The Philippines and The Art
- marahuyolite
- Jan 31, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 2, 2025
By Avon Claire Tabla & Daniel Acosta
Introduction to the Philippine Archipelago
The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of 7,641 islands. With its vibrant culture and arts surrounding the history, traditions, beliefs, and life of the people who lived and are living in this country, this marks the evidence of its being, that is not only notable to Filipinos—but also to the world, even to the universe, as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach would say.
The Music and Art of the Philippines: What Makes It Unique? What Makes It Different?
The Music of the Philippines is, as I would like to call it, the bread and butter of the Filipinos as we take pride in our voices, melodies, and rhythms that let us express our vibrant, warm, and passionate personalities. In today’s society, we see Filipinos singing here and there—dominating the world with our powerful voices. Great singers like Lea Salonga, Bruno Mars, Olivia Rodrigo—all are renowned for their artistic talents in singing and some even in songwriting, isn’t that awesome? Our raging #PinoyPride flag is waving every time they rise through the Billboard charts or step into the spotlight—that is who we are, we love being represented and we love each one of us as family.
This love for singing is rooted in our history, too. From indigenous music that emerged from the Taiwan tribes who migrated in our country to the colonial influences that encapsulate the traditional music of our land, we have been captured by music and we have loved it through time. There are two traditional music forms in the Philippines:
Vocal Music
Vocal Music is the pinnacle of music in the Philippines. As previously mentioned, Filipinos are great and powerful singers. In Philippine traditional music, however, mobility has a vital role in the language or tone of a particular music. As the Philippines is an archipelago, languages and dialects from different islands and regions vary. Hence, variations in the translation of a certain song are evident. One example of that is the Tagalog version of “Pamulinawen” and also its Ilocano version.
"Pamulinawen" (Tagalog Version)
"Pamulinawen" (Ilocano Version)
Dance Music
Dance music is a notable and crucial form of traditional music in the Philippines, playing a significant role in the cultural expressions of Christianized, Muslim, and ethnic groups. It is often accompanied by rhythmic instruments and lively movements, reflecting the diverse heritage and storytelling traditions of different communities. Alongside dance music, chants also hold an important place, serving as a means of oral transmission for rituals, celebrations, and historical narratives, further enriching the country's musical landscape. One of the examples of this is "Salidumay", a chant for Raragsakan, from the Igorot and Kalinga people of the Cordillera Mountains in the northern Philippines.
Performance of "Salidumay" chant for the Raragsakan Dance
Another well-known example of dance music is the "Una Una, Kaya Kaya" which is a modern and one of the most used dance music in Filipino cultural events. The phrase literally means "first first, can you do it?" which implies a sense of challenge and encouragement to overcome obstacles. It uses chants and repetitions, and Filipino cultural instruments.
"Una Una, Kaya Kaya" by Pinikpikan
Sources:
Music N Arts. (n.d.). MUSIC AND ARTS OF THE PHILIPPINES. Wordpress.com., from http://(https://musicnarts.wordpress.com/music-and-arts-of-the-philippines/
The Philippines at a glance. (n.d.). Www.un.int., from https://www.un.int/philippines/philippines/philippines-glance
Comments