Feel the creative heart and soul of the Philippines in these art destinations.
There is an old local saying goes that when God sowed all the creative talents to humanity, Filipinos seem to have caught them all. While apparently said in jest, such an anecdote couldn’t be closer to the truth. Pinoys excel in every artistic realm: from music and dance, to visual arts, to theater and performing arts, to literature —both here and abroad.
As we celebrate National Arts Month this February, there is no better time to put the spotlight on such artistry.
Officially established in 1991 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 683, the month-long observance honors our innate creativity and cultural heritage all over the archipelago. Led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), with the support of provincial, city, and municipal governments, this year’s celebration is themed, “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting,” emphasizing art as a reflection of truth, courage, and community.
Beyond government-sanctioned activities, art is a way of life for many people in the countryside who consider their craft an extension of their being and a reflection of the local soul, as much as it is a means of livelihood.
In reference to the late National Artist Nick Joaquin’s famed novel, let me take you to some of the must-visit communities which live and breathe art 24/7; those that stand as the true portrait of the Filipino as an artist.
Angono, Rizal & Nearby Towns
Angono in the province of Rizal is home to thousands of artists because of its awe-inspiring scenery of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and the Laguna de Bay.
Dubbed the country’s “Art Capital”, it is a haven of painters, brass band musicians, sculptors, literary and performing artists, and other contemporary art makers.
Feast your eyes on the myriad paintings at the Blanco Family Art Museum, Nemiranda Arthouse, Balagtas Gallery, Art Camp Tambayan, and Balaw Balaw Restaurant’s Ang Nuno Gallery – home of the iconic Higantes – giant papier-mâché figures – associated with the town.
Another urban artscape you shouldn’t miss is the Doña Aurora Street relief mural, where the residence of National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco stands.
At the foothills of the Sierra Madre lies Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs, the 2,000-year old prehistoric rock art cave maintained by the National Museum which attests to the locals’ millennia-old artistic DNA.
On top of countless visual artists, the town is also brimming with brass band musicians who are inspired by exploits of its homegrown maestro, National Artist Lucio San Pedro.
And if you drive around the nearby lakeshore towns of Binangonan, Cardona, Baras, Morong, Antipolo, and Tanay, you will discover that the town’s artistic spirit is contagious.
Cavite
Known for its cool climate and restaurant rows, upland Cavite is also making itself known as an art getaway with its creative galleries and museums tucked within its interior roads.
Disconnect from the outside world at Shambala Silang Living Museum, an art enclave named after a mythical Tibetan village. It houses a yoga and labyrinth walk garden, organic farm, slow food resto, indigenous art gallery, antique shop, and an Ifugao Rice Terraces-themed resort.
Alitaptap Artists Community is a sprawling private sanctuary and garden resto in Amadeo featuring resident visual and musical artists who offer an immersive experience to visitors.
Baguio City
Last but not the least: Baguio City. Named as the UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, the Summer Capital is known for its creative industries such as traditional Cordilleran weaving, woodcarving, tattooing, and silverwork – all of which have cultivated a strong grassroots following.
The city positions itself as a mountain haven for creative identity through initiatives such as the Creative Baguio City Council, the Ibagiw Creative Festival, and various community-founded creative hubs.
Must-sees are BenCab Museum by renowned painter Ben Cabrera, Ili-Likha Artists Village by National Artist Kidlat Tahimik, the Tam-awan Village, and not to mention scores of other quaint and art spaces scattered in the nooks and crannies of the city.
With the sought-after Panagbenga Festival taking place this February, guests can look forward to admiring art pieces and antique collections, watching performance arts, or interacting with local artists in between the colorful parade of flowers.
Beyond the formalities of the National Arts Month, Filipinos everywhere will continue to breathe and live their creative pursuits as an expression of the indomitable Filipino soul.
