Sining sa Kordilyera

The art in Cordillera shows the lifestyle of the people through the different forms of art. Our first destination for the day was the Baguio State University, where we saw the different local dances of the Northern regions. It was not the usual national dances we saw because of the unique arm and hand movements. The dances show their way of life because there is a story line incorporated in the dance. The dancers also showed other talents since their music was not pre recorded. They played their own instruments for the music, which served as the accompaniment for the dance. Both elements, the music and the dance, did not overpower each other, but rather one complimented the other to create a beautiful performance. There were also some parts where the dancers would sing and chant, and one could really see the emotion portrayed which is happiness. The performance was astounding because we could see how the dance group prepared for it and it was also great to see how they enjoy doing what they like to do best. It was a very humbling experience to share this experience with them, since it was a very intimate performance. We had fun with them, and at the same time we learned a lot about their culture.

SIKOPIL A51 with the BSU dancers

Another destination about Sining sa Kordillera was the BenCab museum. When we went to the museum, we saw how the Cordilleran artists put their thoughts and feelings on canvas and the other mediums of art. This museum not only shows the works of Benedicto Cabrera, more commonly known as BenCab, but also other masterpieces by local artists. The first work of art that we saw was the one on Sabel, as shown in the picture below.

It was about one of BenCab’s inspirations, Sabel, a taong grasa that was seen in most of his paintings. It is very interesting because of the mystery that surrounds it and how BenCab was inspired to do works of art about her.

Another painting of Sabel

There were also artifacts and tools such as the bulols, weapons, utensils and other things that showcased how the tribes in the northern region lived before. Even though we cannot see how they lived, these things can give us an idea of their lifestyle.

 Some of the Bulol rice gods displayed in the museum.

The museum also houses contemporary works from local artists. They cover different themes from daily Filipino life to revolutionist themes and the like. In our tour of the museum, we were able to see the talent of Filipino artists as we saw how art has evolved in the Philippines. From the intricate and detailed carvings of tribal artifacts to the different mixed media sculptures and paintings, we were truly amazed at what ingenuity the Filipino people have.

After looking at the different galleries, we were greeted by the breathtaking view of the mountains and the fields. It was the perfect time for a photo op, and of course, we couldn’t resist.

Overall, our visit to the BenCab museum was very enjoyable. We learned a lot from the local art and we also got to know the Philippine culture a lot better. We were awed at the magnificent view, since it was totally different from what we are used to here in Manila. The Bencab museum was unlike any other museum because it not only included arts and sculptures, but more importantly, it captured the whole essence of the cordilleran culture in both its ingenious location and the nature that surrounds the place.