Introduction to Indigenous Creative Crafts
CRAFTS
- From Old English “craeft” meaning
strength/skill
- Old High German “kraft” meaning skill in
planning, making, executing
- Occupation or trade requiring skill
➢ CRAFTS
A key feature of crafts is that they involve a
high degree of "hands-on" craftsmanship (hence the
colloquial term “handicrafts”) rather than just skill with
a machine.
A craft or trade is a pastime or a profession
that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled
work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle
Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people
occupied in small-scale production of goods, or their
maintenance, for example by tinkers.
The traditional term craftsman is nowadays
often replaced by artisans and rarely by
craftsperson (craftspeople).
WHAT IS HANDICRAFT?
➢ Handicraft is the “traditional" main sector of
the crafts, it is a type of work where useful and
decorative devices are made completely by hand or
by using only simple tools. Usually the term is
applied to traditional means of making goods.
The individual artisanship of the items is a
paramount criterion, such items often have cultural
and/or religious significance. Items made by mass
production or machines are not handicraft goods.
Handicraft goods are made with craft production
processes (hand made).
WHAT ARE CRAFTS?
Crafts as a whole can be described as all of the
following…
● One of the arts- as an art form, crafts are an
outlet of human expression, usually influenced
by culture and which in turn help to change
culture. Crafts are a physical manifestation of
the internal human creative impulse.
● One of the visual arts - visual arts is a class of art
forms,
including
painting,
sculpture,
photography, printmaking and others, that focus
on the creation of works which are primarily visual
in nature.
TYPES OF CRAFTS
The Five Types of Crafts
● TEXTILE CRAFTS- These include any type of craft
where you work with fabric, yarn, or surface
design.
○ Knitting- production of fabric by employing a
continuous yarn or set of yarns to form a
series of interlocking loops.
○ Quilting- the process of joining a minimum of
three layers of fabric together either through
stitching manually using a needle and thread, or
mechanically with a sewing machine.
○ Applique- ornamental needlework in which
pieces or patches of fabric in different shapes
and patterns are sewn or stuck onto a larger
piece to form a picture or pattern.
○ Weaving- method of textile production in which
two distinct sets of yarns or threads are
interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth
○ Dyeing- The process of applying color to fiber
stock, yarn or fabric
Many of these could obviously also fall into the
decorative or fashion crafts categories since the
finished goods are often sold as sweaters or wall
hangings. However, they are technically textile crafts
since they all start with the fabric.
Other examples of textile crafts:
● Japanese art of boro
● Japanese decorative stitching is known as
sashiko.
● PAPER CRAFTS- As the name implies, paper crafts
have to do with paper. Is a collection of crafts using
paper or card as the primary artistic medium for the
creation of one, two or three-dimensional objects.
○ Scrapbooking- a method of preserving,
presenting and arranging personal and family
history in the form of a book, box or card
○ Paper flowers○ Decoupage - is the art of decorating an object
by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in
combination with special paint effects, gold leaf,
and other decorative elements.
○ Quilling - an art form that involves the use of
strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued
together to create decorative designs
○ Paper Mache’- a composite material consisting
of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced
with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as
glue, starch, or wallpaper paste.
○ Origami- the traditional Japanese art or
technique of folding paper into a variety of
decorative or representational forms, as of
animals or flowers.
● DECORATIVE CRAFTS- The decorative crafts
whose object is the design and manufacture of
objects that are both beautiful and functional. It
includes interior design, but not usually
architecture.
The decorative crafts are often categorized in
distinction to the "fine arts“ namely painting, drawing,
photography, and large-scale sculpture, which
generally produce objects solely for their aesthetic
quality and capacity to stimulate the intellect.
Unlike fine art, decorative art typically has
some element of utility to it. A piece of furniture, for
example, may be beautiful in its own right—but its
main function is to provide a place to sit.
Furniture making, metalwork, stenciling,
stained glass, gilding, spongeware, and basketry
all fall into the category of decorative crafts. This
category also includes toy making and other
arts—anything where the final product is a piece of
decor.
● FASHION CRAFTS- This craft encompasses all
the elements of dressing the human body:
jewelry, hats, leatherwork (shoes, belts, handbags),
and garments. It will naturally intersect with other
craft types since jewelry can be made through
metalworking and garments are fabricated by
sewing—which can be classified as a textile craft.
Fashion crafts involve a variety of materials,
from soft fabrics such as cotton, linen, and wool to
sturdier materials such as nylon, canvas, and leather.
