🎨 Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Module 7: Living with the Artists
Significance of Art Forms from the Regions (GAMABA)
This module interprets and relates the significance of art forms from the regions, specifically focusing on the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or National Living Treasures Awards recipients.
The art forms of GAMABA awardees are considered contemporary because they continue to be observed and practiced in their community, bridging tradition with the present.
Arts carry significant contributions that are imbibed through generations.
1. Unique Identity
Reflecting Heritage and Cultural Traditions
Concept: Traditional arts reflect the diverse heritage and cultural traditions of the Philippines.
Examples of Artists and Art Forms:
Haja Amina Appi (Tawi-Tawi): Weaving pandan mats with vibrant colors, beautiful geometric designs, and fine symmetry. These are used for prayer or as gifts.
Magdalena Gamayo: Weaving traditional patterns, noted for her ability to replicate designs with excellence and consistency.
Lang Dulay (South Cotabato): Weaving t’nalak (a fine abaca cloth) using traditional designs like bulinglangit (clouds), kabangi (butterfly), crocodiles, and flowers.
2. Exemplary Skills
Showcasing Highly Developed Craftsmanship
Concept: The works showcase the artists' highly developed skills, often learned through rigorous practice.
Examples of Artists and Art Forms:
Eduardo Mutuc (Pampanga): Master of metal carvings (religious and secular arts), particularly known for altars, mirrors, retablos, and carosas made with wood, silver, and bronze.
Uwang Ahadas: Proficient musician who mastered playing the kwintangan (logs used to call for abundant harvest).
Samaon Sulaiman: Master of the kutyapi (two-stringed lute), also proficient in playing other instruments.
Eduardo Mutuc's work demonstrates that exemplary skills can be developed through dedication and practice, allowing an artist to transition from a farmer to a master craftsman.
3. Way of Life
Documenting and Perpetuating Communal Life and Rituals
Concept: Art forms document and perpetuate the communal life, rituals, and societal structures of the region.
Examples of Artists and Art Forms:
Alonzo Saclag (Lubuagan, Kalinga): Mastered local musical instruments and dance patterns associated with rituals and performances for celebrations or communal agreements (like peace pacts).
He created the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe to pass on the tradition.
Federico Caballero (Calinog, Iloilo): Epic chanter who preserved the local oral tradition of Suguidanon (a Central Panay epic), which also reflects the historical status of women (binukot).
Saclag's art is integral to their peace pacts, making the art inseparable from their daily lives.
4. Enduring Values
Reflected in Art and the Process of Creation
Concept:Values are reflected in the literary arts themselves and in the process of creating the art.
Examples of Artists and Art Forms:
Ginaw Bilog (Oriental Mindoro): Preserved the Mangyan script by writing ambahan (a metaphoric poem) on bamboo tubes. His poems reflect Filipino values like affection, advising the young, and hospitality.
Darhata Sawabi (Sulu) and Eduardo Mutuc: Their works show spirituality as they use subjects related to their faith.
General Value: The unselfish desire of the artists to share their knowledge and skills to the next generations is an evident value.
5. Vision
Inspiring Enhancement and New Work
Concept: Traditional art shows the artist’s vision and can inspire others to enhance the art or create new work.
Examples of Artists and Art Forms:
Teofilo Garcia (San Quintin, Abra): Farmer and gourd hatmaker (tabungaw) who created useful, protective hats. He explored new designs and had the vision to see the hat's potential as an export product.
Salinta Monon (Davao Del Sur): Respected textile weaver who dreamt of establishing the art by teaching new would-be weavers.
🔨 Eduardo Mutuc: Master of Metal Carvings
Significance in Contemporary Arts
Detail
Information
Region
Pampanga
GAMABA Award Year
2004
Art Form/Expertise
Detailed and lifelike religious and secular art pieces (metal carvings).
Contribution Theme
Exemplary Skills and Enduring Values (Spirituality).
Artworks & Significance:
His detailed pieces include Altars, Mirrors, Retablos, and Carosas using wood, silver, and bronze.
Exemplary Skills: Demonstrates that skill is developed through dedication (transitioned from farmer to master craftsman).
Enduring Values: His religious subjects show how spirituality is evident among Filipino artists.
Contemporary Status: Though the tradition is old, his work is contemporary because it continues to be observed and practiced in his community.
🎠Alonzo Saclag: Music and Dance
Perpetuating Kalinga Culture
Detail
Information
Region
Lubuagan, Kalinga
GAMABA Award Year
2000
Art Form/Expertise
Mastered local musical instruments and dance patterns associated with Kalinga rituals and performances.
Contribution Theme
Way of Life (Perpetuating Communal Life and Rituals).
Preservation Efforts & Significance:
His art is the performance and preservation of Kalinga culture through music, dance, and knowledge of rituals associated with social celebrations and communal agreements (like *bodong* or peace pacts).
He founded the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe to pass on the tradition.
Significance (Way of Life): His work is a prime example of how traditional art documents and perpetuates the communal life and societal structures of a region.
Cultural Preservation: The dance troupe highlights the conscious and contemporary effort to preserve indigenous art forms against modernization.
đź“ť Performance Task: Create a Promotional Poster
Promoting Contemporary Arts in Your Community
Objective: Relate the significance and Promote contemporary art forms from the Philippine Regions.
Element
Detail
Goal
To create a promotional poster of contemporary arts in the community.
Situation
DOT encourages domestic tourism; a poster contest raises awareness of local culture and arts.
Materials
¼ size cartolina or same size paper, and crayons or available coloring materials.
Art Form Choice
Select a contemporary art form that is evident in your community.
⚙️ Assessment Rubric (Criteria)
Novelty and Originality: Features a new and original contemporary art form in the community.
Mechanics of the Contest: Follows all requirements (relevance to theme, paper size, layout).
Required Elements of a poster: Uses appropriate all of these: colors, illustrations, symbols and descriptions.