Module 15: National Living Treasures: Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (Performance)

- Folk performances are still being practiced in the country today.

- Most of the country’s performing arts (dances, songs and dramatic performances) are heavily influenced by the
Spanish and American colonizers. But the Philippines is rich in native dances, songs and performances that are
still practiced today.
1. Masino Intaray
1943 – 2013
Awarded: 1993
- Native of Makagwa Valley in Brookes Point, Palawan
- An exceptional poet, musician, epic chanter and a storyteller
- He can play customary music instruments: basal, kulilal, and bagit
- He has creative talent, powerful memory, clear intellect, and profound spirituality allowed him
To chant majestically countless tutura (myths), tultul (epics), and sudsungit (narratives)
BIG IDEA: The tultul (epics), sudsungit (narratives), and tuturan (myths) are distinct Palawan folk literature.
2. Samaon Sulaiman
1953 – 2011
Awarded: 1993
- was a master and teacher of kudyapi in Libutan and other barangays of Maganoy town,
Maguindanao, Mindano
(Kudyapi of Mindanao – one of the most sophisticated Philippine musical instruments)
- He is also highly skilled in handling other Philippine traditional instruments such as:
*kulintang
*agong
*gandingan
*palendag
*tambul
-Also a popular town barber and served as an imam in the Libutan Mosque
3. Alonzo Saclag
1941 –
Awarded: 2000
- native from Lubugan, Kalinga
- master of dance and the performing arts
- He has mastered the Kalingan musical instruments as well the dance movements associated
With his people’ practice
- honed his skills through mere observation
- His contribution is in heading the establishment of the prestigious Kalinga Budong Dance
Troupe that tours here and abroad to represent and initiate Kalinga performing arts
4. Uwang Ahadas
Awarded: 2000
- belongs to the Yakan (an indigenous tribe with high reverence to instrumental music as it is
Related to life and agricultural cycles, and social undertakings
- artist from Lamitan, Basilan
-has near- blindedness
- this disability drew him to music, which is his constant companion
- He was a hands-on teacher to fascinated and dedicated individuals who wish to learn to play
Yakan instruments, which include the famous kwitangan, kayu and tuntungan
BIG IDEA: The Yakan people believed that instrumental music is deeply connected to life and agricultural cycles,
and social undertakings.
MODULE 16: National Living Treasures: Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (Crafts)

BIG IDEA: Philippine traditional crafts are still found in many Filipino homes and are used in fashion and the tourism
industry.

List of National Living Treasures for Crafts

1. Lang Dulay
1928 – 2015
Awarded: 1998
- Weaving – most traditional methods of fabric production
- uses two distinct sets of threads that are knitted at right angles
- known as a master weaver
- started honing her skills at age 12
- uses traditional Filipino materials such as abaca fibers weaved into T’nalak cloth
- widely known for her distinct designs such as kabangi (butterfly), bankiring (hair bangs), and
The bulinglangit (clouds)
- her weaving and his people inspired the 2014 Cinemalaya film K’na the Dreamweaver

2. Salinta Monon
1920 – 2009
Awarded: 1998
- was also a very talented weaver
- used abaca-ikat weaving- weaving using fiber from the abaca plant to create a very detailed ornate
designs
- a modest-sized fabric took 3 to 4 months to complete
- binuwaya (crocodile) – Monon’s beloved design and was the most difficult to weave
- her contribution was her dedication and perseverance in creating weaving that represented the
Bagobo culture

3. Darhata Sawabi
______ - 2005
Awarded: 2005
- a textile weaver from the humble barangay of Parang in Jolo, Sulu
- Tausug famous for her pis syabit
- pis syabit – customary cloth worn as a hoody by the Filipino Tausugs
- a challenging textile to weave
- preparing the warp requires 3 days
- her choice of colors, consistency of weave, and the use of traditional designs made her an excellent
artist
- she was also a teacher, sharing her knowledge with the women in her community
- her creations allowed the scholars and contemporary artists to study and be inspired by traditional
Tausug designs

4. Eduardo Mutuc
1949 –
Awarded: 2005
- exceptional Filipino sculptor who works with silver, bronze and wood, crafting religious and layman
artworks
- his works include:
> intricate church retablos
> ornately designed mirrors
> grand altars
> breathtaking carosas
- started late in his career
- his contribution is his opulent craftsmanship that graces the places of worship of many Filipino faithful