Sewing is just one part of making a garment; design
and construction of clothing is a multi-step process
that requires precise technique and careful attention to
detail.
○ Jewelry
○ Hats
○ Bags
○ Shoes
● FUNCTIONAL CRAFTS- Many of the four other
types of crafts can also be classified as
functional.
For
example,
decorative
pottery—including serving platters and utensils—is
often made with components that are okay for
people to eat from. Many furniture crafts are
primarily functional but can also be quite decorative.
Obviously, to attract the widest possible
customer base, it's good to have functionality built into
your art or craft. Many times customers who won't sell
out the big bucks for an original creation just because
of its good looks will justify the cost because it can
also be used in day-to-day life.
IMPORTANCE OF CRAFTS (ARTS)
1. Art is the barometer that measures levels of
cultural
sophisticationThroughout
human
existence, we have learned about cultural
accomplishments from the cultural artifact left behind.
Many of these artifact have left behind permanent
marks on the planet.
● Stonehenge - Wiltshire, England
● St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
● Taj Mahal - Agra, India
● The Parthenon – Athens, Greece
● Roman Colosseum – Rome, Italy
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2. Art forces humans to look beyond that which is
necessary to survive and leads people to create
for the sake of expression and meaning.
3. Art is a different language- Art says things that
even words cannot say. You don't need a language to
understand Art. Just a small painting, or a food item,
or improvising a tune or a step, can express a lot of
things without words.
4. Arts gives you the opportunity to showcase
your talent.- Even words doesn't give that much
opportunity like art does. By showing our talent, we
show that there is something special about us.
5. Art gives you confidence and improves your
creativity skills
History and Development of Indigenous Creative
Crafts
The word history comes from the Ancient
Greek (historía), meaning "inquiry", "knowledge from
inquiry", or "judge".
Meanwhile, as Latin became Old French (and
Anglo-Norman), historia developed into forms such as
istorie, estoire, and historie, with new developments in
the meaning:
-"account of the events of a person's life
(beginning of the 12th century),
-dramatic or pictorial representation of
historical events (c. 1240)
- narrative of real or imaginary events, story (c.
1462)“,
Defining History as a Subject
History is the study of change and
development in society over time. The study of history
enables us to understand how past human action
affects the present and influences our future, and it
allows us to evaluate these effects.
Timeline
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8000 BCE – Pottery and earthenware of
Mesopotamia. About 10,000 years ago
- Mesopotamia, currently known as Northern
Iraq.
- The earliest forms, which were found were
hand formed from slabs, undecorated,
unglazed
low-fired
pots
made
from
reddish-brown clays.
6500 BCE – Use of flax textile in Tepe Sabz
(Iran). about 8,000 years ago. a blue-flowered
herbaceous plant that is cultivated for its seed
(linseed) and for textile fiber made from its
stalks. - Flax is grown for its seeds, which can
be ground into a meal or turned into linseed oil,
a product used as a nutritional supplement and
as an ingredient in many wood-finishing
products. Flax is also grown as an ornamental
plant in gardens. Moreover, flax fibers are used
to make linen.
● 6200 BCE – First copper smelting in Anatolia
(south of Mesopotamia).
- About 8,000 years ago
- Smelting is the process of extracting (metal)
from its ore by a process involving heating and
melting.
- melting converts a solid substance into a
liquid whereas smelting converts an ore to its purest
form
● 5500 BCE – Faience works (Ancient Egypt)
-About 7,500 years ago. Because it is
composed mainly of silica (sand or crushed
quartz), along with small amounts of sodium
and calcium, faience is considered a non-clay
or siliceous ceramic.
-Besides statuary, the Egyptians used faience
for the manufacture of jewelry(rings, amulets,
necklaces) but also for scarabs, to create the
board and pieces for the game of Senet , for
furniture and even for bowls and cups.
● 3000 BCE - First use of veneered wood in
(Ancient Egypt)
-about 5,020 years ago
-In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of
wood and sometimes bark, usually thinner
than 3 mm, that typically are glued onto core
panels to produce flat panels such as doors,
tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors
and parts of furniture. The Egyptians used
veneers in their furniture and sarcophagi. In
Tutankhamen's tomb, some pieces of furniture
using veneer were found, showing that
although the woodworking techniques of that
time were still very rudimentary, the inner
beauty of wood was already sought after.
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2500 BCE – Ceramic production in Crete,
Greece
-About 4000 years ago
The first distinctive Greek pottery style first
appeared around 1000 BCE or perhaps even
earlier. Reminiscent in technique of the earlier
Greek , early Greek pottery decoration
employed simple shapes, sparingly used.
