INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE
INDIGENOUS CREATIVE CRAFTS
Prof. Vida L. Torres
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02.
Definition of Indigenous Philippine Art
02.
01.
Current Situation of Indigenous Art and Crafts in the Philippines
INTRODUCTION
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 inhabitants are when the Negrito or Aeta arrived in the
islands. However, they were driven back by several waves of immigrants from Indonesia,
only to be followed by the maritime peoples of the Malayan islands. Each of these people
brought with them their culture and art.
Arts and crafts help us recognize the distinctiveness of a certain culture. They
show the kind of living, the resources available in a particular region, the beliefs and
traditions and the artistry and imaginative minds of the people in different places.
“Indigenous” comes from the Latin word “indigen” which means
native or original inhabitant—an idea that became popular in
the 17th century. Thus, the most common understanding of
the concept suggests that they are people who are the original
inhabitants of the land.
The legal definition provided by Republic Act No. 8371 otherwise known as “An
Act to Recognize, Protect and Promote the Rights of Indigenous Cultural
Communities/Indigenous Peoples, creating a National Commission on Indigenous Peoples,
Establishing Implementing Mechanisms, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for other
Purpose.” Chapter 2 Section 3 (h) of RA 8371 refers to the IPs as synonymous with
Indigenous Cultural Communities or ICC, and defines them as having the following
qualifications:
a. A group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription
by others, who have continuously lived as an organized community on
communally- bounded and defined territory;
b. Those who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied,
possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language, customs,
traditions and other distinctive cultural traits,
c. Those who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization,
non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the
majority of Filipinos;
d. People who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations
which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization, or at the time of
inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state
boundaries;
e. People who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political
institutions; and
f. People who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have
resettled outside their ancestral domains;
Indigenous Philippine art is art made by the indigenous
people of the Philippines. It includes works in raw materials such as
extracts from trees, fruits, and vegetables. Some of the art treasures
of the Philippines are found in rocks, in caves, trees, and woods.
Some of these indigenous art are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Architecture
Sculpture
Weaving
Pottery
Body Adornment
Philippine Indigenous Arts and Crafts
Each region of the Philippines has its own indigenous communities. Similarly, each of
these communities has its own unique arts and crafts. In northern Luzon, for example,
the Ilocanos are known for the craftsmanship of the cotton fabric inabel and the folk
dance binatbatan. Whether it be visual arts, song and dance, handicrafts, tapestries and
clothing or pottery, each region boasts of exceptional talent, skill and creativity.
Unfortunately, these masterpieces have been “downgraded” by outsiders to merely
crafts or handicrafts that are only worthy of being sold in tourist shops (This is also
known as the art vs. crafts controversy) (Racette and Robertson, 2009). Indigenous
artists do not showcase their efforts, and their accomplishments are rarely valued
The earliest art forms in the Philippines that have not yet been somewhat penetrated by
Western influences are music and dance. The war dance interwoven in Igorot rituals, the Ifugao
funeral dance, and the Benguet victory dance are examples of the dances in
pure indigenous form. Other dances represent the daily affairs of the community such
as planting, fishing, pounding rice, etc. (Panizo and Rustia, 2003).
Indigenous peoples decorate their everyday implements with art. In the Mountain
Province, “shields, spoons, ladles, bowls” and figurines are infused with art through
woodcarving. In Mindanao, on the other hand, original Muslim art can be recognized
through certain motifs, colors and patterns. These stylized elements are evident
through brasswork, tools, weaponry and musical instruments. (Ortiz et. al., 1976
A Filipino person’s characteristic of being relational or communal is evident in his or her
art. Traditional art reflects this orientation as well, with the following specifics:
• Art is not separated from its other values and functions such as “religious,
moral, spiritual, social and ecological concerns”
• Sensory modes are cultivated holistically and have to be developed
together
• Art is assimilated into life
• The community is involved in the work of art; thus, one artist is rarely
recognized and remains anonymous most of the time
• There is no dichotomy of the artist and society
• No rigid standards dictate materials, forms or techniques
• Process of creation is valued over the work of art
• Conceptualization and realization is simultaneous
(De Leon, 2011)
Answer the following Questions:
Define art.
2.
Have you heard of the art vs. crafts controversy?
Why are indigenous masterpieces sometimes
referred to as merely "crafts"?
3. What are the distinct characteristics of Philippine
indigenous arts and crafts?
1.
THANKS!
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