Guillermo, A. G. (1989). Philippine Contemporary Aesthetics, 27-36.
The purpose of the article was to determine the struggle of Philippine contemporary aesthetics, its history and condition, and the linkage to economic and political aspects. Also it states the premises of aesthetics concerning in its form and content (1), it is historically and socially related (2) and conform by place and time(3).
As the Philippines is one of the third world countries that had a crucial history because of centuries of colonization of western countries particularly Spain, Japan, and United States dominating the culture and ingraining it to the people. Yet the indigenous cultures are unceasing but only exist away from the mainland, such as Baguio, and parts of Muslim Mindanao, as they are not colonized which causes them to preserved their cultures and traditions. But the culture and traditions is not separated politically and economically as they continue to suffer gregarious judgment, poverty, and are part of exploitation, fight for their ancestral lands. Also as the author pointed that the Philippine aesthetics cannot be box by just being decoration on museums without understanding its contemporary content and form because there is always a must respect as cultural significations.
“On the hand, the national-popular culture must be recognized as indeed belonging to the people and not be exploited to further the selfish interests of elites.” Alice G. Guillermo. According to James Follows “Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore—all are short on natural resources, but all (as their officials never stop telling you) have clawed their way up through hard study and hard work. Unfortunately for its people, the Philippines illustrates the contrary: that culture can make a naturally rich country poor.”
This clearly shows that there are people sucking the country’s richness and blocking the vision of the Filipinos for seeking national identity. Yet the author only cites the problem but has a weak point for not using and citing more facts, for example when she uses the Marcos Era and indigenous people status but unable to produce strong evidences.