5. Haja Amina Appi

1925 – 2013
Awarded: 2005
- member of Sama indigenous community of Ungos Matata, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi
- a master mat weaver
- her works has a particular sense of proportion and color sensitivity
 - highly esteemed in her community for her distinctive designs and refinement
- mat making within their community is assigned and restricted to the women which includes harvesting,
dying, designing, and weaving of the mats
- this art is featured in Brillante Mondoza’s film Thy Womb

6. Teofilo Garcia
1941 –
Awarded: 2012
- from San Quintin, Abra
- master artisan, farmer and innovator
- recognized for his beautifully crafted casque or tabungaw
Casque – distinctive and functional headpiece that he made to safeguard him from the harsh
rays of the sun and from the rain
- made of hollowed-out native gourd which he polishes and varnishes, thus giving a
bright orange hue perfect for the changing weather
- its interior is lined woven rattan for comfort
- his contribution is the integration of his craft in Abra’s harvest festival

7. Magdalena Gamayo
1924 –
Awarded: 2012
- an Ilocano textile weaver of the abel (traditional blanket)
- her works are of the finest quality, using very high thread count and incorporating intricate designs
- she has mastered the traditional patterns of Sinan-sabong (flowers), kusikos (spirals) and binakol
inuritan (geometric)
- her exemplary craftsmanship contributes to contemporary art as the weaving tradition in Ilocos
continues to flourish

MODULE 17: Philippine Popular Art

Philippine Popular Art – art that is followed by the Filipino masses

BIG IDEA: The masa of the common people are the primary consumers of Philippine popular art.

 LITERATURE
1. Komiks – considered to be one of the most read forms of literature in the country
- serialized komiks brought to life memorable characters of heroism and goodness
Ex. Mars Ravelo’s - Darna, Captain Barbell and Dyesebel
Carlo J. Caparas’ - Ang Panday
Pol Medina’s – Pugad Baboy
Washington Young’s – Pupung
2. Romance Novels – have proliferated in bookstores because Filipinos are romantic at heart
Ex. Precious Hearts – adapted as TV series
Wattpad – recently been a platform for aspiring Filipino writers to publish and for readers to
read new material
- some stories haven been turned into movies and TV series:
> Ang Diary ng Panget
> She’s Dating the Gangster
> Talk Back and You’re Dead
 MUSIC

- OPM (Original Pinoy Music)

- dominated by balladeers that show romantic inclinations

- well known performers:

> Gary V., Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez and Sarah Geronimo
- Filipino Pop Music
- tried to mimic foreign musical genre
- Ex.: Rivermaya and Eraserheads
Francis M. – pioneered rap as a musical genre in the country
Andrew E.
Gloc 9
- RnB
- Bossa Nova

 DANCE
- important social activity in the Filipino community
Morning parade or caracol and evening bayle – part of barangay and town fiesta
Dance craze – dance moves that were repeated in every corner:
 Macarena
 Gangnam Style
 Spaghetti Dance
 Otso-Otso

Dance Groups that made Filipino talent known worldwide:

 Philippine All Stars Dance Crew

 Jabbawockeez
 El Gamma Penumbra

 MOVIES
- The Filipino movie industry still thrives despite the dominance of Hollywood-produced films
Present:
- romantic comedies (Romcoms) – featuring popular love teams
- comedies – Vice Ganda, Ai Ai delas Alas & Vic Sotto
- horror films – Shake, Rattle and Roll series
MODULE 18: Philippine Independent Cinema

1977 – birth of Philippine independent cinema

Kidlat Tahimik- won the International Critics’ Prize in the Berlin Film Festival

- His film was entitled “Mababangong Bangungot” (Perfumed Nightmare) which is considered Philippine cinema’s
first independent and experimental film

Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP)

- It was created through Executive Order No. 770 in 1982
- It was created to promote the local film industry in general
- It was dissolved in 1986
- It was instrumental in the funding of art films such as:
 Oro, Plata, Mata by Peque Gallaga
 Himala by Ishmael Bernal

