⌛ Arts And Petroglyphs

If ever you wanted to know the true meaning of “art”, then you should tour the province of Rizal. This province has earned the distinction of being the “Cradle of Philippine Art”. Such is due to the its numerous folk festivals and its communities of artists. Foremost of these artists is Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero. Before getting involved in fighting freedom for the country, Rizal was engaged in the arts. Aside from Jose Rizal, the other famous artists are Vicente Manansala, Blanco, Nemiranda, and Pacheco.

There is also a plethora of art galleries in various towns of this province. The art houses showcased both the traditional and contemporary paintings of many artists. The masterpieces of Vicente Manansala are arrayed for public viewing at the art galleries in Binangonan. The acclaimed works of Blanco and Nemiranda are displayed in the art houses in Angono. The paintings of Pacheco are exhibited in Morong. And you can locate the artworks of Jose Rizal in the art galleries of Angono. Anyone who strolls inside one of these houses will be astounded by the imagery, craftsmanship, and passion invested into each masterpiece. These galleries are witnesses to the talents, skills, and genius of the Filipino.

Even the prehistoric Filipinos were as talented. This was proven in the petroglyphs discovered by Carlos “Botong” Francisco in 1965. Francisco was from Angono and was once honored as a national artist. He is also a famous muralist. While exploring the rocks of Binangonan, he stumbled into the petroglyphs or rock engravings.. There were 127 drawings of human and animal figures. Scientific studies of the petroglyphs placed it back to 3000 B.C. This implies that the country was already inhabited during those times when the ancient Western civilizations of Greece and Egypt started to flourish. And such inhabitants have art. And when there is art, there is a considerably sophisticated culture.

The place was excavated and archaeologists found fragments of earthen wares, obsidian flakes, and shells. The presence of earthen wares indicates that prehistoric Filipinos knew how to cook and store food. The obsidian flakes are tools for sharpening weapons and perhaps building fire. And the shells could mean that the area was once near the ocean.

This site of petroglyphs is now listed in the World’s Inventory of the Rock Art. It was also declared as a national cultural treasure by virtue of Presidential Decree 260 in 1996. It is also a nominee for the “100 Most Endangered Sites of the World”, by the World Monument Watch List. And now, its preservation and development is the collective goal of the National Museum of the Philippines, the World Monument Watch Fund, the American Express International, the Department of Tourism, and the Antipolo Properties, Incorporated.