Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ICC Reviewer
ICC Reviewer
The Philippines has numerous indigenous scripts collectively called as suyat, each of which has their
their distinct weaving techniques. The weaving arts are composed of basket weaving, back-strap loom own forms and styles of calligraphy. Various ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines prior to
weaving, headgear weaving, fishnet weaving, and other forms of weaving. Spanish colonization in the 16th century up to the independence era in the 21st century have used the
scripts with various mediums. By the end of colonialism, only four of the suyat scripts survived and
Cloth and mat Weaving. Expensive textiles are made through indicate and difficult process called continue to be used by certain communities in everyday life.
back-strap looming. Fibers such as Cotton, abaca, banana, fiber, grass, and palm fiber are used in the
Filipino weaving arts. Folk painting
Folk paintings, like folk drawings, are works of art that usually include depictions of folk culture.
Weaving is the making of fabric by interlacing threads. Evidences suggest that the people of the archipelago have been painting and glazing their potteries for
The machine used for weaving is called a loom. thousands of years. Pigments used in paintings range from gold, yellow, reddish purple, green, white,
Warp threads are stretched on a frame, and an instrument called a shuffle carries weft threads blue-green, to blue.
under and over the warp.
Tribal communities in the Philippines known for their woven textiles. Ornament, textile, or fiber art
Ifugao - known for their binulan and wanno which are used as shawls to keep their Ornament, textile, or fiber art includes a variety of fields, ranging from hat making, mask-making,
body warm. accessory- making, to ornamental metal crafts, and many others.
T’boli - they used bids, frogs and man as their design for their woven cloths.
Hat-making, mask-making, and related arts
Maguindanao - the malong is famous male underpants. It is a piece of cloth that tied
Hat-making is a fine art in many communities throughout the country, with the gourd- based tabungaw
at the waist and looks like a skirt.
of Abra and Ilocos being one of the most prized. Indigenous Filipino hats were widely used in the daily
Tausug - the kandit is the official costume of the Tausug Tribe.
lives of the people until the 20th century when they were replaced by Western-style hats. They are
Basketry. The fine art of basket weaving in the Philippines has developed intricate designs and forms currently worn during certain communities have mask-making practices prior to colonization, while
directed for specific purposes such as harvesting, rice storage, travel package, sword case, and so on. some mask-making traditions were introduced through trade from parts of Asia and the West. Today,
The art is believed to have arrived in the archipelago due to human migration, where those at the north these masks are worn during festivals, Mariones Festival, and Masskara Festival.
were the first to learn the art form.
Accessory-making
Carving. The art of carving in the Philippines focuses on woodcarving and folk non-clay sculptures. Accessories in the Philippines are almost always won with their respective combination of garments,
with some being used as accessories for houses, altars, and other objects.
Woodcarving. Indigenous woodcarving is one of the most notable traditional arts in the Philippines,
with some crafts in various ethnic groups date back prior to Hispanic arrival with perhaps the oldest Pottery
surviving today are fragments of a wooden boat dating to 320 AD. The art of pottery, categorized into ceramic making,clay pot-making, and folk clay sculpture,has a long
been part of various cultures in the Philippines, with evidence pointing to a pottery culture dating
The art of putting design on pieces of wood. around 3,500 years ago. Important pottery artefacts from the Philippines include the Manunggul Jar
(890- 710 BCE) and the Maitum anthropomorphic pottery (5 BC-225 AD).
In the North, Cordillera carves the bulol, a pagan statue of their Gods or Anitos.
They also carve bowls and utensils. COCONUT SHELL CRAFT
Figures of man and animals are also carved.
Also known as "The Tree of life"
Folk graphic and plastic arts Why a COCONUT TREE is called "THE TREE OF LIFE"
The field under folk graphic and plastic arts are tattooing, folk writing, and folk drawing and painting. The coconut palm is known as the tree of life because it provides some of the basic necessities
for humans and its endless uses. The palm not only provides a source of food and water but is also
Folk writing (calligraphy)
used for shelter, fuel and raw materials.
The Coconut constitutes a plant that belongs to Palmae family and is widely grown in 6. The Heart
tropical regions as it needs proper living environment for its growth and production. Even, for that part Edible and known as “palmis”, "palm-cabbage", and "heart of plam" it is found right underneath the
of the plant that could be considered as waste, such as its fiber which is utilized among other uses as leaves of the coconut tree. In the Philippines it is known as ubod and considered as one of the finest
"active charcoal"; while the shell is often processed to create "remarkable art work". vegetables. It is a delicacy that is on high demand by both locals and visitors.
