Contemporary PhIlIppIne Arts from the RegIon

Rattan, along with hay, rice

stalks, and other indigenous and
recyclable materials, are the
sources of materials in creating
artworks during the Contemporary
Period.
The artists in these places make use of
almost available local materials found
in their localities.
(Which seems to be drying because the younger generation do not seem to have an interest in learning about them)
 SANIKULAS COOKIE
MOLD CRAVINGS
(Pampanga)
These are arrowroot cookies
that have the image of St. Nicholas
molded on its ergo the name
“Sanikulas”.

The molds are an

exceptional piece of folk’s art
and a rarity. The molds are made of
hardwood and are of different
shapes and sizes. They would have
been a carved piece and a wooden
presser.

Legend says that if you consume these

cookies when you are ill, you get
healed and recover in a shorter amount
of time that it would usually take
(Bulacan)

The wrapper was made out of the delicate

Japanese paper. The way to make it is so
delicate that only the ones with skilled
hands and perfect control of their motor
skills can produce the best kind
 (Laguna)

The art of “Taka” or “Taka-

making” is not an exclusive Pinoy art.
Paper Mache has been around the
centuries.

In the Philippines, the first

recorded mention of created “Taka” was
by a woman named Maria Bangue in the
1920s.

Taka making become more popular

during the American colonization period
when there was an excess of news print.
The art of embroidering is
happily alive and flourishing
in the towns. It’s mostly
done by the women who are
carefully and delicately
embroidering floral designs.
 Singkaban is the art of
shaving bamboo into artful
creations that can be used as
décor for arches or the home.
Skilled craftsmen patiently
shave off the bamboo, layer by
layer, to create curls and
delicate twirls of their bamboo.

Singkaban craftsmen
create these gregariously
designed bamboo arches for
fiestas, weddings, and other
celebrations that involve the
entire community. Perhaps, it is
our sense of “Bayanihan” that
inspire their art form.
 PUNI OR PALM
LEAF FOLDING
(Bulacan)
This folk art was intended
to create artful toys for kids.
However, it can also be sued to
create woven baskets, bags, and even
fans. The most common presentation of
Puni art is the “Palaspas” we see
every Holy Week.

Because of the abundance of

coconut leaves, the Pinoys have
ingeniously created toys and other
items through Puni.