Development of Art in the Philippines

DEVELOPMENT OF VISUAL ARTS IN THE PHILIPPINES: Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture

On Painting

1. Painting on churches started in Manila even with the priests as painter-decorators.
2. Painting during the American period has lesser direct value.
3. Filipino painters during the American era painted for the love of art.
4. The Filipino painters during the war sketched portraits for living.

On Sculpture

1. Even before the arrival of the Spaniards to the Philippines, some forms of native sculpture mostly idols, already exists.
2. Sculpture developed very slowly in the Philippines.
3. After the revolution in 1896, the Filipino sculptures began to erect monuments.
4. At the turn of the second decade of American rule in the Philippines, international competition for the design of a Rizal monument was held.
5. An impressive monument of the Quince Martires stands proud in Naga City.
6. Guillermo Tolentino has the marvelous mastery of the human figure.

On Architecture

1. Filipino houses were made of light houses before the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines.
2. Old houses in Manila were built to serve ass memorials and they were built with architectural designs.
3. Classical architecture during the American era became famous for its porticos, vestibules, colonnades, and arcades.
4. The first buildings of architectural importance in Intramuros were the San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral.
5. Paoay church (Ilocos Norte) stands out as a rarity among churches in Luzon because of the presence 26 tapering buttresses – each buttress is crowned by blunt – ended pinnacles.
6. The Morong church façade is of local Baroque architecture.
7. The Carcar church is situated on the elevated ground.





DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS IN THE PHILIPPINES: Music, Literature, Dance, and Motion Pictures

On Music

1. In the early times, music and words of songs were passed on through oral tradition.
2. Most primitive music have vocal music forms.
3. The Greek period is the beginning of medieval polyphonic music.
4. Majority of music in the Middle Ages was sacred and only the monks could write the music compositions.
5. By the end of the 18th century, music was revolutionized at the time of Beethoven.
6. The modern period in music was more of a personal expression of the artist’s view of life than of the nation.

On Literature

1. English and American literature were introduced in the Philippines by the Thomasites.
2. in the early period of Philippine literature, drama and poetry were hardly written because vernacular plays and zarzuela became the popular theatrical arts among Filipinos.
3. Between 1930 and 1960, Philippine literature in English had tremendously flourished and improved particularly in essay, short story, and poetry.
4. the short story showed a rapid improvement in terms of quality and depth.
5. The modern or contemporary period of Philippine literature in English is characterized by a growing sense of nationalism and deeper search for identity.

On Dance

1. Philippines dances during the early times had shown traditional beauty based on myths, traditions and customs of the Filipino natives.
2. Philippine dances went through a period of difficulties and great strides.
3. Between 1920 and 1945 Philippine dances were faced with many changes and exchanges.
4. The Bayanihan Native Dance Troupe established the Dance Performance Center for Filipino cultural dancers.
5. The Philippine dance has been an important tool in promoting cultural change and exchange.



On Motion Pictures

1. Cinema was said to have introduced in the Philippines a year after the brothers Auguste and Louise Lumiere of France held a screening of projected motion pictures.
2. The term “cinematografe” was shortened to “cine” or “cinema.”
3. The year 1909 spurred the major development in local cinema.
4. Between 1910 – 1915, numerous film companies were established in the Philippines.
5. Jose Nepomuceno is the Father of Philippine movies.