Pre-colonial art, rituals, music and designs

History of Philippine Art

Pre-Conquest Art

• In art history, Philippine art before colonization is referred to as "pre-conquest".
• In stylistic terms, it is called "indigenous".
• In cultural terms, it is known as "pre-colonial".
• Pre-colonial art served as everyday expressions integrated within rituals.

Early Theater and Rituals

• Mayvanuvanua of Batanes is a ritual that opens the fishing season for dibang (flying fish).
• Cañao or Kanyaw of the Cordillera Administrative Region is officiated by a shaman and involves animal sacrifice where the entrails are read through divination.
• Kashawing of Lake Lanao in Mindanao is a ritual to ensure abundance during rice planting and harvesting.
• Tagbanwa of Palawan involves shamans going into a trance during ritual chanting and dancing, believed to be taken over by goddesses.

Ethnic Musical Instruments

• Kudyapi is a three-stringed guitar.
• Kulintang is an array of bossed gongs.
• Gansa is a flat gong.
• Agong is a large bossed gong.

Native Dance Forms

• Pangalay of Sulu is a mimetic dance of seabirds.
• Kinabua of Mandaya performs swooping movements imitating the movements of an eagle.
• Banog-banog of the Higaonon and B'laan is a courtship dance that portrays the flight of birds.
• Man manok of the Bago Tribe is a dance that dramatizes three roosters competing for the attention of Lady Lien, a hen.
• Talip of the Ifugaos is a courtship dance mimicking the movements of wild fowls.
• Inamong of the Matigsalugs and Kadaliwas (T'boli) represents the comedic movements of monkeys.
• Tinikling of the Tagalogs evokes the movements of the crane balancing itself or flitting away from bamboo traps.

Carving

• Bulul of the Cordillera is a granary god that plays an important role in rituals.
• Anthropomorphic bulul appears in containers, bowls, and spoons.
• Hagabi of the Ifugao is a wooden bench that marks the socio-economic status of the owner.
• Christianized communities in Paete Laguna and Betis Pampanga carve santos, while in Southern Philippines curvilinear decorations called okir are used in woodcarving.
• Sarimanok is a stylized design of a bird holding a fish, often standing on a fish-shaped base.
• Naga has the shape of an elaborate mythical serpent or dragon with an S-curve and curvilinear motifs.
• Pako rabong is a stylized fern with a broad base tapering upwards.
• Sarimanok and naga are found in the panolong, extended floor beam, and interior beams and posts of the large sultan's house called torogan.

Pottery

• Manunggul Cave in Lipunan Point, Palawan, revealed artifacts from the late Neolithic Period (890-710).
• Jars were excavated with anthropomorphic or human forms on top.
• During the Metal Age (5 BC-225 AD) another type of anthropomorphic jars was produced, with the human figure more pronounced with lid as the head and base as the body.
• Pottery became associated with daily-use objects like palayok (clay pot) and banga and tapayan (clay pot) for storing liquids.
• Burnay pottery continues as a lively tradition in Vigan Ilocos.

Weaving

• Respicio noted that Philippine ethnolinguistic groups have a rich textile weaving tradition.
• Textiles are functional and impart knowledge about belief systems and sociopolitical structure.
• Pis syabit is a headpiece woven by the Tausug of Sulu.
• Malong has exquisite tapestry panels called langkit woven by the Maranao of Lanao Del Sur.
• Tepo Mat is a colorful, double-layered mat of Sama of Tawi-Tawi made of pandan leaves.
• Ovaloid Baskets made of nito and bamboo are used as head slings for harvesting.
• Bubo are fish traps of study bamboo strips from the Ilocos region.

Body Art and Adornments

• Tattoos in the Visayas known as "Islas de los Pintados" are shared by Southeast Asia and New Zealand.
• Other groups that practice are Kalinga, Kankanay, Ibaloy and Ifugao.
• The T'boli are known for wearing brass chains, bells, and colorful beads.

Functional Objects

• Lotoans are betel nut boxes of various shapes.
• Functional containers have textured designs of rhombuses, spirals, circles, and tendrils.
• Brass Kendi and Gadur used in ceremonies are status symbols or heirloom pieces.

Islamic Colonial Art

• Islamic art was well-established in the Southern Philippines by the 13th century.
• The region continues to be culturally dominant.
• Islam gained significant grounding in Sulu as early as the 13th century.
• Sayyid Abubakar of Arabia married Princess Piramisuli, daughter of Rajah Baguinda.
• Abubakar established the Sultanate of Sulu.
• Religious education through the Quran and Madrasa became important.
• Art is present in Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao, Yakan, Samal, Badjao, and in some areas of Palawan communities.

Islamic Influences

• The notion of Tawhid or Unity with emphasizes the impermanence of nature and greatness of the divine.
• The interior of mosques are relief patterned.
• Abstract forms and patterns are common.
• Parts of the Mosque like the mihrab and the Qibla are oriented towards the west.
• Bulbous domes express all levels of existence.
• Octagonal base symbolizes the spirit.
• Four-sided main base refers to earth.
• Ka'bah is a black shrine courtyard which is believed to be built by Prophet Muhammad.
• Water supply serves the cleansing function.
• Gardens are within the Mosque or outside homes.
• Islamic forms are incline in an upward orientation.
• Panolong is an elaborately carved protrusion, wing-like, attached to the torogan.
• Luhul or canopy takes inspiration from the tree of life.
• Burraq, is a horse with a head of a woman, is important.