The pre-colonial/ethnic
art of the Philippines
Was there an art before
colonization?
In Pre-colonial Philippines, arts are for ritual purposes
or for everyday use.
Art of the ancient Filipinos were woven into the
fabric of everyday life.
That is an expression of an individual, and seen
largely in galleries and concert halls. Everyday
expressions were all integrated within rituals that
marked significant moments in a community’s life.
Like planting, harvesting, rites passage, funerary
ceremonies, weddings, and others.
Our ancestors, just like others in the world during those times,
were hunter gatherers. The forefathers hunted food that were
shared among members of a community in a gathering where
they told stories about the hunt. They imitated the movement
of animals and prey, and the sounds that they made. But how
do arts apply?
In this simple activity evolved ritual, music, dance, theater and yes
even literature.
When they told stories about the hunt, this form of oral story
telling marked the beginnings of the literature. When they imitated
movements of the animals they hunted, this marked the early
beginnings of theater or play acting. When they learned to add
drum beating and attach rhythm to their movements, they have
given birth to music and dance
The pre-colonial peoples of the Philippines already possessed a
varied and vibrant musicale culture. The country's indigenous
cultures through the existence of ethnic musical instruments such as
Flute Zithers Drum Kudyapi
Bamboo Gong-large bossed Kulintang
Flat gong (Gangsa) Instrument
The following are the native dance forms imitated from the
movements of the animals:
1. Pangalay dance (Sulu) - is mimetic of the movements of the sea birds
2. Mandaya’ Kinabua, Banog banog (Higaonon & Blaan), and ma- manok (Bagobos
in Mindanao - Is imitated the movements of predatory birds.
3. Talip dance (Ifugao) - is used for courtship is mimetic of the movements of wild fowls.
4. Inamo dance (Matigsalugs) and Kadaliwas dance (TBoli)
- represent the comedic movement of the monkey
5.Tinikling Dance - evocative of the movements of the crane, balancing itself onstilt-like legs or
flirting away from the clutches of bamboo traps.
Famous artworks during pre-colonial:
1. Carving
• Bulul (Cordillera) a granary God that • Hagabi (Ifugao) a wooden bench
plays an important role in rituals Santos/sculptures of saints (Laguna
and Pampanga)
• Okir (Tausug / Samal / Badjao) mythical • Manunggul Jar discovered at
sarimanok, the naga or serpent. Manunggul cave of Palawan
2. Weaving
• Textile weaving
a. Pis siyabit (Tausug of Sulu) a b.Malong (Maranao of Lanao deSur)
headpiece woven
• Mat and basket weaving
a. Tepo mat (Sama of Tawi-Tawi) a
c. Bubo (llocos region) a sturdy
double layered made of Pandan leaves.
bamboo strips used to trap the fish.
b. Ovaloid basket (Itbayat, Batanes) a
head sling made of nito or bamboo used
to carry the harvests.
3. Ornamentation -representations of
various ethnolinguistic groups
a. Wearing gold jewelry b. Tattooing (Visayan) it is believed to protect
(upper class Tagalog) the individual from evil spirits, it is also a sign
of bravery and maturity.
1.What is use of art during pre-colonial
- arts are for ritual purposes or for everyday use
2. It is the movements of the sea birds
- Pangalay dance
3. It is used for courtship and it is the movements of wild fowls.
- Talip dance
4.evocative of the movements of the crane, balancing itself on stilt-like legs or
flirting away from the clutches of bamboo traps.
- Tinkling dance
5.Imitating the movements of predatory birds.
- Mandaya' Kinabua, Banog banog and ma- manok
6.represent the comedic movement of the monkey
- Inamo dance and Kadaliwas dance
7. What are the 3 famous artworks during the pre-colonial period
- Carving, Weaving, and Ornamentation
8.It is the mythical sarimanok, the naga or serpent
- Okir
9.A granary God that plays an important role in rituals
- Bulul
10.a wooden bench Santos/sculptures of saints (Laguna and Pampanga)
- Hagabi
11.Give 2 example of weaving
- Textile weaving and Mat and basket weaving
12.a double layered made of Pandan leaves
- Tepo mat
13.a sturdy bamboo strips used to trap the fish.
- Bubo
14.a head sling made of nito or bamboo used to carry the harvests.
- Ovaloid basket
15.It is believed to protect the individual from evil spirits
- Tattooing
Thanks for listening!
GROUP 2 MEMBERS
PRINCESS ANN NICOLE D. DELFIN
SAMANTHA GRACE ESPIQUE
KELVIN ANGELO UMINGA
TRECIA MAE AGUNA