Independent or Indie Films

- Are a break from the mainstream, highly budgeted productions of established movie production companies such
as Star Cinema and Regal Films
- Characterized by their unconventional narratives, experimentation on style and technique, and their artful
treatment of material
- This pushed filmmakers and artists to innovate and push the filmmaking practice into greater heights
- Are unconventional, experimental, and innovative productions which are not produced by major movie outfits

Award-winning Films
 Brillante Mendoza
- Masahista ( 15th Brisbane International Film Festival – won Interfaith Award)
- Tirador ( Berlin Film Festival – won the Caligari Film Prize)
- Serbis ( 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival – won the Golden Kinnaree)
- Kinatay ( 2009 Cannes Film Festival – won the Prix de la mise en scene)
- Thy Womb (69th Venice Film Festival – won the La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award)
- He was described by critics as a “neorealist” and his films depict the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary
situations, set against the universal struggle of life, love and death
- In 2014, French government awarded him the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of
Arts and Letters)

 Adolf Alix
- Donsol (Special Jury Prize, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and Asian Marine Film Festival)

 Lav Diaz
- Melancholia (Orizzonti Grand Prize at 65th Venice International Film Festival)

 Dante Nico Garcia

- Ploning (Best Director, Asian Festival of First Film Awards)

 Other notable indie filmmakers:

- Jerrold Tarog
- Jeffrey Jeturian
- Mark Meily
- Chris Martinez

Film Festivals
- Contribute to the flourishing of the independent film industry:
1. Provide seed money for writers and directors to begin with production
2. Good marketing avenues for filmmakers to let the general public experience their works
 Major Film Festivals
(sponsored by the Philippine Government)
- Metro Manila Film Festival
- Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Sining Pambansa
- Cinema Rehiyon
- CCP’s Cinemalaya
 (privately initiated film festivals)
- Cinema One Originals
- CineFilipino

Many colleges and universities have started integrating filmmaking as a field of specialization.
 MODULE 19: Emerging Artists in the Philippines (new generation of artists)
- Emerging Filipino artists are immensely influenced by issues in Philippine society.
- Rising Filipino artists exhibit exceptional talent and world-class craftsmanship.

Some Emerging Filipino Artists and their works:

1. Ronald Ventura
- His work has been exhibited worldwide in Switzerland, New York, and Hong Kong
- He holds the record for the highest bid at Sotheby’s contemporary Southeast Asian painting auction
- Well known for his application of multiple layers of mixed media techniques

2. Kiko Escora
- His works are described by KulayDiwa as “emotion expressed in a canvas and interpreted by the individual’s
recognition of intelligence mixed with beauty”
- His mix of oil and acrylic are works of narratives in paint
- Works are featured in several galleries and Web sites: The Drawing Room, Artnet, Atromondo and Christie’s

3. Annie Cabigting
- An eclectic artist with varied works of painting and installations
- Her works are historical perspectives on the constitution of art
- These works have been included in the Prague Biennale in the Czech Republic

4. Angeli Bayani
- A theater and film actress who gained acclaim for her performance in Lav Diaz’s Norte: The End of History
- In 2013, she starred in the Singapore-produced independent film Ilo Ilo, which got her the nomination for Best
Actress in the 56th Asia Pacific Film Festival
- Director Ang Lee praised her as a “national treasure” for her performance in Ilo Ilo
- Other works: Melancholia (2008), Ka Oryang (2011), and Arbol de Fuego (2015)

5. Joshua Lim So
- A Palanca winning fictionist and playwright
- One of the founders of the Destiyero Theater Commune (theater group that aims to produce works that engage
in critical and aesthetic discourses)
- His Tungkol kay Angela is full-length play that won first prize in the Palanca Awards and was shortlisted in the 23rd
BBC International Playwriting Competition
- The play was described as “an extraordinary piece of writing” by the panel of judges

6. Ed Lacson
- Theater director, is one of Philippine theater’s rising star
- His directorial debut was Remi Karen Velasco’s Ondoy: Ang Buhay sa Bubong in the 2010 Virgin Labfest
- In 2014, he directed Glen Mas’s Games People Play – gave him critical success
- His works:
 Liza Magtoto’s –Isang Daan (2013 Labfest)
 Eljay Deldoc’s – Si Maria Isabel at ang Guryon ng mga Tala (2015 Virgin Labfest)
 Nino (2011)
 Requieme! (2012) As second assistant director for Cinemalaya Independent film

