Contemporary
Philippine Art

Painting and Sculpture

Artistic paintings were
introduced to the Filipinos in the
16th century when the Spaniards
arrived in the Philippines. 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. The purpose of the
paintings from 16th to 19th
centuries was to aid the
Catholic Church.

Looking at Art: Juan Luna’s Spoliarium

The painting features a glimpse of
Roman history centered on the
bloody carnage brought by
gladiatorial matches. Spoliarium is
a latin word referring to the
basement of the Roman Colosseum
where the fallen and dying
gladiators are dumped and devoid
of their wordly possessions.

The Spoliarium is the most
valuable oil-on canvas painting
of Juan Luna, a Filipino
educated at the Academia de
Dibujo y Pintura (Philippines)
and the Academia de San
Fernando in Madrid, Spain.

Looking at Art: Amorsolo’s
Antipolo Fiesta

This oil painting on canvas
depicts a rural scene where a
group of people is shown
celebrating fiesta in Antipolo.
The main focus is on pair of
dancers in the field surrounded
by revelers both young and old.

Looking at Art: Tolentino’s U.P.
Oblation

The Oblation is the
masterpiece of first National Artist
for Sculpture Guillermo
Tolentino. In 1935, Guillermo was
commissioned by then University
President Rafael Palma to craft the
monument that would express the
in visual form the second stanza of
Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios”
(“Last Farewell”).

Looking at Art: The Higantes of
Angono, Rizal

It was said that the higantes
started during the Spanish
colonial times. It was
borrowed to Kampong of
Binangonan when Angono
was once a hacienda and ruled
by the Spanish hacienderos
the Guido.

Looking at Art: The Sculptures of
Paete, Laguna

The name of Paete is derived
from the Tagalog word paet,
which means chisel. The town
has had a long reputation for its
craftsmen highly skilled in
wood carving and its
embellishment.

Looking at Art: The Taka of Paete
Laguna

Taka refers to paper mache
made using carved wooden
sculpture used as a mold. Taka
was pioneered by a Paete local
Maria Piday.

Taka
 During Christmas, Piday was in charge of
the church’s decoration. The wooden
angels and cherub were heavy causing the
carving to fall. Piday devised the
lightweight taka paper mache as an
alternative to the wooden sculptures. She
is also a maker of a local toys.

Looking at Art: The Giant
Lantern Festival of Pampanga

The Giant Lantern Festival is an
annual festival held in
December (Saturday before
Christmas Eve) in the City of
San Fernando in the
Philippines. The festival
features a competition of giant
lanterns.

Because of the popularity
of the festival, the city
has been nicknamed the
“Christmas Capital of the
Philippines”

Looking at Art: Saniculas Cookie
Mold Carvings of Pampanga

Saniculas cookies are arrowroot
cookies that have the image of
St. Nicholas molded on it. St.
Nicholas is also known as “the
healer”.

The “saniculas” wooden
moulds which are used to
impress the dough with the
distinctive imprint are
interesting kitchen artifacts
themselves.

Looking at Art: Singkaban or
Bamboo Art of Bulacan

Singkaban is the art of shaving
bamboo into artful creations
that can be used as décor for
arches or for the home.

Looking at Art: The Bul-ul of
Ifugao.

A Bul-ul is a carved wooden
figure used to guard the rice
crop by the Igorot of northern
Luzon. The sculpture are highly
stylized representations of
ancestors, and are thought to
gain power from the presence
of the ancestral spirit.

Looking at Art: Okir Design of
Maranao.

Okir is the term for geometric
and flowing designs which are
often based on an elaborate leaf
and vine pattern and folk motifs
that can be usually found in
Maranao and Muslim-infuenced
artwork.

Looking at Art: The Sarimanok of
Maranao.

The Sarimanok is a legendary
bird of the Maranao people who
originate from Mindanao. It
comes from the words “sari”
and “manok”. “Sari” means
cloth or garment, which is
generally assorted colors.
“Manok” means chicken.