PARTS OF THE COCONUT TREE AND ITS BENEFITS 7. Spathe and Inflorescence
The coconut spathe is the scope-like structure that encloses the inflorescences (the flowers) of the tree.
1. The Husk It can be polished and varnished to make containers. When dried, the inflorescence are used as a
This is the rough exterior of the coconut which is made up of the coir (tough fibers). Back in the days broom, especially on the beach when making a space for a lovely picnic. When the spathe and
fiber of coconut is used to make mats, and in some country’s coconut husk is used as floor polisher and inflorescences are still closed, locals tap it to release a sap, which is collected and fermented to make
brushes when there wasn’t any scouring pad to wash the dishes, the locals used the coir with sand to 8kalou9 (coconut tree toddy). The principal uses of toddy are as fresh beverage, alcoholic beverages,
clean their pots. It gave quite a shine to the utensil. For families who could not afford mattresses, the for producing vinegar, for making sugar and as a source of yeast for making bread,
fiber was used as stuffing to make homemade mattresses. The whole husk is also great as packaging
materials for plant, fuel fires and make toys. 8. The Trunk
It is hardy and durable wood is used for building small bridges. It is also used to make benches, tables,
2. The Shell carvings, picture frames, tables, tool boxes, and pulp paper. In the past, the trunks were turned into
Before reaching the delicious flesh inside the coconut one has to get through the hard shell. Today this planks, used to board and partition houses. They make great pillars as well and construction materials.
is mostly thrown away after extracting the flesh. The shell which is quite strong is also used by artisans
to create long-lasting handicrafts. It also produces fashion accessories like: shell necklace bags. 9. Roots
Decorative items like: lamp shade, fruit and ash trays, guitars, placemats, coffee pots, cups. Most This part of the tree holds medicinal properties. It can be used to treat gall bladder, urinary infections,
important use of coconut shell is activated carbon produced from its charcoal; it makes a great charcoal kidney-related diseases, heartburn and eczema. “Kalou” can also be made from the sap found in the
replacement. root. It is said that this 8kalou9 is stronger.
4. The Water Cutting shells. Straight cuts are made with a backsaw. Saws for wood dull easily when used on shells.
Fresh coconut water commonly called as "liquid endosperm" its function is to provide nourishment Tools for metal is appropriate on shells. Cutting with sharp edges like a bolo or knife is very common.
for the developing embryo. It is also high in B vitamins, proteins and ascorbic acid. A quick drink The pressure exerted by edge-cutting tools have more chances to break or crack shells since itis hard
when feeling drained and depleted will help you get right back up on your feet. It9s also a great and brittle, shaping with edge-cutting tools is done with utmost care and controlled pressure. Curve
treatment for sunstroke, stomach ache and urinary problems. cuts are done with narrow blades such as coping saw, turnings saw, or keyhole saw.
5. The Leaves Scraping. Edge cutting tools such as spokeshave, bolo or knife are good Scraping tools. A scraper may
These are used to weave hats, baskets and mats. It9s a time-consuming practice which takes a bit of be used for this purpose. Only the remains of the husk from the outside and those of the meat from the
skill. Skilled craftsmen use the midribs, the central veins that hold the leaves together to make brooms. inside are scraped.
These are also used to make barbecue skewer, decorations and traditional toys. In the past, the leaves
were sometimes used for thatching traditional Creole houses. Assembling shells. Shells are attached to each other with the use of glue or by tying with rattan, wire
or nylon cord. Small holes may be drilled for the tie to pass.
Finishing shells. Shells lose its natural beauty when covered with opaque finish. Natural fish is best Cellulose is the main component of vegetable fibers, several of which serve in the manufacture of
for shells such as the use of varnish, shellac, or lacquer. paper and cloth. Examples include cotton, jute, flax, ramie, sisal, and hemp.
The term "coconut" dates back to the 16th century. It derives from the Spanish and Vegetable fibers can be further categorized into the following types:
Portuguese word coco, meaning "a grin", "a monkey face" respectively, since there is a slight Seed fiber: These are fibers collected from seeds or seed cases. Examples include cotton and
resemblance to a human face or a monkey head because of the three tiny indents on the hairy shell of kapok.
the fruit. Cocos nucifera is a scientific term for the coconut tree, or coconut palm. Tropics and Leaf fiber: These are fibers collected from leaves. Examples include sisal and agave.
subtropics are the natural habitats of the plant. The coconut is a plant, which favorably grows on the Bast fiber or skin fiber: These fibers are collected from the skin or bast surrounding the stem
shorelines, it prospers on sandy soils. The fruit prefers rainy and sunny weather, it cannot resist low of the plant source. They have higher tensile strength than other fibers. Therefore, these fibers
temperatures. For a propitious growth coconut also require an area of high humidity. are used for durable yarn, fabric, packaging, and paper. Some examples are flax, jute,
industrial hemp, ramie, rattan, soybean fiber, and even vine fibers and banana fibers.