2040 BCE – Bronze metal works in Middle
Kingdom (Ancient Egypt)
-About 4000 years ago
Egyptians produced the bronze alloy by mixing
a small amount of tin with copper during the
smelting process. Bronze is harder than
copper and melted at a lower temperature,
which made it easier to cast. Some historians
believe that bronze was discovered when
artisans accidentally mixed tin and copper
ores.
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2000 BCE – Wood tombs/sarcophagus and
furniture with varnish/finish (Ancient Egypt)
-About 4000 years ago
A sarcophagus is a coffin, typically adorned
with a sculpture or inscription and associated
with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome,
and Greece.
1380 BCE – First instance of iron working in
Hittite Empire
-About 3,320 years ago
The Hittites occupied the ancient region of
Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor,
modern-day Turkey) prior to 1700 BCE.
Developed a culture apparently from the
indigenous Hatti (and possibly the Hurrian)
people, and expanded their territories into an
empire which rivaled, and threatened, the
established nation of Egypt.
200 BCE – Iron in the Celtic world experience
significant boom in all facet of life
200 BCE – Plumbing/sewer system, roads of
Romans
-About 2200 years ago
The Romans had a complex system of sewers
covered by stones, much like modern sewers.
Waste flushed from the latrines flowed through
a central channel into the main sewage system
and thence into a nearby river or stream.
Perhaps the most important and brilliant
innovation of the Roman sewer system is the
fact that it was (eventually) covered, cutting
down on disease, smells and unpleasant
sights.
50 BCE – Invention of glass blowing
-About 2000 years ago
Glassblowing is a glass forming technique that
involves inflating molten glass into a bubble (or
parison) with the aid of a blowpipe (or blow
tube). A person who blows glass is called a
glassblower, glassmith, or gaffer. Glass
blowers face respiratory hazards from the
materials used to make the glass. Hazards can
take the form of fumes or inhaled particulates.
For example, dirty glass and quartz produce
harmful fumes when heated.
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400 AD – Chinese started to cut paper for
various decorative purposes
-About 1,600 years ago
Paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern
Ha Dynasty in China. As paper became more
affordable, paper-cutting became one of the
most important types of Chinese folk art. Later,
this art form spread to other parts of the world,
with different regions adopting their own
cultural styles.
476 AD – 14th Century (Middle Ages) – rise of
“craft guilds”
- Guilds in the Middle Ages were associations
or groups of craftsmen. Each guild focused on
a specific trade such as the candle maker's
guild or the tanner's guild. Why were guilds
important? Guilds in the Middle Ages played
an important role in society. Organization of
Work
Town life grew more vigorous, craft
guilds assumed greater importance, reaching
their peak in the 14th century. Their purpose
was to limit the supply of labour in a profession
and to control production. Guild members were
ranked according to experience: masters,
journeymen, and apprentices.
16th Century onwards – Decline/abolishment
of craft guilds due to the Industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution, now also known as
the First Industrial Revolution, was the
transition to new manufacturing processes in
Europe and the United States, in the period
from about 1760 to sometime between 1820
and 1840.
1850 – 1900 – rise of the Arts and Craft
Movement which originated in Britain
-Advocated good design and craftsmanship at
the time of increased mechanization and mass
production
Originated from the ideas of John Ruskin who
abhorred highly decorated machine made
products.
20th Century – Nouveau Art, Deco Art
-Precursor of minimalism in Applied Arts and
Architecture
- Anti-industrialism movement by Artisans and
Craftsmen after the WWII
Arts in the Philippines
- refer to the various forms of the arts that have
developed and accumulated in the Philippines
from the beginning of civilization in the country
up to the present era.
The National Commission for Culture and the
Arts, the official cultural agency of the government of
the Philippines, has categorized Filipino arts into
traditional and non-traditional. Each category are split
into various arts, which in turn have sub-categories of
their own.
Traditional Arts
● Folk architecture –stilt houses, land houses,
and aerial houses. the structures can be made
of bamboo, wood, rock, coral, rattan, grass,
and other materials. spirit houses which are
shrines for the protective spirits or gods.,
● Maritime
transport
–
boat
houses,
boat-making, and maritime traditions. These
structures, traditionally made of wood chosen
by elders and crafts folks, were used as the
main vehicles of the people, connecting one
island to another, where the seas and rivers
became the people's roads.
● Weaving –basket weaving, back-strap loom
weaving, headgear weaving, fishnet weaving,
and other forms of weaving. Expensive textiles
are made through the intricate and difficult
process called back-strap looming.
An example is the Banig of Basey, where the
weavers usually work inside a cave. Fibers used vary
from banana, grass, palm, and many others.
● Basketry has intricate designs and forms
directed for specific purposes such as
harvesting, rice storage, travel package, sword
case and so on. Some important materials
include bamboo, rattan, pandan, cotton cloth,
nito, abaca, and buri.
● Carving –wood carving and folk non-clay
sculpture. The techniques utilized infuse both
indigenous and Hispanic styles, creating a
fusion of Hispanic-Asian wood art.
-Stone carving is a priced art form in the
Philippines, even prior to the arrival of Western
colonizers, as seen in the stone likha and
larauan or tao-tao crafts of the natives.
Ivory carving is an art practiced in the
Philippines for more than a thousand years.
The ivory trade in the Philippines boomed
because of the demand for ivory carvings, and
continued up to the 21st century.
● Folk performing arts - dances, plays, and
dramas. Among non-Hispanic traditions,
dramas over epics like Hinilawod and Ibalong
are known, while among Hispanic groups, the
Senakulo is a notable drama.
● Folk (oral) literature –epics, songs, and myths
● Folk graphic and plastic arts –calligraphy,
tattooing, folk writing, folk drawing, and folk
painting.The fields under folk graphic and
plastic arts are tattooing, folk writing, and folk
drawing and painting.The oldest folk drawing is
the rock drawings and engravings which
include the petroglyphs in Angono (Rizal),
which was created during the Neolithic age of
the Philippines, corresponding to 6000 BC to
2000 BC.
Tattooing was introduced by Austronesian ancestors
thousands of years ago, where it developed into
cultural symbols in a variety of ethnic groups.
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Ornament, textile, or fiber art – hat-making,
mask-making, accessory-making, ornamental
metal crafts.
Glass art is an old art form in the Philippines,
with many artifacts made of glass found in
some sites such as Pinagbayanan. Stained
glasses have been in place in many churches
in the country since Spanish occupation.
Pottery –ceramic making, clay pot-making, and
folk clay sculpture. Popular potteries in the
country include tapayan and palayok.
Other artistic expressions of traditional culture
–non-ornamental metal crafts, martial arts,
supernatural healing arts, medicinal arts, and
constellation traditions. Among these art forms
include non-ornamental metal crafts, martial
arts, supernatural healing arts, medicinal arts,
and constellation traditions, among many
others.
Blade arts. The art of sword making is an
ancient tradition in the Philippines, where
Filipino blade smiths have been creating
quality swords and other bladed weapons for
centuries, with a diverse array of types
influenced by the sheer diversity of ethnic
groups in the archipelago. A variety of spears
(sibat), axes, darts (bagakay), and arrows
(pana/busog) are also utilized by all ethnic
groups in the country.
Martial Arts. The most famous is Arnis (also
called kali and eskrima), the national sport and
martial art of the Philippines, which emphasize
weapon-base fighting styles with sticks, knives,
blade weapons and various improvised
weapons as well as open hand techniques.
Culinary Arts. The majority of mainstream
Filipino dishes that compose Filipino cuisine
are from the cuisines of the Bikol,Ilocano,
Kapampangan,
Maranao,
Pangasinan,
Cebuano (or Bisaya), Tagalog, and Waray
ethnolinguistic tribes.
Non-traditional Arts
● Dance –dance choreography, dance direction,
and dance performance
● Music –musical composition, musical direction,
and musical performance
● Theater
–theatrical
direction,
theatrical
performance, theatrical production design,
theatrical light and sound design, and
theatrical playwriting
● Visual arts –painting, non-folk sculpture,
printmaking, photography, installation art,
mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts,
performance art, and imaging.
1. 1.Painting
2. Non-folk Sculptures
● Literature –poetry, fiction, essay, and
literary/art criticism
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Architecture and allied arts –non-folk
architecture,
interior
design,
landscape
architecture, and urban design
● Design –industrial design, and fashion design
● Film and broadcast arts –film and broadcast
direction, film and broadcast writing, film and
broadcast production design, film and
broadcast cinematography, film and broadcast
editing, film and broadcast animation, film and
broadcast performance, and film and
broadcast new media. The origin of the
cinematic arts in the Philippines officially
began in 1897, upon the introduction of moving
pictures into Manila.
There are numerous Filipino specialists or experts on
the various fields of traditional arts, with those
garnering the highest distinctions declared as Gawad
Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), equal to National
Artist.
● Samaon Sulaiman was a Filipino musician who
is a recipient of the National Living Treasure
award. The Maguindanaon is known for his
mastery of the indigenous kutyapi instrument.
● Architecture and Allied Arts
1.Non- folk Architecture (folk architecture
of various ethnic groups within the
Philippines)
2. Architectural Allied Arts (Design, Interior
Design)
● Fashion Design
ELEMENTS OF ARTS
The ArtsThe arts refers to the theory, human
application and physical expression of creativity
found in human cultures and societies through skills
and imagination in order to produce objects,
environments and experiences.
Elements of Art
1. LineLines are marks moving in a space
between two points whereby a viewer can
visualize the stroke movement, direction and
intention based on how the line is oriented. Lines
describe an outline, capable of producing texture
according to their length and curve.
FIVE MAIN TYPES OF LINE
● Vertical Lines- These are straight up and
down lines that move in space without
slanting. Vertical lines are also perpendicular
to horizontal lines. These lines are meant to
indicate the height and strength of an object
because they extend towards the sky and are
unshakable.
● Horizontal Lines- A horizontal line is a
straight line that moves parallel to the
horizon. It also moves from left to right. In
art, a horizontal line is used to indicate the
width, distance, and stability of the object.
● Zigzag Lines- series of diagonal lines
connected at the ends. The diagonal lines in a
zigzag line can move in any direction apart
from vertical and horizontal. Zigzag lines are
normally used to indicate action, excitement,
restlessness, and anxiety.
2. ShapeA shape is a two-dimensional design
encased by lines to signify its height and width
structure, and can have different values of colour
used within it to make it appear three-dimensional.
Simplistic, geometrical shapes include circles,
triangles and squares, and provide a symbolic
and synthetic feeling, whereas acute angled
shapes with sharp points are perceived as
dangerous shapes.
3. FormForm is a three-dimensional object
with volume of height, width and depth. These
objects include cubes, spheres and cylinders.
Form is often used when referring to physical
works of art, like sculptures, as form is connected
most closely with three-dimensional works.
4. ColorColor is an element consisting of hues,
of which there are three properties: hue, chroma
or intensity, and value. Color is present when
light strikes an object and it is reflected back into
the eye, a reaction to a hue arising in the optic
nerve.
● Hue refers to the dominant color family. Hue
refers to the origin of the colors we can see.
● Value defines how light or dark a given color
or hue can be. Values are best understood
when visualized as a scale or gradient, from
dark to light.
● Chroma refers to how pure the hue is.
Chroma refers to the saturation or the
intensity of the color.
5. SpaceIt refers to the perspective (distance
between and around) and proportion (size)
between shapes and objects and how their
relationship with the foreground or background is
perceived. There are different types of spaces an
artist can achieve for different effect.
present, while visual surface quality describes how
the eye perceives the texture based on visual cues.
7. Valuerefers to the degree of perceivable
lightness of tones within an image. The element
of value is compatible with the term luminosity, and
can be "measured in various units designating
electromagnetic radiation“.
Mark Making and Materiality
Mark making is the interaction between the
artist and the materials they are using. It provides
the viewer of the work with an image of what the artist
had done to create the mark, reliving what the artist
had done at the time.
Materiality is the choice of materials used and
how it impacts the work of art and how the viewer
perceives it.
Arts vs. Crafts
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Positive space refers to the areas of the work
with a subject, while negative space is the space
without a subject. Open and closed space coincides
with three-dimensional art, like sculptures, where open
spaces are empty, and closed spaces contain physical
sculptural elements.
6. Texture- is used to describe the surface quality of
the work, referencing the types of lines the artist
created. The surface quality can either be tactile
(real) or strictly visual (implied).
Tactile surface quality is mainly seen through
three-dimensional works, like sculptures, as the
viewer can see and/or feel the different textures
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Art is a form of work that is the expression of
emotions. Craft is a form of work, which results
in a tangible output, for example, moulding and
carving.
Art is often described as unstructured and
open ended. It has no limitations of
expression, just like in painting. Craft on the
other hand is structured, which means that it
has a certain form that is visible.
While Craft can be quantified, this is more
difficult to do with art. Another thing that can be
seen is that one can create duplicate craft
forms, which is not possible with art. It can also
be seen that art forms move people on an
emotional level whereas crafts attract people.
For example, a piece of painting can create
emotions in a person whereas a piece of
jewelry or pottery can be of an attraction.
