The sad fact is that most forms of indigenous art in the Philippines were abandoned wherever the Spanish influence was strong and only exist today in the regions that were out of reach of the Spanish empire. Hector Santos, a researcher living in California, suggested that obligations to the Spanish conquerors prevented Filipinos from maintaining their traditions:
Sa palagay ni Hector Santos, isang mananaliksik sa California, ang mga pananagutan ng mga Filipino sa mga mananakop na Espanyol ay nakasagabal sa pagpapanatili ng kanilang dating mga ugali: