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Art Forms and Practices in the Philippines

Region Art Form Characteristic

Bolinao mats Mats made from dried buri or palm
(Pangasinan) tree cut into strips and woven Some
strips are dyed to make distinct
patterns and designs.

It is the tradition of making jars from

Burnay (Ilocos clay kneaded by carabao before being
Sur) worked on by the potter originally used
for aging vinegar, wine and bagoong.

I (Ilocos Region) Traditional plain or patterned weaving

originated in Ilocos using cotton.
Inabel (Ilocos)

It is a folk dance in which the dancers

Sayaw sa Bangko perform their dances on top of multiple
(originated in benches.
Pangasinan)

Established in the 16th century, It is a

Vigan town thas has preserved Spanish
architecture Renaissance architecture.
( Ilocos Sur)
Batok (kalinga) The practice of tattooing by using a
thorn attached to a stick and a
mixture of charcoal and water. In the
tribes of kalinga, men earn tattoos to
show pride and achievements, while
women get it to beautify themselves
( Cordillera and show wealth.
Administrative
Region )CAR Ikat (Ifugao) The technique of dyeing the cotton
yarns before weaving.

Rice Terraces of Rice terraces that are built on hills and

Philippine Cordilleras slopes of fields of rice These are spread
(Ifugao) across four municipalities in the Ifugao
region.
 Bakwat ( Nueva A weaved cotton belt worn by mothers
II ( Cagayan Viscaya) after giving birth.
Valley )

Butaka (Isabel ) A wooden chair long “arm rests” that

are actually for the legs as it was
originally used by women when giving
birth
A war dance meant to depict the fight
Sambali ( Cagayan ) between Christian’s and non-
Christian’s who opposed Spanish
influenced performed during the
Sambali festival.

Vakul (Batanes) A headgear made from dried voyavoy

leaves worn by women to provide them
protection from the heat of the sun.
Pabalat (Bulacan) A kind of paper art in which intricate
designs are made by cutting Japanese
paper to wrap a delicacy called
pastillas.

The art of producing decorative

III ( Central Luzon Singkaban (Bulacan) materials using bamboo.
)

A gate built in 1885 that originally

Subic Spanish Gate served as the entrance to the Spanish
(Zambales) naval station and then turned into a
based by the US Navy
 Balsa (Batangas) A boat made of bamboo decorated
during the balsa festival in Batangas
as recognition for its significance in
transport, fishing as well as tourism.

Popularly known as “Barong”, it is the

Barong Tagalog official formal wear of men in the
(Laguna) country.

A giant paper mache meant to portray

IV-A Higantes (Rizal) farmers mocking and protesting mean
( Calabarzon ) landlords when Angono was a
hacienda used during the Higantes
festival

A delicacy made of glutenous rice and

Kiping (Quezon
shaped into a leaf used in the Pahiyas
Province)
festival in Lucban, Quezon which is
also serve as decorative piece.

Maglalatik An indigenous dance in which the

( originated in dancers tap and utilize halved coconut
Laguna) husks strapped onto their bodies.

Taka (Laguna) The art of making paper mache crafts

made using wood statues as molds
Ambahan (Mindoro) A poem created by the Hanunuo
Mangyans that is chanted and often
carved on a bamboo.

IV-B A large masks which resembles

Morion (
Caucasian features used for a street
( Mimaropa ) Marinduque)
play in the Moriones Festival.

A dance influenced by the Spanish

Pandango sa Ilaw dance, fandango, wherein the dancer
(originated in must balance oil lamps on their hands
Mindoro) and heads
V ( Bicol Region) Pantomina Also known as the “dove dance” It is a
(originated in Bicol) dance originally performed in weddings
by the couple and their visitors.
VISAYAS AND MINDANAO
Capiz Crafts and decorations made from
seashells.

Cariñosa (Panay A dance introduced by the Spaniards

Island) performed for flirting with the male
dancers utilizing either a fan or
handkerchief.

VI A visayan folk song about a person

( Western Dandansoy (Iloilo) leaving a boy, named Dandansoy to go
Visayas ) back home.

Hinilawod A 29,000-verse epic poem about the

(Panay Island) heroes of Panay chanted for three
days; Hinilawod translate to “Tales
from the Mouth of the Halawod River”.
Sinamay ( Negros
Island)
A fabric woven from abaca fibers from
processed abaca leaves.
Pagrara (Iloilo)

A hand-wooven basket made of bamboo

Gapnod (Negros A dance re-enacting the discovery of an

Oriental image of St Anthony of Padua, the
VII Patron saint of Sibulan, by a
fisherman.
(Central
Visayas) Kuradang (Bohol)
A wedding dance performed with the
accompaniment of a rondalla.

Sinulog (Cebu)
A dance that represents the”sulog”
(current) of a river in Cebu performed
during the Sinulog Festival
Basey mats (Samar) Basey, Samar is renowed for its woven
sleeping mats locally known as banig.

VIII Kuratsa ( originated A courtship dance performed during

in Leyte) fiestas, family gatherings, as well as
(Eastern
weddings.
Visayas)

A dance which involves two people

Tinikling (originated
in Leyte) beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo
poles on the ground and against each
other in coordination with one or more
 dancers
Bunga Sama The highest form of Yakan weaving
that has patterns that represent the
universe.
IX
Gong A percussion musical instrument that
(Zamboanga
is usually made of metal
Peninsula)

The collective term for dresses made

Semmek by the Yakan women using abaca,
pineapple, and bamboo.
Kudyapi An instrument that looks like a boat
and has two strings.

Hinabol ( Bukidnon) A hand-wooven fabric made by the

ethnic Higanon tribe.
X
(Northern
A headdress worn during festivities
Mindanao) Panika (Bukidnin)
made of native materials.

Idangdang
ballad song that is about recalling
(Bukidnon)
historical events.

XI Dagmay A weaved fabric made by the Mandaya

(Davao tribe that is usually used by women as
Region)

a skirt, as well as blankets or wraps for

the dead.

Bagobo Inabal A traditional textile made from abaca

with a special weave worn only by
women and has a shine from the
beeswax applied during the weaving
process.
 Ginakit (Sarangan) Brightly colored boats used by Muslim
royals and high-ranking people in
Mindanao during the pre-colonial and
Spanish periods and now showcased
in the Pakaradyan Festival.
XII
SOCCSKSARGEN Tabih ( General A hand-woven cloth made by the B’laan
Santos City, people.
Sarangani, South
Cotabato)

Made by the T’boli people, it is a

T’nalak
method of weaving abaca inspired by
the weaver’s dreams.
Butuan boats An edge-pegged plank type boat made
( Aguna del Norte ) from hardwood.

Itik-Itik Surigao del A dance in which the steps mimic the

Sur) gestures of a duck.
XIII
(Caraga)
Suyam (Agusan del A kind of embroidery made by the
Sur) Manobo people.

Malong (Sulu, all over A large, wrap-around skirt which

Mindanao) displays the okir design.

Okir (Tawi-Tawi) A distinct geometric and flowing plant

design and folk motifs found among
the Moro and Lumad people.
Bangsamoro
Autonomous
Region of Muslim Pisyabit (Sulu) A headdress worn by men to represent
of Mindanao one’s rank in society.
(BARMM)
A woven fabric, considered to be one of
Seputangan (Basilan) the earliest weaving technique, worn
by the Yakan women.

Singkil (Lanao del A folk dance which depicts the epic

Sur) poem, Darangen.

Sarimanok ( Lanao The symbol of Maranao art which

del Sur) depicts a legendary, colourful bird that
symbolizes good fortune