Unlike craft, art is known to come out of the
heart and soul. Crafts come out of the mind
and need considerable practice to come out
with world-class forms.
Art is a result of a person’s innate talents
whereas skill in craft can be acquired with
experience. Craft forms can be called skilled
forms. In craft, more practical thought is
needed whereas in Art, it is the emotions that
make a perfect creation. Art is more related to
aesthetics.
A craftsman will have an idea about what he
wants to actually make. In art, it is the
emotions that flow out, whereas in craft, no
emotion is involved.Pottery, metal works, glass
works and jewellery are some examples of
craft works. Painting, architecture and
sculpture are examples of art forms.
SUMMARY
1. Art is a form of work that expresses emotions and
expressions. Craft is a form of work, which has a
physical form just like in moulding and carving.
All festivals are cultural in one way or another.
There are many types of cultural festivals such as
National, Religious and Seasonal.
2. While Craft is quantified, Art seldom is.
They all serve the purpose of bringing
happiness to our lives, and strengthen our sense of
community.
3. One can create duplicate craft forms, which is not
possible with art.
4. Art forms move people emotionally, whereas crafts
attract people.
5. Unlike craft, art is known to come out of the heart
and soul. Crafts are a product of the mind.
6. In art, it is the emotions that flow out whereas in
craft no emotion is involved.
7. Art comes out from a person’s innate talents
whereas craft is the result of experience.
Celebration of Crafts: Philippine Festivals
There are different types of festivals, namely,
religious, national, or seasonal. A considerable
number of festivals celebrated in the country are of
religious origin , honoring the city or province’s patron
saint.
Festivals of the Philippines
● Traslacion of the Black Nazarene(January 9)
● Ati-Atihan Festival(annually every 3rd Sunday
of January)
● Sinulog Festival(every third Sunday of
January)
● Dinagyang Festival(-)
● Panagbenga Festival(February until the first
Sunday of March)
● Bamboo Organ Festival(-)
● Moriones Festival(Holy Week )
● Bangus Festival(held yearly on April)
● Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival(-)
● T’nalak Festival(-)
● Masskara Festival(October)
● Higantes Festival(every third Saturday of
November)
● Giant Lantern Festival(Every Christmas
season)
IMPORTANCE OF PHILIPPINES FESTIVALS
Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate
glorious heritage, culture and traditions. They are
meant to rejoice special moments and emotions in our
lives with our loved ones. They play an important role
to add structure to our social lives, and connect us
with our families and backgrounds.
They give us a distraction from our day to day,
exhausting routine of life, and give us some inspiration
to remember the important things and moments in life.
Festivals were started to pass the legends, knowledge
and traditions onto the next generation.
National Festival- They connect us as a people of a
nation. National festivals connect citizens to important
moments of a nation’s history such as: the founding
day of a nation, our independence day is celebrated
throughout the nation, with many nations having a
public holiday.
Religious Festivals- Religious festivals are important
for families. To keep this simple we can all agree that
religious festivals help us to teach principles and
ethics to our next generations.
Seasonal Festivals- Seasonal festivals reflect
attitude of people towards nature. These festivals are
important because they are related to food supply.
THE BENEFITS OF CELEBRATING FESTIVALS IN
THE PHILIPPINES
Energetic marching bands, processions of
patron saints, sumptuous foods, lively parades,
colorful floats, vibrant costumes, amateur singing or
dancing competitions, competitive street dancing
showdowns, beauty pageants, miss gay competitions,
local makeshift shopping stores that come from
different parts of the province, and many more.
These are just some of the views that a Filipino
fiesta has. Fiestas has been a long tradition that we
got from our ancestors even before our Spanish
colonizers arrived, they are rooted with religious
beliefs of thanking the village’s (or town) patron saint
or deities for blessing the place with abundance of
resources.
Fiestas also show some traditions of offering to
nature as a way of gratitude or sacrifice.
Fiestas are celebrated from the smallest level
of governmental body (barangay/village) to national
level. In this essay, I will be discussing the benefits of
fiesta from different levels of society in our country;
national, provincial/city, and barangay level.
National Level Festival- The Mother of all Philippine
Festivals also known as the Aliwan Fiesta.
Provincial or City Festival- These fiestas are well
and alive to every province in every corner of our
country.enable local towns or villages to show their
unique products – this is also called OTOP (One
Town, One Product).
Barangay Fiesta- Village fiesta is more interesting
because it when locals prepare food in their houses
and invite people to visit and dine with them.