Polytechnic University of the Philippines

1st Semester, A.Y. 2019-2020

BSECE 2-3

Group 6

Indigenous Philippine Arts

Members:

Dela Cruz, Faye Jeremiah B. Recto, Dane Cayelan C.

Francisco, Kim Ryan M. Sibonga, John Vincent C.

Mampusti, Jayron T.
Ancient and Pre-Spanish Era

It is believed that the first inhabitants of the Philippines arrived over many thousand
years ago. It is commonly thought that they migrated over a land bridge, which existed at that
time, from the Asian mainland. The next known inhabitation is when the Negrito or Aeta
arrived in the lands. However, they were driven back by several waves of immigrants from
Indonesia, only to be followed by the maritime peoples of the Malayan islands.

Sculpture

Sculpture is the three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard

materials, typically stone such as marble, metal, glass, or wood, or plastic materials such as clay,
textiles, polymers and softer materials.

Carving

It is one of the techniques used in sculpture. It is the act of using tools to shape
something from a material by scraping away portions of that material. This technique can be
applied to any material that is solid enough to hold a form even when pieces have been
removed from it, and yet soft enough for partitions to be scraped away with available tools.
 Bul-ul

These are carved Anito figures of the Ifugaos. These represent their ancestral spirit
and granary gods. Seated Ifugao “Bul-ul” at the conclusion of the annual Ifugao harvest
ritual “Bul-uls” placed in rice granaries are considered guardians of the harvest.

 Sarimanok

The pictures shown below are the most well-known of the old designs, the
sarimanok. The figure represents a fowl with wings, feathered tail, and a head decorated
with ornaments of scrolled and painted motif of leaves, spirals, and feather-like forms. It
usually stands on a fish and another one hangs from its beak. The wooden figure, usually
perched atop a bamboo pole, stands among decorative flags during weddings and other
festive occasions.

 Torogan

It is the ancestral home of the Maranao Sultan or Datu. One of the richest survivors
of Philippine pre-Spanish art is Maranao decorative art, described by critics as graceful and
rhythmical. The floorbeams of the houses project beyond the walls, and the ends or
panolong, such as the decorative figure, are carved and multicolored.
  Panolong

The Panolong is a house ornament fashioned by the Maranao people. It is a carved

beam that protrudes in the front of the house and style with okir motif. The shape of the
panolong is an architectural translation of a “prow” meaning the protruding part in the
front of a ship.

Pottery

Pottery are objects that are first shaped of wet clay, then hardened by baking. Pottery
includes both decorative and practical items such as bowls, vases, dishes, and lamps. Pottery in
the Philippines varies in forms and functions. The forms of the pots are directly influenced by
the functions of the pots and the tradition of the community/local area.
 Palayok

Palayok is a clay pot used as the traditional food preparation container in the
Philippines.

 Manunggul Jar

Manunggul Jar is a secondary burial jar, and the two prominent figures at the top of
the handle of its cover represent the journey of the soul to the afterlife.

 Leta-leta Cave Archeology

Leta-leta Cave, Langen Island, El Nido, Palawan was excavated in 1965 by Dr. Robert
Fox. Leta-leta Cave is an important burial site belonging to the Late Neolithic Period where
an assemblage of stone and shell artifacts associated with sophisticated pottery and
nephrite adzes and axes were recovered. Other materials include stone ornaments and shell
beads.
Weaving

Weaving means to make cloth and other objects. Threads and strands of material are
passed under and over each other. Weaving in the Philippines has different forms, functions
and materials. They also vary in design and techniques used. Most of the common forms of
weaving in the Philippines are in the form of hats, mats, bags, basket and textiles (clothes and
blankets).

 A Malong Bearing Okir Designs

The Maranaos call their ornamental design okir, a general term for both the scroll
and the geometric form. The most popular of all the malong styles is the landap. Which is
either dominantly red, yellow, green, blue, or violet. Red is the favorite color along with
yellow; these colors stand for royalty or aristocracy. Often, men wear the red landap and
the women, the yellow.

 Okir Design

Okir a datu (gentlemen’s design) The scroll is the dominant feature in the men’s work
composed of various spiral forms. In contrasts, the zigzag and angular forms are the
dominating motifs in women’s geometric art – okir a bay (ladies’ design).
Physical Ornaments

Physical ornamentation can be categorized to three areas specifically the use of

traditional costumes (textile), jewelries and tattoos. The designs vary depending on the
location, users and function of the ornaments.

 Bontoc, Ifugao, and Kalinga tribal textiles with a variety of silver and brass "linglingo"
fertility charms.

 Bontoc warrior's ritual "boaya" head

hunting necklace: shell, boar tusk, rattan, fiber and bone

 Filipino Bawisak Earrings

Traditional Ifugao tribe (Northern Luzon, Philippines) bead and shell bawisak earrings.
The bottom shell designs have been described as either representing butterflies or a certain
item of male generative anatomy.
  Ifugao: Warrior's Silver "Linglingo" Earring Pair and Pendants

 Traditional Filipino Tattoo

The Philippine Tribal Costumes

 B’laan

The B’laan are one of the indigenous peoples of Southern Mindanao in the
Philippines. They are famous for their brassworks, beadwork and t’nalak weave. The people
of these tribes wear colorful embroidered native costumes and beadwork accessories.
 Kalinga

The Kalinga are called the “peacocks of the north” because of their attention to
appearance and dressing. Kalinga is a landlocked province of northern Cordillera,
Philippines. “Kalinga” means enemy, a name that the bordering inhabitants called this tribe
because of their headhunting attacks. The name stuck and became accepted by the natives
themselves.

 T’boli

The T’boli distinguish themselves from the other tribal Groups by their colorful
clothes, bracelets and earrings, this tribe is famous for their complicated beadwork,
wonderful woven fabrics and beautiful brass ornaments.
  Bagobo

The Bagobo are proud people with proto Malayan features. They have ornate
traditions in weaponry and other metal arts. They are noted for their skill in producing brass
articles through the ancient lost wax process. These people also weave abaca cloths of earth
tones and make baskets that are trimmed with beads, fibers and horse’s hair.

How does Philippine folk (indigenous) art reflect nature and the life of the common folk?

Philippine folk (indigenous) art reflects nature and the life of the common folk through
various media techniques and processes based on the factors of time, climate, resources, ideas
and historical and cultural context.
Reference:
 https://www.slideshare.net/babaylan1111/philippine-indigenous-art