7. Sophia Lee
- 2014 grand prize winner of the Scholastic Asian Book Awards for What Things Mean, a young adult novel
- Currently taking up her master’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines
- Described by one of her fellow at 52nd Silliman National Writers Workshop, Lee is an active member of the
storyteller for the group Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING).
- Work/s:
 Soaring Saturdays – won second prize at the Samsung Kids Time Author’s Award at the Asian
Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore
- She received the NCCA Ani ng Dangal 2015 for her international recognition
MODULE 20: Integrative Art

Integrative Art – according to Pennsylvania State University, is a multidisciplinary approach in the study of art using
“vocational, scholarly, and creative interest in the arts and design” within and outside the scope of traditional art
practice

- A learning method that utilizes the fine and performing arts as principal pathways to education
- Objective: To expand people’s understanding of a general subject area, while simultaneously developing a larger
extent of understanding and appreciation of both fine and performing arts

WAYS ON HOW TO APPLY INTEGRATIVE ART IN CONTEMPORARY OR MODERN ART:

1. New Media Art – covers created integrative artful masterpieces with new media technologies such as
 Digital art Due to interconnectivity of the internet including
 Video games the growing competition between commercial
 Robotics and business interests, governmental interests,
 Virtual Arts and public interest
 TENGAL DRILON – one of the new media Filipino artist of today
- a media artist who merges various fields and disciplines by playing multiple roles
As curator, producer, filmmaker and musician-composer
- Founder of Sabaw Media Art Kitchen – a non-profit organization that focuses on
connection and exchange among new media artists in Southeast Asia
- works: Sinemasikalye (a street concert with a 50 feet AV installation),
Transmissions Gangan (a collaboration with American composer, pianist, and
electronic musician Chris Brown in an interactive AV performance aired in 5 radio
channels), EAR2EYE (a moving image and cutting-edge music festival),
ASEUM.09: Asia- Europe New Media Art Symposium, and Fete dela Wasaque
(an outer fringe arts festival)

2. Digital Storytelling – refers to the new practice of ordinary people who use digital tools to articulate or tell their story

- According to University of Houston Professor Bernard Robin describes the contents and texts of
digital stories: “topics that are used in digital storytelling range from personal tales to the
recounting of historical events from exploring life in one’s own community to the search for life
in other corners of the universe, and literally, everything in between

- characteristics: compelling, engaging, interactive, uses still imagery, moving imagery, sound and
text

3. Using Music and Performing Arts in Education – educators incorporate the arts in teaching math, science, history, and
other core subjects

- Edutopia contributor Fran Smith describes the effect of incorporating art in education as
“Associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking and verbal skill”

- children who participate in dramatic performances of stories and text can improve their reading
comprehension dramatically, understand plots and stories better, able to read and appreciate
new materials they are not familiar with
MODULE 21: CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES AND PRODUCTION

Characteristics of Contemporary Art Practices according to Michelle Watts, an art educator:

1. Changes to Accepted Tradition and Accepted Taste

- Art should not be bound by traditional approaches in the creation of art
- Expanding of expression by using mixed media from unlikely materials
- Artists are not afraid to create art that goes against persona beliefs and public taste

2. Understanding of a Multiplicity of Viewpoints

- Contemporary art bridges the gap of geography, ethnicity, gender and beliefs
- Artists are conscious of the diverse, multicultural nature of today’s global society
- Artworks created are not anymore ignorant of the complexities of history, politics, and economics
- Artists are exposed to the interconnectedness of people and realities, and these become part of their wor

3. Issues and Ideas about the Role of Objects in Space and Relationships between Objects
- Space has become an integral part of the contemporary artist’s practice
- Artworks are not limited to museums and galleries
- Public spaces are now considered by contemporary artists in the display and installation of their artwork

4. Use of Everyday Materials

- Simple objects are transformed and brought to life (beautiful artworks)
- Recycle art has become a trend

5. Employment of Contemporary Technology

- Art makes use of available technology in the process of creating an artwork
- Art productions become less tedious

BIG IDEA:
 The technology of the 21st century provides endless resources in the creation of art.
 Contemporary artists integrate other forms in their art.
 The internet make art available to more people.