Coconut is abundant in the coconut-producing areas like Laguna, Batangas, Quezon,
Fruit fiber: These fibers are collected from the fruit of the plant, such as coconut (coir) fiber.
Marinduque, Mindoro, and Bicol provinces. Coconut shells as handicraft materials are used to make
Stalk fiber: These fibers are actually the stalks of the plant. Examples are straws of wheat,
cups, kitchen utensils, wall vases, children's bags, toys, pins, buttons, and plant hangers among others.
rice, barley, and other crops including bamboo and grass. Tree wood is also such a fiber.
Coconut shells have distinct characteristics. They easily crack, so care should be taken when handling
The most used natural fibers are cotton, flax and hemp, although sisal, jute, and coconut are also
them. Shells of young coconuts are white but not brittle.
widely used.
FIBER CRAFT
ANIMAL FIBERS (also called protein fibers)
WHAT IS FIBER? Fibers are strong, elongated materials, or substances composed of thread-like
Animal fibers are generally made up of proteins. Examples include silk, wool, angora, mohair, and
tissues capable of being spun or woven. Fiber is the material which consist of fibrous structure and
alpaca.
length is thousand times higher than its width. Fibers may be taken from coconut husk, buri and abaca
Animal hair (wool or hairs): Fiber or wool taken from animals or hairy mammals. For
petioles, and maguey, sisal, or pineapple leaves.
example, sheep's wool, goat hair (cashmere, mohair), alpaca hair, horse hair, and so on.
Fibers are woven into cloth or made into twines, ropes, and thread. From these materials, several
handcrafted products are made. These include-bags, slippers, baskets, bed sheets, handkerchiefs, table Silk fiber: Fiber collected from dried saliva of bugs or insects during the preparation of
napkins, table runners, and macramé products. cocoons. Examples include silk from silk worms.
Avian fiber: Fibers from birds, for example, feathers and feather fiber.
They are of two types:
Natural fibers MINERAL FIBERS
Natural fibers may be obtained from plant, animal, and mineral sources. Those from plant Fibers obtained from mineral sources may be used in their naturally occurring form or after slight
sources include cotton, flax, hemp, sisal, jute, and coconut. Fibers from animal sources modifications. They can be placed in the following categories:
include silk, wool, and mohair. Those from mineral sources include asbestos and metal fibers. Asbestos: This is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibrous form. Variations are serpentine
Man-made or synthetic fibers (chrysotile) and amphiboles (amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite).
Man-made fibers are not naturally present in nature and are made artificially by man. Man- Ceramic fibers: Glass fibers (glass wool and quartz), aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and
made fibers have high strength, strong when wet low moisture absorption characteristics. boron carbide.
Examples of man-made fibers are viscose rayon, acetate rayon, nylon, polyester etc. Metal fibers: Aluminum fibers
BAMBOO CRAFTS
Traditional Craft
Bamboo is very versatile and widely used for every day materials and products in rural areas
of the countries of origin. Bamboos are fast growing, with most species being harvested in 3-5 years,
and some species reaching maturity in a year. It is therefore a low-cost material that is strong and
durable and can be used for Just about anything from house building to functional and decorative
objects such as bamboo pots!
Among some of the artefacts in daily use that are crafted from this material are bamboo rice
steamer chairs, stools, fountains, hats, baskets, mats and rugs, beds, cups, bowls, pots, eating utensils,
chopsticks, fishing traps and rods, boats, carts, musical instruments such as flutes, and toys. Bamboo
crafts permeate all aspects of Philippine life. Bamboo is used for house construction, for fishing and
farming implements, for musical instruments and much more. Bamboo items may still be found in the
handicraft section of most public markets.
The poles can be used as containers for water or for gathering wine. The young shoots are
fermented and eaten. Bamboo skin can be woven into mats or baskets. Bamboo is used for the crafts of
the everyday but also for festive occasions. This pervasiveness of bamboo as a material has to do with
the fact that it is found almost everywhere in the country. About 60 or so different species have been
identified in the archipelago. Of this number, about twenty are endemic.
One significant bamboo craft is the making of lakub which is associated with the
Maranao ethno-linguistic group of the large southern island of Mindanao. Lakub are multi-hued
containers made from bamboo poles often used for carrying and storing tobacco. To make lakub,
the bamboo poles are cut at the beginning of the lunar cycle. This ensures that the sugar content of the
sap is at its lowest reducing insect infestation. The poles are skinned and sun-dried for weeks. They are