Introduction

Good day everyone! Welcome to our class. I am Ms April Niñalga you Arts Teacher for the S.Y. 2020-
2021. Our lesson for today is about Arts and crafts of Highland Cultural Communities.
Motivation
Before we proceed to our lesson, I want you to think of something. What do you know about the people
of highland community? What do you think is their artworks?
Lesson Proper
I – Highland Groups
Let’s me discuss first what is highland cultural communities.
Highland cultural communities’ lives on the mountainous part of Luzon. Some people in highlands are
called Bontoc, Ivatan, Ifugao, Ibanaag, Kalingas, Gaddang, and other groups that is mostly found in
Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley Region.
II - Materials
People need certain materials or art materials to be exact, to create an artwork. What do you think are the
materials used by the highland groups?
Let’s proceed! So, these are the following materials that is mostly used in the artworks of highland
groups. Rattan or nito for baskets, hardwoods and timbers for posts, flattened bamboo slices for floors,
bamboo tubes for utensils, and coconut fronds/leaves for roofs and walls.
People in the highlands used natural resources as their materials because it is abundant in their
surroundings.
III – Elements and Principles
Now, before we identify the different artworks made by the highland groups let’s identify first the
elements and principles of arts used in the arts and crafts of highland cultural communities.
The elements are: space, color, shape, form, value, texture, and line
While the principles are: Balance, Unity, Variety, Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, and Proportion.
All of these can be applied to all art forms but today I am going to discuss only 2 elements and 1
principle.
First, is line. It is to define and enclosed spaces. When we draw shapes or other object, we use lines. Lines
can be thick/thin; straight, wavy, curved, or angular; continuous or broken; dotted, dashed, or a
combination of any of the following.
Next, is color. Color is important because it gives life to an artwork. Imagine if the world is colorless. It
also suggests the quality of things which affects us. Colors can convey feelings too. There are colors that
made us happy, angry, sad and so on.
And last, is pattern. Pattern is a principle of art wherein the elements of art such as lines, colors, shapes is
repeated to create a pattern or rhythm. It creates a feeling of visual motion in an artwork.
IV - Lines
There are different types of lines used in arts. We have static, dynamic, and jagged lines. I want you to
take a look at the pictures and guess what kind of feelings does these lines conveys. So, what do you feel,
seeing the static lines? How about in dynamic lines? In jagged lines? Do you think lines can convey
feelings too?
Let’s find out what are these lines means!
Static lines suggest firmness and straightforwardness. There are 2 kinds of static lines: Vertical line
convey uprightness, dignity, and assurance and Horizontal line suggests calmness, peace, and sobriety.
Dynamic line signifies movements, cheerfulness, and continuity.
Jagged line gives impression of chaos and disorder.
Did you guess it right? If so, then good!
V – Arts and Crafts
Let’s go now and see how the elements and principles of arts applied in the arts and crafts of the highland
cultural community.
We have Ifugao Hut and Banaue Rice Terraces made by Ifugao and Ibanaag. Hut is a one-room dwelling
that served as the house of the Ifugaos. Banaue Rice Terraces is a stairs-like rice farm. We can see the
application of horizontal and vertical lines in the Ifugao hut while dynamic lines for Banaue Rice
Terraces. The colors are brown, yellow ochre, and monochrome of cool colors. We can see the patterns of
lines used.
Next, is Ivatan. Ivatans are found in Batanes. They are famous of their vakul, an umbrella-like headgear
and stone houses, that is made of limestone to withstand typhoons. Horizontal and vertical lines are
visible to both artworks. Colors are monochrome of earth colors. Patterns of lines are also visible.
Gaddang is found in Cagayan Valley Region. They are known for their textile weaving and the famous
traditional woven cloth called bakwat belt used by mothers after giving birth. Lines are horizontal and
vertical lines. They use pastel in tri-colors. We can see the pattern of colors used in the textile.
Last, is Kalinga. They are famous for their tattoo art or what they call batok. It is pronounced in an
Ilocano accent “batek” Can you say it? “Batek” Tattoo in Kalinga is a type of body ornament. Women
consider it as their upper garment. Lines used are horizontal and vertical lines and dynamic lines. It is a
monochrome of earth colors. Later on, you will see the patterns in the designs used in their tattoo.
VI – Tattoo Symbols
So, tattoo used symbols that correspond a meaning. Tattoo or Batek designs are different for men and
women.
Let’s start the symbols and patterns for men.
First, we have the binulibud is three parallel lines decorated in the arm. It indicates success of a warrior.
Next one is biking, a chest tattoo. It is given to warriors who have exceeded binulibud.
Khaman or a head ax. A brand or badge that a warrior must have.
Parting is a three short lines. It indicates villages where the warriors fought.
Pinipingao a representation of a bird. They consider the songs of birds as a good luck.
Binakuko is a crisscross design on the upper arm. It symbolizes the paths that a warrior had to trek during
expedition.
Sorag or moon. The light and guide of the warrior in the darkness of the night.
Gayaman nan banas or centipede eating lizard. A mythical story of the warrior taking prey on the
enemy’s head
Bituwon and gayaman or star and centipede. It is a belief that stars gives light to the path of the warrior.
Dakag is a combination of binulibud and gayaman at the back of undaunted warrior. It recognized
warrior’s exceptional and unsurpassed bravery.
That’s the ten symbols and pattern of the men’s tattoo. Let’s go the women’s symbols and patterns.
First is Nirafa-rafat or Inufu-ufug. It represents scales of a centipede. It is a common design given to the
women.
Next is Sinokray. It translates to an illusion of an upper garment. It is considered as an extension of the
lower garment.
For women, they only have 2 common designs of tattoo. It is designed to serve as their upper garment.

VI - Summary
So that’s the end of our lesson 1. To summarized our lesson, we had discussed the following: People in
the highlands, Materials used in the arts and crafts, the elements and principles of arts, Analyzation of
elements and principles used in the arts and crafts, and lastly, is the tattoo symbols and patterns of
Kalinga.
VII – Reflection
Let’s have a reflection. What do you think is the importance of elements and principles of arts in the
artworks?
VIII - Announcements
Please refer to the Daily Activity Task Section of your Study. You will have your Activity #1 after
watching the recorded lecture. You need to go to the Google Classroom and check the Activity #1 on the
Classwork tab. It is an online discussion about our lesson today. You will have 15 minutes to answer.
Next is Quiz #1 to be answered via Google Form. Schedule and instruction will be posted on the Google
Classroom Stream at 12:00nn PST, today.
Last, is your Performance Task #1. Schedule and instruction will be posted on the Google Classroom
Stream at 12:00nn PST, today.
Always check your emails, classrooms, and calendars for the activities and deadlines. So, you won’t miss
anything.
Thank you for listening, until next meeting! God bless!