, on the basis of what type of food it cooks, from the
abrasions. He said that rice pots will have a little amount of stirring while the vegetable/meat
pots will have numerous marks.
3. Carbon Deposition This test, as said by Skibo, can determine the type of food cooked, how
it was cooked and how the pot was placed on the flame. From this, another distinction
between rice and vegetable/meat pots was established.
Iron Age pottery [11]
There are three major complexes in Philippine Iron Age according to Solheim, Kalanay, Novaliches
and Bau pottery complexes. Kalanay pottery complex pertains to Beyers Early Iron Age pottery of
the Visayan Islands found in Negros and Mindoro; novaliches pottery complex to Beyers Early Iron

Age pottery from Rizal province. Bau pottery, on the other hand, does not fit into the two previous
complexes and could correspond instead to the Late Iron Age pottery.
Kalanay Pottery Complex [11]
The type site of the Kalanay pottery complex is the Kalanay Cave found in Masbate. From this site,
the pottery is further subdivided into pottery types Kalanay and Bagupantao.
Specific varieties of decoration are as follows:

Paired diagonals and borders, with variations including single diagonals or verticals and
borders, or wavy lines and borders

Curvilinear scrolls and triangles

Rectangular scroll

Triangles, with variations including alternating triangles and borders or running triangles

Rectangles and diagonals

Zoomorphs

Punctate fieldwhere areas bonded by incised lines are emphasized by punctuations or

dashes

Diagonals without borders, including a band of horizontal Vs and alternating diagonals off a
center line

Impressed crenelations

Impressed or carved scallop design

Impressed tool

Carved cutouts in ring stands

Kalanay complex pottery can be divided into 16 groups according to Solheim.
1. Large jars with wide necks
2. Large jars with narrow necks
3. Small jars
4. Deep bowls
5. Shallow bowls
6. Very shallow bowls
7. Lids
8. Shallow bowls with ring stands
9. Tetrapods
10.Jars with angle between side and bottom
11. Spherical jars with small mouths, without angle at rim
12.Angular Vessels
Bau Pottery Complex [11]
It has less variation in both form and decoration compared to the Kalanay pottery complex.
Specific varieties of decoration are as follows:

Paddle Impressed

Tool Impressed, including simple-tool and compound-tool impressed

Stamp Impressed

Applique ribbons of clay

In terms of forms:

Small jars with everted rims

Small jars without everted rim

Small heavy jars with flat bottom

Cups with ring feet

Jars with ring feet

Novaliches Pottery Complex [11]
Most of Novaliches pottery can be distinguished from Bau pottery and Kalanay pottery. While it
shares form and decoration with Kalanay pottery, it contains more variability compared to Bau

pottery. According to Solheim (2002), it is the most sophisticated pottery that has yet been found in
the Philippines
Novaliches pottery can be diagnosed by its form being a shallow bowl with a high right-foot. The
shallow bowl is generally plain but the feet are highly decorated. Majority of Novaliches pottery were
well polished. The form is so symmetrical that it looks as if it was made in a potter wheel, however,
examinations showed that it wasnt.
Specific varieties of decoration are as follows:

Cutouts

Narrow vertical elements; carved, tool impressed, or running impressed lines

Horizontal and diagonal elements, including simple tool impressions, compound tool
impressions and carved elements

Horizontal broadline impressed lines

Vessel forms are as follows:

Shallow bowls with high ring stands

Shallow bowls with low-ring stands

Jars with low-ring stands

Angle jars

Jars with short necks and everted rims

Kalanay Cave Site [11]
The Kalanay cave site is a small burial cave. It is located at the northwest coast of Masbate.
Kalanay Pottery

Kalanay Plain

Majority (80 per cent) of the excavated vessels.

Variations in size and shape

Technique used in the manufacture: Paddle-and-anvil technique

Differences in the base of the vessels (some have rounded bottom while some use a ring
foot or a tetrapod for support).

Large observable differences in color that is associated with the inability of the potter to
control the fire, causing the uneven distribution of the heat.
Kalanay Incised

Incised around the neck, rim of a jar or the outside of a bowl in a band of repeating elements

Little care was given so the jars appear poorly made despite its well thought out designs.
This can be attributed to the possibility that the certain tradition of this pot was no longer
significant to the manufacturer

Kalanay-Impressed: simple tool and simple and compound tool

Simple tool impressing found around the jar or bowl with a flange
Kalanay slipped

Forms: jars, large with wide mouth and everted rim, or small with everted rim; bowls, deep
with inslanting sides, or very shallow which turned out lip

Some were polished, some were not.

Bagupantao Pottery [11]
Bagupantao Plain

Majority of the pots paste is red-brown in color, with gray or black as the minority. Its texture
ranges from fine to medium and its thickness is usually 58 mm in length. The common forms of
the pots are jars with wide to narrow mouths and its normally large (a body diameter of 24 to
35 cm).

Difference between Kalanay Plain: Evenness of color and cleanness of clay

Bagupantao Impressed

The type of paste is the same as Bagupantao plain, red-brown in color. It is also highly
decorated on its rim with circles, punctuations and crenellations.


Larger (28 31 cm body diameter) and thicker (9-14 thickness) than Bagupantao plain.
Bagupantao Painted

The paste used is the same as Bagupantao impressed and plain but it is covered with heavy
red hematite slip inside and outside of the neck.

Thinner (27 mm) and smaller than Bagupantao plain.

Extraneous Pottery - Three vessels that did not belong to the Bagupantao and Kalanay style were
also found.
First pot

Similar clay used as the Bagupantao and Kalanay vessels. The color, red-brown, was also
the same, inside and out.

Ornamented with small crystals on the paste and black flakes on the surface.

As thin (38 mm) as the Bagupantao painted vessel.

Second pot

Same size and structure as the Bagupantao pots.

Used a different paste (fibrous texture and contained mineral inclusions)

Heavily polished and the surface color ranges from red-brown to light gray.

As thick as the Bagupantao plain jars (512 mm).

Third pot

The paste used is chocolate-brown in color and its texture is fine.

It is very thick (1520 mm) when compared to the other pots.

Poorly made because of the uneven distribution of heat to the pot (pieces break
longitudinally).

Other art forms[edit]

Tanaga is a type of Filipino poetry. Kut-kut is an art technique used between the 15th and 18th
centuries. The technique was a combination of European and Oriental style and process mastered
by indigenous tribes of Samar island.
Indigenous arts

Some indigenous materials are also used as a medium in different kinds of art works
especially in painting by Elito Circa, a famous folk artist of Pantabangan and a pioneer for using
indigenous materials, natural raw materials including human blood.[12] Many Filipino painters and
foreign artists were influenced by this and started using these materials such as extract from
onion, tomato, tuba, coffee, rust, molasses and other materials available anywhere as paint.

In 2015/16, the Asia Society in New York presented an exhibit called Philippine Gold:
Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms. The exhibition presents spectacular works of gold primarily
discovered over the past forty years on the Philippine islands of Luzon, the Visayas, and
Mindanao. The regalia, jewelry, ceremonial weapons, and ritualistic and funerary objects attest
to the recently uncovered evidence of prosperity and achievement of Philippine polities that
flourished between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, long before the Spanish discovered and
colonized the region. Although the forms and styles of the majority of these works developed
locally, some indicate that Philippine craftsmen had been exposed to objects from beyond their
borders through the robust cultural connections and maritime trade in Southeast Asia during
what was an early Asian economic boom.

Notable Filipino artists[edit]

Past notable Filipino artists include Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Augusto Arbizo, Flix
Hidalgo, Ang Kiukok, Anita Magsaysay-Ho Lito Mayo, Mauro Malang Santos, Santiago Bos, Rey
Paz Contreras and David Corts Medalla. Present-day Filipino artists featuring Filipino culture
include Benedicto Cabrera, Elito Circa, Fred DeAsis, Daniel Coquilla,Francisco Viri and Nunelucio
Alvarado.[13] The Arts or Paintings by Zbel, Amorsolo and many more could be seen in most of the
art museums in the Philippines. Zobel's paintings can be seen in the Ayala museum.

Museums[edit]
Place

Museum

Description

Manila

Bahay Tsinoy

A typical Chinese house in the Philippines

Kaisa Heritage Cente

corner Cabildo Streets,
Manila

Casa Manila

A typical Spanish colonial house in the Philippines

General Luna Street, I

Manila

San Agustn Museum

A church museum with wide collections of catholic

religious items

San Agustn Monaste

Luna Street Corne
Intramuros, Ma

National Museum of the

Philippines

The national museum which showcases Philippine Arts

Malacaang Museum

A museum inside the Presidential Palace complex

Metropolitan Museum of
Manila

A museum of contemporary arts

Museum of Contemporary
Arts and Design

A museum of contemporary Filipino arts

College of Saint Beni

Ocampo Street, Mala

The Museum

A museum of contemporary Filipino arts

De La Salle University
Avenue, Man

UST Museum

The oldest existing museum in the Philippines. UST

Museum has permanent display on natural history
specimens, coins, medals, memorabilia, ethnographic
materials and oriental arts objects.

University of Santo T
Building, Espaa Bo
Sampaloc, Ma

Museo Pambata

A museum for children

Roxas Boulevard cor

Drive, Ermita, M

CCP Museo ng Kalinangang

Pilipino and Asian Traditional
Musical Instruments

A museum of performing arts.

GSIS Museo ng Sining

A museum of Filipino Arts

Macapagal Avenue,
Center, Pasa

Ayala Museum

A museum of Filipino Arts

Makati Avenue corner

Street, Greenbelt Par

Yuchengco Museum

A museum of Filipino and Filipino-Chinese Arts

RCBC Plaza, Ayala co

Gil Puyal Avenue,

Lpez Memorial Museum

A museum of Filipino Contemporary Arts

Benpres Building, Exc

corner Meralco Aven

Ateneo Art Gallery

A museum of Filipino Contemporary Arts

Special Collections
Ateneo de Manila U
Katipunan Avenue, Loy
Quezn City

Jorge B. Vargas Museum and

Filipiniana Research Center

The only museum in the Philippines with wide range of

Philippine Arts from 1880 to 1960

Roxas Avenue, Unive

Philippines, Dilimn, Q

Mind Museum

A science museum

J.Y. Campos Park, 3r

Pasay

Makati

Pasig
Quezn
City

Taguig

Address

P. Burgos Avenue,

Malacaang Palace Co
Laurel Street, San Mig

Bangko Sentral ng
Complex, Roxas Boule

Tanghalang Pamba
Complex, Roxas Boule

Bonifacio Global Ci
Cebu

Paulina Constancia Museum

of Native Art [MoNA]

A museum of Native Art, Poetry, & Sustainability

Aurora

Baler Museum

A museum of Native Art and culture

Baler, Auror

Nueva
Ecija

Provincial Capitol Museum

A museum of Novo Esijano's Arts and Culture

Palayan Cit

Fred's Arts Gallery

A museum of Novo Esijano's Artist

Cabanatuan C

BenCab Museum

A museum of BenCab Arts

Benguet

110 Gorordo Ave., C

Baqiuo City